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Iris Gleicke, Tourism Commissioner, Federal Government and Parliamentary Secretary of State at the Federal Minister of Economics and Energy, explained in her opening speech, “We want to make accessibility a hallmark of tourism in Germany. This is why the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology promotes the label ‘Travel for All’. It is very important to ensure that this seal of quality is left where ‘Travel for All’ stands, there is also barrier-free tourism in it. The seal of approval not only opens up new perspectives for people with disabilities but also for the industry.”
Antti Peltomaki, Deputy Director General in Directorate-General for Internal Market, and Entrepreneurship at the European Commission was the keynote speaker. Other panellists included Martin Heng, Accessible Travel Manager & Editorial Advisor from Lonely Planet, Volker Langguth-Wasem, Federal Chairman of the Federal Working Community SELF-HELP, Ross Calladine, Head of Business Support from VisitEngland, Gerda van’t Land, Managing Director of Buitengewoon Reizen (NL), Kornelia Grundmann, Managing Director of gabana Agentur für Barrierefreiheit, Ellen Engel-Kuhn, Head of the Contact Centre for Disabled Activities DB Vertrieb GmbH, Claus Spasten, Hotel Director In Allgäuer Integrationsbetrieb -Hotel- gGmbH as well as Rolf Schrader, Managing Director, German Seminar for Tourism (DSFT).
Petra Hedorfer, Chairman of the Board of the DZT, said, “The format Day of barrier free tourism has successfully established itself and developed. High-profile speakers and a growing number of participants are proof of the importance of barrier-free offers and their targeted communication for Germany’s strong positioning in the international competition. In addition to panel discussions and expert talks, she also opens up networking opportunities for political decision-makers and managers of tourism companies and organisations.”
André Nowak, Deputy Chairman of NatKo, said, “The reliable labelling of barrier-free tourist offers must be just as self-evident as the food labelling or energy certification.”
Source: travelnewsdigest.in