Further to our last on the Creation of Integrated Tourist Accessible Sea Destinations, we bring you herebelow the entire speech delivered by Mrs. Olympia Anastasopoulou, Secretary General at the Greek Ministry of Tourism; she said:
“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to the Press Conference of the General Secretariat for Tourism Policy and Development regarding the action “Publicity Actions for the Creation of Integrated Tourist Accessible Maritime Destinations” of the NSRF Tourism Sector.
As you all know, planning a vacation or a trip is a pleasant process. However, for some of our fellow citizens it can be a real challenge.
Accessibility problems create particular difficulties for people with disabilities when they travel to different places or when they are unable to enjoy equally benefits and services in the place they have chosen to visit.
According to the World Tourism Organization, around 650 million people in the world live with some form of disability. In fact, if this group includes the people of the immediate environment who have taken care of them, the number jumps to two billion, 1/3 of the world’s population!
And in our neighbourhood, in Europe, according to recent studies, there is a market, potentially 130 million of people (people with disabilities, elderly people, escorts, etc.) who could allocate on an annual basis, more than €68 billion. This figure is growing given the increase in life expectancy, which creates large demographic differences.
In any case, the right of people with disabilities to access is not limited to the possibility of moving within the city nor to the use of public buildings by providing a series of facilities. People with disabilities have every right to use facilities related to entertainment, sports, tourism and recreation in general, which are offered to all of us unhindered and without any restrictions.
An important area from which people with disabilities are excluded is the sea, which in fact has beneficial effects on their health and the improvement of their living conditions.
In our country, important steps are being taken by the State (central government, local/regional authorities) to improve the accessibility of tourism infrastructure, while on the other hand many entrepreneurs realize the importance and economic benefit that this category of tourists can bring to their business.
For the Ministry of Tourism, the accessibility of Greek destinations is an important pillar of our strategic planning, which it not only encourages, but works systematically to enable people with disabilities to enjoy equally the unique beauties of our country.
In this direction, the NSRF Staff Structure of the Ministry of Tourism undertook the task of promoting and publicizing the interventions implemented by Municipalities in coastal destinations of the country, through the action ” Creation of Integrated Tourist Accessible Sea Destinations” of the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2014-2020”.
The program with an initial budget of 15.000.000 euros is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union and national resources.
More than 250 beaches throughout Greece, through the action “Creation of Integrated Tourist Accessible Sea Destinations” are accessible to all!
Appropriate, non-permanent infrastructure such as access ramps and walkways to the beach, prefabricated changing rooms, portable sanitary facilities, areas for shading and protection of bathers were placed in the wider area of the swimming beaches . In addition, parkingspaces were created for people with disabilities near the intervention beaches, so that all interventions contribute to the creation of integrated tourist accessible sea destinations.
The aim is to ensure accessibility to the sea for people with disabilities and people with reduced mobility (such as elderly people, pregnant women, injured people with mobility difficulties), as well as to promote Greece internationally as an accessible maritime tourist destination.
Autonomous access to the sea ensures equal opportunities and opportunities for all, without excluding any group of people.
The benefits are:
- Independence: The accessible beaches have equipment and infrastructure (such as ramps, corridors, changing rooms, etc.) that allow people with disabilities and people with limited mobility to enjoy the sea without restrictions.
- Socialization: People with disabilities, but also people with limited mobility, are given the opportunity to participate in activities on the beach, with family and friends, upgrading the quality of life for all.
- Physical Activity: People with disabilities and people with limited mobility have the opportunity to engage in activities such as swimming that contribute to their physical and mental health.
- Tourism Development: Accessible beaches contribute to the development of the local economy by attracting visitors with disabilities as well as visitors with limited mobility, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and people with temporary injuries.
The following is a presentation of the promotional actions and actions we implemented to highlight the accessible beaches of our country:
1.OUR WEBSITE
We created the website www.accessiblebeaches.gr where the project is presented, the accessible beaches of the country classified by geographical area with the corresponding photographic material. Visitors can browse and choose one of the accessible beaches of our country.
The website www.accessiblebeaches.gr contain all the publicity actions we implemented, is constantly enriched with new material and has been interconnected with the official website of Visit Greece.
2.SOCIAL MEDIA
We created accounts on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, through which we promote in the foreign and Greek market, the accessible beaches implemented through the Action “Creation of Integrated Tourist Accessible Sea Destinations” of the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2014-2020”.
3. VIDEOS
We created the following videos posted on the project website https://www.accessiblebeaches.gr/:
- virtual tour video of approximately five (5) minutes duration with shots from a plethora of intervention beaches in Greece, both from the mainland and from the islands, with the kind contribution to the narration of Mr. Grigoris Valtinos, whom we warmly thank. At the same time, we implemented a version of the virtual tour video with narration in English for promotion in foreign markets.
- Short videospot (15-20 seconds) with subtitles in five languages (Greek, English, French, German and Italian) for promotion on social media .
- videospot lasting approximately one (1) minute with subtitles in Greek and English with the participation of Greek Paralympic swimming champions on intervention beaches, aiming at the maximum possible promotion of these interventions both in Greece and abroad. Olympic athletes with mobility problems are great symbols of strength and will for a significant number of people.
- The information campaign that is already being implemented includes digital promotion of accessible sea destinations to targeted audiences (people with disabilities and their escorts) in Greece, as well as other European countries (Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Cyprus).
Our main concern and purpose is to promote and highlight destinations that meet specific criteria, so that they are accessible to all, including people with disabilities and special population groups.
We work to ensure equal access to the sea and to give the respect and value that befits each of our fellow citizens.
Dear friends,
Accessibility is an indicator of quality of life and is central to any responsible and sustainable tourism policy. Adopting a “holistic model” is imperative for human rights and an excellent business opportunity. Above all, we must appreciate that Accessible Tourism benefits not only people with disabilities or special needs, but all of us.
Thank you very much.”
Viewers can listen here below the live video of the Press Conference:
