Madrid, Spain, 3 December 2014 - Achieving universal accessibility throughout the tourism value chain is the main call for action of the San Marino Declaration of Accessible Tourism, adopted at the First UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe (San Marino, 19-20 November 2014).
The First UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe addressed how to advance quality, sustainability and competitiveness in accessible tourism with a special focus on cultural heritage and the use of smart technologies. Increased accessibility in tourism benefits people with disabilities and special needs while entailing important economic opportunities for the sector.
"Accessible Tourism for All ranks high amongst the ethical challenges we have identified and which require our permanent attention and guidance", said the Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics, Pascal Lamy, opening the Conference. "Advocating for and advancing universal access in travel and tourism is both a question of rights and a question of ethics, a matter of quality and respect, of freedom and non-discrimination", he added.
Echoing the legitimate right of access to tourism activities by people with disabilities, as established by the United Nations, the San Marino Declaration on Accessible Tourism was adopted unanimously, calling for all stakeholders to ensure universal accessibility in all the components of the tourism value chain. This includes the physical environment, the transportation system and information and communications channels, as well as to strengthen and engage public-private partnerships and other forms of cooperation among entities working in the field of universal accessibility.
UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai stressed that "People with disabilities and special needs should be able to actively take part in tourism just as any other traveller. Great strides have been made to advance universal accessibility, particularly in Europe, but there are still many opportunities to be seized. Accessibility for all depends much on the will of all players to work together, and we at UNWTO remain committed to advancing this fundamental agenda and implementing the necessary changes alongside our partners."
While referring to the morphological features of the hilly mediaeval town of San Marino, the Minister of Tourism, H.E. Mr. Teodoro Lonfernini, pointed out that "San Marino is doing its best to make its territory accessible to as many visitors as possible, while also trying to enable an authentic travel experience to people with special needs", adding that "if a country like the Republic of San Marino can achieve that, many other States should be able to follow the same path".
The Conference was jointly organized by UNWTO and the Government of the Republic of San Marino in collaboration with Village for All (V4A) and the ONCE Foundation of Spain.
The full text of the San Marino Declaration:
San Marino Declaration on Accessible Tourism
The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of San Marino, the authorities of the member countries of the World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO), members of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics, representatives of the
tourism sector, disabled people's organizations (DPOs) and the related civil society and private sector
stakeholders, intergovernmental and international organizations, universities and experts met in San Marino
on 19/20 November 2014 on the occasion of the First UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe.
Considering the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of 2006 as the global
action framework in the sphere of universal accessibility, whose Article 30 recognizes the legitimate right of
access to sports, cultural, leisure and tourism activities by persons with disabilities;
Whereas the mandate of the UNWTO is "the promotion and development of tourism with a view to contributing
to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity, and universal respect for, and
observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or
religion", as established by the Statutes of the Organization;
Inspired by the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, adopted by the UNWTO General Assembly in 1999, and
endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, whose Article 7 underlines that "...a direct and
personal access to the discovery and enjoyment of the planet's resources constitutes a right equally open to
all the world's inhabitants" and explicitly recommends that "tourism for persons with disabilities should be
encouraged and facilitated".
Referring to the Recommendations on Accessible Tourism, adopted by the 20th UNWTO General Assembly in
2013, as a reference document for tourism stakeholders for making their infrastructures, products and services
accessible to all people, as well as the related Manuals co-produced with civil society organizations - the
ONCE Foundation, ENAT, and the ACS Foundation;
Taking into account the principles contained within the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, a
comprehensive framework committing the European Commission to the empowerment of people with
disabilities;
Recognizing the wide scope of the multi-stakeholder recommendations emanating from the Declaration from
the World Summit Destinations for All, held in Montreal, Canada, in October 2014;
Commending the efforts carried out by public authorities, private sector and the civil society stakeholders in
making the heritage city of San Marino ever more accessible for all;THOSE PRESENT:
1. Convinced that Tourism for all benefits not only people with disabilities and special needs, but all
people, while entailing major economic opportunities for a myriad of sectors far beyond travel and
tourism;
2. Cognizant of the gradual progress in the sphere of universal accessibility in Europe, but also of the
pressing issues bestowed upon people with disabilities in developing countries and emerging
economies;
3. Aware of the challenges and opportunities of making heritage cities accessible for all without
jeopardizing their monumental integrity and their historical relevance;
4. Mindful of the importance of smart technologies and their future evolution in facilitating the access and
enjoyment of tourism destinations by all;
5. Committed to constructive and more results-based partnerships between the policy makers, local
authorities, the private sector and disabled people's organizations in making tourism and heritage
infrastructure, products and services accessible for all;
UNANIMOUSLY CALL UPON ALL STAKEHOLDERS:
1. To engage in awareness-raising and training actions with the aim to eliminate attitudinal barriers
amongst tourism and heritage professionals at all levels and to persuade the private sector of the
competitive advantages of investing in Tourism for all;
2. To ensure that the right to experience tourism is not hampered by global economic uncertainties and
that the spirit of solidarity and international cooperation for improving accessibility is sustained and
further promoted;
3. To observe the principles of Universal Design when creating new tourism infrastructures, products and
services and improving the existing ones, particularly in case of the cultural heritage of tourism interest;
4. To facilitate the development and application of smart technologies to provide objective information
about all services (regardless of their degree of accessibility), so as to enable travelers to evaluate
their own personal accessibility requirements, and, if necessary, with the involvement of civil society
organizations to propose concrete solutions in order to enhance accessibility and the quality of
hospitality;
5. To mainstream universal accessibility throughout all the components of the tourism value chain,
including the physical environment, the transportation system, information and communications
channels, and a complete range of public facilities and services;
6. To promote and disseminate good practices and case studies in the field of universal accessibility in
travel and tourism; and
7. To strengthen cooperation with all relevant entities working in the field of universal accessibility at
international and regional level, in particular the European Union, and to engage in public-private
partnerships with the travel and tourism industry, non-governmental entities and disabled persons
organizations for the development of new global policies in the field of universal accessibility.
Adopted in San Marino on 19 November 2014