Able Access for All Exchange Project & Program

Project:

The projects will focus on studying and developing a model or several models which allow individuals with disabilities, and their partners, to easily and economically access exchange holiday experiences between Portugal, Cyprus and Finland, during each country’s off-peak tourist season and with multilateral cooperation and promotion of the National authorities and stakeholders.

The basis of the project comes from the belief that social and economic viability for all agents directly or indirectly involved, that is to say governments, employers, workers and tourist destinations, benefit from a strategy which promotes low seasonality for favourable service to the target group of people with disabilities and their partners/families.

Objectives:

It is intended that the resulting model(s) can be transferred to other European Union countries where good practices and new market strategies may evolve and serve a vaster client base and equality of citizens.  Ultimately AAAE will offer insight into the possibilities of developing an exchange network for citizens among all EU Member States, which voluntarily want to join this initiative, without ruling out that it can also be transferable to other groups of social tourism (young people, and seniors).

In this sense, the purpose of the project AAAE is to analyze the different possibilities for transnational exchange, carrying out a Living Lab process of studies and simulations that allow us to recognize the advantages and disadvantages of each product/program, together with their viability and finally, preparing the first multi-country pilot experience to be launched once the performance period regarding the Call for Proposal finishes.

The AAAE project for transnational exchange of tourists with disabilities is to impact:

• End-users: having the opportunity to travel at an affordable price and with the appropriate conditions. Give them equal opportunities and product diversity in an array of diversified destinations
• Employment:  seasonal employees will be able to keep their jobs throughout the year or at least, during more months of the year or enable the creation of more jobs and new employment.
• Tourism sector: support in the fight against tourism seasonality, improving business profitability and the loyalty of clientele and staff. It will also open the service provider to a growing market and allow for better overall service through the “lessons of accessibility” a concept that will benefit all users not just those with disabilities.
• Other sectors: a project with such features, benefits not only tourism but also every economic activity of the areas involved. It creates an induced activity which is positive for every participating agent. It may also play a vital role in social inclusion and integration of people with different capabilities. It is clear that the “social stigma” around the issue of disability become less problematic once the general public have a clearer understanding and contact. This means that the feeling of liberty and change in “introspective” attitudes must be a key factor for the AAAE project
• Destinations: image improvement.
• Governments: it sets up an active employment policy, which represents a pillar of social policies and, in addition, it allows them to recover the investment made thanks to tax collection and the reduction in unemployment benefits. Allow for possible revision of legislation on issues related to equal opportunities and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Activities:

In order to implement the AAAE project, 4 Work packages (WP) are to be implemented:

• WP 1 Project management
• WP2 Living lab test: 2 virtual tourism products created in each region and tested among the potential users of the other region & stakeholders, e.g. the Paralympic Committee, private sector, etc.
• WP3 Design and Testing of the commercial tourism product: Following the living lab feedback the final tourism product is formulated, complying with national & good practice standards. Carry out a trial of the new tourism product.
• WP 4 Evaluation, communication, and dissemination. Developing long term cooperation.

 Local and interregional meetings, tourism product planning, living lab sessions, network building, product testing, feasibility studies, cooperation agreements and reporting will be the major activities conducted by the project allowing analysis of:

• Legal aspects: for countries launching the transnational exchanges
• Operational aspects: aims to define travel packages catered to specificity of destination, target group and defining accessibility

• Financial aspects: studying funding models and simulated testing for viability

The work process will cover:

1. Living lab set-up Development
2. Operative part
3. Financial part
4. Trial development and realization