Accessible Tourism Germany - travelling in a wheelchair to Germany

Cities without borders, Tourism without borders

Alanya, Turkey, November 26th, 2011

Nicole Bosch - CEO Travelhands.eu

Topics of presentation

• Accessible Travel Initiatives in Germany– Natko

– National Tourism Board

– Barriere-Free Destinations

– Individual Regional Initiatives

• Travelhands -> online marketplace for accessible travel

Studies by Federal Government

• “Economic Impulses of Accessible Tourism for All” (2003)

• „Analysis of success factors and development of actions to increase the quality of accessible Tourism for All in Germany" (2007)

• Findings:-Accessibility gained more acceptance in German Tourism-“What is missing is: a comprehensive sustainable strategic and operational plan regarding the nature of the offering and marketing along the entire travel service chain.“

Potential

• Market: 6,7 million Germans with a disability

• 1/3 of Germans will be older than 65 in the next years

• 30/35 procent of Germans have reduced mobility

• Economic impact: 4,8 Billion Euro, 90.000 extra jobs (Source: BmWi 2003)

Natko

• Accessible Tourism Organisation supported by associations for the Disabled (since 1999)

• Main activities: Consultant / trainings, checking of accessibility

Germany National Tourism Board

• Selected listings of destinations and associations for disabled travellers

• General information about accessible Travel to Germany

Barrier-Free Destinations in Germany

• Cooperation of 7 partners in Germany (since 2008)

• sharing of best practices

• Joint promotion of accessible tourism

Individual / regional Initiatives

• Accessible Black Forest (Natko Project)

Individual/regional Initiatives

Individual/regional Initiatives

Findings

• More general acceptance for accessible travel in Germany

• Pioneering role of some destinations / regions (Erfurt, Düsseldorf) -> achievement: competitive advantage

• Single initiatives (regions, cities, or cooperation) -> most activities are carried out by “motivated” individuals, hardly considered strategically and on a long term basis

• Online Information is fragmented and selective, development and marketing along the entire tourism service chain is still missing on the Internet

• Difficult to book services directly online

• Information often in German only

Online Booking of Trips* in EuropeTr

ips

(1.0

00.0

00)

*Trip = one night or more, exluding daily tripsSource: Eurostat, Travelhands research

www.travelhands.eu

Travelhands

• Online marketing / booking of accessible travel services

• along the entire travel chain

• give all suppliers opportunity to market in the travel chain and towards disabled travellers

• In German, Englisch and Dutch

• Nation wide Germany -> Europe wide

Organization(Preparation,Information,Booking)

Travel to and fromDestination

Tours aroundDestination

Arrival andOrientation

Lodging

Eating & Drinking

Shopping

SportActivities

Cultural Activities/Sightseeing

Services at Destination& Medical Care

Local Transport

Going to Berlin…

Direct contact

Quality Reviews

Marketing Channel for Destinations

Conclusions

• Seniors /disabled are the fastest growing demographic in Internet use

• Growing market demand for individual accessible travel due to democraphic changes (aging population and the retirement of the Baby Boomers)

• Tourism industry will find new markets and increase of turnover if they’ll cater for the new and growing consumer groups and their demands

• Accessible travel is a innovative approach to improve quality and service for destinations and to remain competitive

Teşekkür ederim!

Nicole Bosch, CEO Travelhands.eu

www.travelhands.eu

http://www.facebook.com/Travelhands.eu

Twitter: @travelhands

nmbosch@travelhands.eu

http://de.linkedin.com/in/nmbosch