Saturday, September 27, 2014

Inclusive infrastructures adds value to Tourism.


Versão Portuguesa


The Inn Mindo Lago offers appropriate ramps for wheelchairs throughout its occupated area.

Visiting new places and enjoy the Nature has always been the passion of Mercedes Narvaez, 94 years old. Although she has not always been able to do all the traveling she liked. Mainly because tourist infrastructure did not give her the facilities to move deftly, in a wheelchair.

 But every year  more places that take account of disabled people or elderly people with walking difficulties.

 The wheelchair, which uses the since 2 years old, became the companion of all her travels. This week was the Arasha Inn Resort & Spa, along with their daughters and grandchildren. The advantage of this place is that there are ramps for access to all spaces.

The bathrooms are the closest to the reception, the bathrooms are large to enter wheelchair and moreover have tubes placed in the walls so that the guests can cling to them while relaxing in the bath.

Bernardo Garzón, owner of the Inn Mindo Lago, this adds value to the service, which is highly valued by families. Recalls that when he started his activity in the Inn (2005) were held nightly walks, one attractive to people, but not for those who had walking limitations.

 Even on one occasion, one of the participants had to carry his daughter throughout the route. Now have ramps and the place has lighting for easier access.

 Narváez appreciates the fact of not having to climb stairs to get to the bathroom. This causes pain in the legs and turns into a migraine. More exhausted than when it ends a road trip of their hours from Quito to Arasha.

She plays with young people who are approaching the car to help her out. "Watch I am strong", warning them.

Are part of the Inn staff. They are in charge of taking her to the bedroom and show you where is the pool. There is Mariana Paredes, another frequent tourist.

The pool is one of his favorite places, because it has a ramp that allows you FRUI it. The legs become painful arthritis in the stairs of public pools. This type of infrastructure responds to a national campaign that the Ministry of Tourism has been promoting from the private tourism sector, since 2012.

 Furthermore, it was possible to publish a Manual of accessibility for places of accommodation. Therein the terms and conditions of the places are specified, to be considered accessible. The manual was distributed in various hotel companies so that they can apply it in their infrastructure.

So far it has been upheld. Baños in Tungurahua province, is one example. Affordable City was declared due to the construction of access ramps to the main tourist sites and signaling.

 Also gained international recognition as the Prize of the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality Award and Queen Sofia of Spain, in 2010 Las Granadillas The hostel is a reference.

 It has three floors and all are connected by a system of ramps. The doors are wide, precisely to give access to wheelchairs.

Its owner, Alfonso Morales, started this project in 2005 his life Traveller influenced your decision. It was also complicated go  to his favorite tourist places because they had no infrastructure that should be inclusive and facilitate mobility in a wheelchair. Something similar happened with Patricia Agirre, but in another corner of the country: in Mindo.

 Her grandfather used wheelchair during his last years of life, through it realized how hard it is to be able to enjoy with his family the other tourist places in free time.

She opened the hostel Birdplanet. It has a ramp in the dining room and a adapted room. The Inn is inclusive tourism a year ago. Specializes in care for people with disabilities abroad. Receives 8 people per month on average.

Pablo Marañón hosts the same amount in his  Inn Huasquila  Amazon Lodge. Is in the province of Napo. Has seven rooms, which were built five years ago, since it soon became clear the need for an inclusive infrastructure. Travelers arrived and had not communities. Also the paths were adapted to people with visual disability can circulate.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, one of the reasons why the sector turned over for inclusive tourism was the demand .

In a report published in 2012 by portfolio, it is specified that about 6 million people with a disability travel annually for tourism and recreational reasons a Global scale. Furthermore. It is estimated that the 125 millions of people seeking this service in Europe, 70% of them have financial resources to frequently travel abroad.

 Currently is developing a strategic planning Accessible Tourism, to know the number of tourists with disabilities moving in Ecuador and the number of accessible places.

 The study is being done in the provinces of Imbabura, Pichicha, Tungurahua, Napo and Guayas, according to Pamela Green, Technical Area Director of Products and Innovation. Will be ready in November.

 

Source: "El Comercio"
               Turismo Adaptado
 
 

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