A special feature, only in La Rochelle School of Tourism: "Tourism for all: Promoting universal accessibility"
A special feature, only in La Rochelle School of Tourism: "Tourism for all: Promoting universal accessibility"
"Ever since its inception, World Tourism Day is celebrated on 27 September to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. As the official day set aside in the United Nations Calendar the celebration seeks to highlight tourisms potential to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing some of the most pressing challenges society is faced with today.
Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are traveling or staying at home. May that be due to a disability, even temporary, families with small children, or the ageing population, at some point in our lives, sooner or later, we all benefit of universal accessibility in tourism.
Which is why, we want to call upon the right for all of the world's citizens to experience the incredible diversity of our planet and the beauty of the world we live in. On this year's World Tourism Day help us spread the word of both the importance and immense benefits universal accessibility has and can bring to society at large". (Source: UN).
The Programme of activities of the School of Tourism for the World Tourism Day on the 27th of September is:
- Launch of the Sign Language Course: the sign language courses, integrated as part of the third language option for students on the Bachelor and the MSc in Destination Management, was officially launch on Monday 26 of September, lectured by the Training Centre of Sign Language of Poitiers. IMA (Inter-Mutuelles Assistance) is the sponsor of the course.
- Theatre workshops in the City Centre of La Rochelle: Itinerant theatre representations on the theme of the World Tourism Day: Accessible Tourism for All, animated by first year students of the Bachelor in Tourism Management.
- Awareness activities: jointly developed with APF France (Paralysis Association of France) and students from the Bachelor in Tourism Management .
- Tourism Marketing Workshops: conducted by John Kester, Director of Tourism Market Trend Programme, UNWTO.
- Conferences from 5.30-6.10 pm: In presence of Mr Daniel Peyron, with M. Michel Sabatier - Vice President of the Urban Community of La Rochelle", in charge of International Relations, M. John Kester, Director of Tourism Market Trend Programme, UNWTO. ans M. Marco Pizzio, ENAT Board Member (European Network for Accessible Tourism) as guest speakers.
- 6:10 pm - Launch Ceremonyof Excelia Business School as a new Depositary Library of UNWTO. The Library is now a Centre of Reference for all publications of UNWTO in four of the official languages of the UN: French, English, Spanish and Chinese. With this denomination, our Library will become an open space of consultation for all the tourism sector in the Region and in France as well. Excelia Business School is the second Higher Educational Institution in the country that have obtained this denomination.
- 6.30-8 pm - Cocktail and Launch of the Award on the Most Creative Ideas on Accessible Tourism. Dedicated to the tourism enterprises of La Rochelle, members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry – CCI.
