We are all aware that we live in a society comprised of people with different levels of skills, talents, needs, aspirations and abilities. And we can never forget this reality, however immediate all our other commitments are. For my government, this social component is at the very core of all our planning and activities.
No one can deny that world and national economies can be best measured against the well-being of society – and society is made of people, not merely arid and cold statistics, however eloquent and encouraging those figures can be. This is the basic idea of the fair society that the Labour government is striving to build. The solid foundations for that society consist of our political will as much as the full understanding and compliance of all those involved in various sectors.
Inclusivity at all levels
Basically, this is the scenario within which the Tourism Ministry under the leadership of Edward Zammit Lewis and my Parliamentary Secretariat held a fruitful meeting this week that discussed a very challenging topic: “Tourism for all”. We brought together people and entities from this flourishing industry and those from the elderly and disabilities sectors with a specific agenda, focused on accessible tourism.
Expert speakers and presentations dealt with the real scenario, where no one is excluded from either the providing or the receiving ends. We have established that the way forward is not just a jigsaw-puzzle of random give-and-take. Nor there be a haphazard management-by-crisis attitude. It is a reality that intrigues us and commits us to agree life standards based on equal life opportunities – no matter the age or ability.
Accessibility is a fundamental human right, implying that no one is left out, whatever their abilities or disabilities. In this day and age, when we are securing equal opportunities and equal rights to those with disabilities, it may sound anachronistic to even talk of accessibility, which should be a foregone conclusion.
Accessibility – an international dimension
Looking into the subject more closely, however, we find a different reality in some areas. It is most surprising that, despite all the appeals and regulations over many decades, we sometimes come across instances where a change in mentality is still necessary. With this in mind, this week’s meeting presented us with a detailed set of regulations that should be adhered to if we ever expect “Tourism for all” to actually mean what it says.
For me personally, and for all the participants, it was indeed a pleasure to welcome and listen to what a renowned international personality had to tell us. I have met Daniela Bas several times at international fora and she has become a great inspiration to me in the performance of my duties as Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of People with Disability and Active Ageing. Daniela is the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Although wheelchair-bound, she has been internationally involved since the mid-eighties in matters of fundamental rights for people with disabilities, both within the European Union and the United Nations.
Her input, together with that of Marina Diotallevi, Programme Manager, Ethics & Social Responsibility, United Nations World Tourism Organisation, brought local stakeholders closer to the international dimension of the holistic concept of accessibility and inclusivity. The Malta Tourism Authority, the National Commission for People with Disability, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Malta University Department of Gerontology and the Institute for Tourism Studies had a fruitful opportunity to measure their own actions against international standards.
The need for travel has no age
This week’s meeting noted that, in the hospitality industry, there is a whole spectrum of reasons for travel. People may need to visit family and friends, they may just need a break from a stressful life, they may be seeking new experiences, wanting to improve their knowledge of new places and cultures, attend international conferences or sporting events or simply escape from home situations.
The flair or need for travel has no age. With life expectancy increasing so quickly, we should recognize an ever-growing number of older visitors. Similarly, with the rise in global awareness of the rights of people with disabilities, it will be unheard of to offer a side or back entrance to those who have mobility or any other disability. Reports I have seen about the state of affairs in other countries, about which I wrote a few weeks back, went as far as to add insult to injury by applying extra charges when granting special arrangements to guests with a disability.
Hotel accommodation is one particular area in which people expect to have their likes and needs fully met. It is sad to note that – as in many other areas – planners think of the mainstream and need to be reminded to make provisions for what anyone with a disability would expect. Without pointing any fingers, we all need a re-think and incessant updating of our vision when planning an all-inclusive access to our product and its intrinsic facilities.
An extra star for accessibility
Visitors have their own expectations and, when planning their holiday, they will not just stop at the luxury levels of services an establishment can offer. The time is right for the adding of ‘accessibility’ as an additional star that a hotel can be awarded – if and when it qualifies for it. This should indicate – and guarantee at international level – that a holiday package is designed to cater for everyone. In itself, it endorses the operators’ own efforts to provide full accessibility to everybody to their premises. They will demonstrate that they realise the last thing holiday-makers ever expect is having to put up with something that spoils their plans.
Guaranteeing accessibility ensures the viability of all investments. The additional star for accessibility would eventually be the crowning reward for considering guests as people – young, middle-aged or old – with a variety of abilities and disabilities.
Not only do we expect hoteliers to think and plan along these lines, but we encourage them to go the extra mile to achieve such a goal, thus achieving a two-fold benefit: rewarding their own efforts and at the same time providing a fully accessible welcome to a broader spectrum of guests. It is known that 70 per cent of people with a disability are able to travel but, because of the lack of accessible tourism accommodation, they do not. There is an enormous mismatch between demand and what is offered by tourism operators by way of infrastructure and services.
The silver economy
The rapid growth in the number of elderly people is not only a major societal challenge but also a major opportunity for new jobs and growth, commonly known as the ‘silver economy’. It is the economic opportunity that arises from public, private and consumer expenditure related to an ageing population and its consequent specific needs.
The silver economy is being considered as the third largest economy in the world. In the EU alone, it accounts for about 50 per cent of general government and consumer expenditure. Adaptation to an ageing society requires increased independence and social inclusion, where travelling and transport, accommodation and health or social care are crucial. Such aims could be greatly facilitated by better connectivity and accommodation. This creates the opportunity for further jobs in various sectors related to the elderly and those with disabilities – tourism included.
From the perspective of my remit for the elderly and disabilities sectors, the above are the guiding components that will expect age and disability-friendly environments and the mainstreaming of accessibility, thus offering a holistic product that meets all aspirations.
Full inclusion is at the very heart of our government’s agenda and tourism is pivotal to ensure the full social and economic participation of the elderly and those with disability. In a fair society, tourism is for all!