It is worth creating a tourist offer ensuring accessibility at all stages of travel.

Today, barrier-free service is just a basic standard in civilizational and practical terms,

- emphasized Vice-Minister Andrzej Gut-Mostowy, Prime Minister’s plenipotentiary for the Polish brand promotion.

Over 4 million (14%) Poles have disabilities, and about 10 million are aged 60+, making up 25% of Poland’s population. The purchasing power of seniors is growing: by 2035, the share of the “silver generation” in the total value of purchases will increase to 37%. Seniors are still an underrepresented group among tourism participants.

Accessibility in tourism – sport, tourism and recreation without barriers

is about ensuring to people with special needs the opportunity to participate in recreation and leisure on an equal basis with others (measure no. 26). The national scale programme, based on the principle of social solidarity, aims to provide the possibility of independent and unsupported use of:

• tourist attractions,
• information and knowledge sources (guides, maps, information points),
• transport and communication in tourism,
• tourist routes, paths and trails,
• catering, accommodation and sanitary infrastructure.

Examples of good practices and solutions:

www.dostepnoscplus.gov.pl

https://www.funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl/strony/o-funduszach/fundusze-europejskie-bez-barier/dostepnosc-plus/poradniki-standardy-wskazowki/poradniki/

https://noclegibezbarier.pl/noclegi/

www.gov.pl/web/dostepnosc-cyfrowa/jak-tworzyc-dostepne-dokumenty-tekstowe-w-edytorze-ms-word

www.gov.pl/web/sluzbacywilna/prosty-jezyk

The attached handbook pays particular attention to tourists with various disabilities – mobility difficulties, sensory impairments or difficulties related to understanding and perception. The milestones on the road “tourist-tour operator” are described: the first contact and offer presentation, method of reporting special needs, and accessibility of websites, documents (including the WCAG standard) and customer service points. The handbook describes how to provide accessible transport and accommodation, contacts with residents, sightseeing and attractions and how to appropriately train tourist attraction guides. We invite you to read the handbook.

Accessible tourism – a handbook