Isabel Agramunt. Castello
EuroFUE-UJI, within the framework of the European RESTAT project in which it participates as a partner, organized a debate workshop with future experts in the tourism sector with the aim of discussing how to make tourism more accessible for people with special needs.
On the right, professor Javier Sánchez with tourism students.
The FUE-UJI participates as a partner in the European project of the Erasmus + RESTAT call, REcongnizing Skills to Transform Accessible Tourism, a European project that supports accessible tourism. On April 21, the FUE-UJI held a FOCUS group, also known as a debate workshop, with future experts in the sector. During the morning, a dialogue was created about tourism for people with special needs, a broad sector that includes families, people with functional diversity and people at risk of exclusion, among others. In Europe, 5% of the population has a disability certificate. However, data provided by Inmaculada Placencia, deputy head of the Disability Rights Unit of the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Mobility Work of the European Commission, indicates that 25% of Europeans consider who have reduced capabilities when it comes to carrying out various tasks.
The FOCUS group revolved around the RESTAT project, which aims to turn Europe into a potential accessible tourism destination. To this end, various European countries, including Spain, Italy, Romania and Greece, will focus on training professionals in the vacation sector on the special needs of society with functional diversity.
Another objective of the project is to increase tourism in small rural towns, promoting cultural heritage and nature. Since Erasmus + RESTAT originated in a small town in Italy, Tusa.
Javier Sánchez, a professor at the UJI specialized in marketing and market research, participated in the debate, along with tourism master's students. The FOCUS group also talked about the future of the sector: tourism that will progressively incorporate technology, tailor-made trips and different, innovative and revolutionary experiences.
