Czech Republic opens for accessibility?

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Czech Republic opens for accessibility?

• Worskhop Accessible Tourism in Central and
  Eastern Europe
• ENAT Congress 2009
• 30 September, Vienna, AUSTRIA
• Ms. Jana Szczuková
• Ms. Ilona Ostruszková
• KAZUIST, spol. s r.o.

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Who we are

• KAZUIST, spol. s r.o.
• micro, private, profit organisation, established
  in 1991
• since 1992 Regional consulting and information
  Centre
• staff - mostly consultants and project
  managers/coordinators

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What we do

• project activities
• self-employment / entrepreneurship support
  (Start-Business-Centres network)
• social economy
• accessible tourism
• consultancy service and guidance especially for
  SMEs and start-ups
• training service and tutoring programmes
  unemployed and other disadvantaged groups

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Where we are

• Moravian-Silesian
• region
• at the Polish and
• Slovak borders but far
  from Prague...
• heavy industry tradition,
• attractive tourism spot

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Why accessible tourism

• An inspiration
• Italy (2002-2005)
• An opportunity
• CIP EQUAL , round 2, 2005 - 2008, ESF
• A challenge
• brand new topic no information, no awareness /
  huge target group
• Our field of activity - self-employment,
  social integration Beskydy mountains

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Our progress

• from pioneer to the leader
• since 2005 an initiator of the topic in CZ
• since 2007 a main promoter on behalf of
  National Disability Council
• from the region to the world
• Central European Group for Integration of
  Handicapped (2009) a leader of Working group
  for AT
• ENAT member (2009) transfer of experience and
  inspiration (from) abroad

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Our AT projects
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Beskydy for All

• Pilot in the Czech Republic
• 100 funding - ESF and state / regional budget
• information system www.jedemetaky.cz/eng
• (accessibility criteria, self-assessment with
  ex-post verification, Barrier-Free
  mark, gt 20 certified facilities in the region,
  training, rising awareness, etc.)

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Moravian Silesian region for All

• 100 funding - regional budget
• subsequent project, 2008 2009
• enlarging of the database transport
  accessibility

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Accessible Tourism Humans, Education, New
Approaches ATHENA

• Promotion of AT into practice rising awareness
  among the target groups by TN experience
• TN activities (exchange of experience,
  monitoring and comparison of existing
  tools information
  systems, etc.)
• National activities (info pooling and sharing,
  development of methodology for creation of
  national IS, AT brochure, comopendium of good
  practices etc.)
• partnership with Czech National Disability
  Council, TRIANON and TRIANON CECHY and ENAT
• human resources development motivation of
  beneficiaries to share experience

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Our AT projects - lookout
ATHENA
Accessible Tourism for Europe (ATE)
Road to
understanding
Accessible tourism (KLACR)
Beskydy for All
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AT in the Czech Republic STRENGTHS and
OPPORTUNITIES

• basic know-how
• enthusiasm
• good practice
• ATIS tourist agency (Holiday with wheelchair),
• CarClub specific transport service,
• Prague Airport unique navigation system for
  visually impaired,
• Town of Ceský Krumlov Days without barriers,
  barrier-free tours, specific map

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AT in the Czech Republic STRENGTHS and
OPPORTUNITIES

• networking engagement of target groups Middle
  European Group for Integration of Disabled, Group
  for standards in urban construction, etc.
• transnational and cross-border cooperation (ENAT,
  CE Group (PL/SK/CZ), Tourism for All (UK))
• funding opportunities from EU up to 2013 (HRD,
  regional tourism infrastructure), transnational
  and cross-border cooperation national
  programmes (Ministry of Local Development)
• institutional framework (National Disability
  Council, CzechTourism etc.)

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AT in the Czech Republic PROBLEMS and THREATS

• lack of sufficient promotion and information
  / awareness about AT among general
  public, policymakers and businesses
• lack of motivation in business - no relevant
  marketing survey,
• lack of / insufficient legal binding
• Lack of unification (standardization)

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AT in the Czech Republic PROBLEMS and THREATS

• lack of complexity
• Oversimplification accessible good for
  wheelchair users
• Incomplete information and service
• Mostly local / regional initiatives
• complicated support
• Hard-to-fit programmes
• Limited financial support
• Lack of competences and competence development
  programmes for staff

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AT in the Czech Republic PROBLEMS and THREATS

• Advantage today
  requirement tomorrow
• Necessary actions
• Improving accessibility of information
• Education and competence development
• Effective stakeholders motivation
• Effective lessons (good practice) learning
• Improving financial sustainability

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Thank you for your attention !