The International Conference on Accessible Tourism in San Marino

The United Nations World Tourism Organization brings the discussion on the importance of the right to tourism to San Marino

Tourism is a human right as it represents a vehicle for individual and collective fulfillment, however, for the 1.3 billion people experiencing a significant disability and millions of others with specific access requirements, travel for tourism on an equal basis is still challenging.

To discuss "tourism for all", the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) organized in the Republic of San Marino, together with the Ministry for Tourism of the Republic of San Marino and with the collaboration of the Italian Ministry of Tourism, the second edition of the International Conference on Accessible Tourism.

The event will be held on 16 and 17 November at the Kursaal Congress Center. Panels and round tables for a constructive discussion on accessible tourism, to support inclusion, accessibility and diversity in favor of tourism.

San Marino hosts again a conference on accessible tourism 9 years after the last time and together with Italy and UNWTO the Republic will offer a platform for governments, destinations and the private sector to discuss the best ways to prioritize accessibility in any tourism policy or strategy. The event is organized to demonstrate once again that making tourist destinations and companies accessible will pave the way for the future.
The conference includes two days of work with the participation of Ministers and authorities from different countries around the world as well as technicians and experts from public and private organizations.

The event will be opened by a ministerial round table attended by the Minister of Tourism Federico Pedini Amati, the Italian Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè, the Princess of Saudi Arabia Haifa Bint Muhammad Al Saud, the Deputy Minister for regional development of the Czech Republic Jan Fluxa, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea Mi-Ran Jang, the head of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan Umid Shadiev and the advisor to the Minister of Tourism of Israel Peleg Lewi.

The discussion will be enriched by Martyn Sibley (Co-Founder/CEO, Purple Goat Agency & Disability Horizons), Jesús Hernandez Galán, Director of the EU Accessibility Resource Center and Ivor Ambrose, General  Director of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the San Marino professor Andrea Zavoli, Hilal Kahraman of Istanbul Airport, Svend Wandaas of Public Transport Oslo Norway, the Italian senator Luca Briziarelli, the Greek architect of ENAT Katerina Papamichail, Stefano Dominioni of the European Institute of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, Dino Angelaccio of ITRIA, Sonia Gracia Fraile of Once Foundation who is working on the accessibility of the Camino de Santiago, Baptiste Hottekiet, director of parks in Wallonia, Briony Brookes of Cape Town Tourism, Tomas Deshamps of the Paris Tourist Office currently working on organization of the 2024 Paralympic Games, Ignatios Fotiou of TOBEA (Greece), Riccardo Giuseppe Capo of Mirabilandia, Alberto Della Valle Director of Infrastructure and Environmental Quality of the Municipality of Rimini, Ross Calladine of Visit England, the Mayor of Skiathos Thodoris Tzoumas, Tommaso Bertini of Alpitour, Javier Sancho of Hilton Hotel, Maurizio Borletti of San Marino Outlet Experience, Beatriz Miguel Diez of Ilunion Hotels and Aleksander Bajic of curae.me.

The purpose is to succeed in defining the "San Marino Action Plan", a document that dictates the guidelines for the development of accessible and sustainable tourism in line with the objectives of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and respectful of people with disability and at the same time making the Republic of San Marino a permanent hub for the development of inclusive policies.

To register to attend the conference, fill out the forms on the website www.sanmarinoaccessibletourism.com.