European Accessible Tourism: Project Website

The project Website is now on-line at:
http://www.eworx.gr/ossate

As the OSSATE project progresses we will be placing project information on the Website. If you are involved in the tourism industry or have a special interest in disabilities and travel, you will also be able to register and get further details or, possibly, join our events and workshops.

OSSATE = "One-Stop-Shop for Accessible Tourism in Europe"

The OSSATE project began on 1st January 2005 and runs for 24 months.

OSSATE aims to provide information on the accessibility of tourist venues in Europe via an Internet Portal and an "e-Service" offered on mobile phone networks. The tourist venues can include all kinds of destinations, such as various types of accommodation, seaside attractions, resorts, museums, nature parks... and others.

So what's the problem?
Information about the accessibility of venues is sadly lacking in the present offerings from travel agents, hotels, and from destination owners and managers.

If you are disabled, or if you just have a hard time getting around with all your luggage and small children, you would most likely appreciate knowing in advance something about the "accessibility" of the places you hope to visit.
- Are there lots of steps?
- Can I use the toilet?
- How far away is the nearest medical centre - if I should need it?
- Can I re-charge my batteries? (Also the ones for my wheelchair!).

A wheelchair user or a blind person needs some specialised - but basic - information when selecting a holiday destination and the places they will stay. So do people with allergies and those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Some countries and regions in Europe are working on this issue - gathering and distributing many kinds of accessibility information for tourists. But not enough is being done, and the way that sites are described is not standardised, so often the would-be tourist is left guessing about whether they can really risk the trip.

OSSATE will work to set up a common framework for gathering and sharing information about accessibility, and offer this to the National Tourist Boards in Europe as well as destination owners and managers, so that they can publicise their sites and facilities effectively.

As the project progresses, I will post more news about OSSATE on this Blog, and there will be pointers to the OSSATE Web site, relevant Web-links and other sources of information.

The coordinator of OSSATE is the IT company, EWORX S.A. based in Maroussi, Athens, Greece.

OSSATE is co-funded by the European Commission's eContent programme