30/06/2020
The eternal theme for people with physical disabilities. In the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, accessibility participates in three of the eight priority areas for the EU. These three areas aim to make goods and services available to people with disabilities and to enable them to enjoy all the benefits of EU citizenship. By fighting discrimination and promoting equal opportunities. Accessibility, in addition to the dimension of physical access, also includes the dimension of functionality, communication and it is directly related to autonomy and security. Actions by the central and local governments are usually not part of a strategic plan to improve accessibility in all areas of life. On the threshold of the possibility of obtaining an international grant, Mobility Bitola for the umpteenth time has placed the accessibility goals, better described in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified in our country together with the optional protocol in 2011. In the past ten years, successes can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and many have remained unfulfilled.
The project Alter Trip is a cross-border cooperation of the Republic of Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia, whose main goal is to motivate the transformation of the territory into an accessible and inclusive destination with support for sustainable development of access to natural and cultural heritage. As a contribution to the development of the cross-border partnership for achieving the goals: • exchange and import know-how and good practices related to the improvement of the accessibility of cultural and natural heritage structures • improve the accessibility and visitability of selected cultural and natural heritage assets in the CB area • improve the capacity of authorities responsible for the management of cultural and natural heritage assets, and of professionals from the tourist field (guides, travel and event agents, transportation services) in better addressing the needs of senior and accessible tourism (capacity building activities)" • develop a platform at which all disabled and elderly visitors would be able to design their trip to the CB area and be able through this platform (G.I.S.) to accomplish all the arrangements for their vacation trip. • collect data related to the accessibility and friendliness to disabled and elderly visitors of key cultural and natural assets of the CB area (field studies) • improve the visibility of cultural and natural heritage assets that are accessible and friendly to all, through electronic and physical media, campaigns, etc. and by producing an informative guide for all visitors with useful information for the elderly and the disabled (branding & promotion); • conduct a joint strategic planning study towards branding the CB area as an international tourist destination for elderly and disabled, of high quality at low to medium cost.
Desired results • Training of all stakeholders on issues such as offering services to persons with disabilities • Pilot Studies for the development of "accessibility" at selected heritage attractions on both sides, including light structural interventions (eg placement of ramps, printed guides in braille etc). • An Accessible Web Portal will be developped for communication and networking reasons, and also will serve as a tool platform where all potential disabled and elderly visitors would be able to design their trip to the CB area. • At least 3 best practices of accessible tourism will be implemented in CB area. • A participation to an International Tourism Fare • An Accessibility Guide, which shall provide useful instructions for the stakeholders as regards the accessibility of infrastructure and their services • A Guide for the actions relevant to information, publicity and promotion of accessibility, and of the overall project • Creation of a network among all stakeholders who shall communicate and continuously provide feedback to the digital platform.
Expected results • the creation of thematic touristic accessible itineraries for persons with reduced mobility in general and their families, • the promotion and enhancement of natural and cultural heritage, as well as the networking and cooperation of stakeholders participating in touristic development. Achievable goal of the project is to create 10 new jobs during implementation and 25 enterprises participate in training and workshop activities • to create a diversified touristic all- season product in the cross-border area • to foster other sectors of economy along with the touristic product including the environmental preservation, employment and entrepreneurship. able goal of the project. • to use ICT technologies in promoting touristic products directly to persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility in general and their families.
Partners in the project "Alter Trip", for which an application has already been sent within the Program for cross-border cooperation of Greece and North Macedonia 2010-2020, are: 1. Institute for Research and Development of Business and Exhibitions (IEE), Greece; founders Thessaloniki International Fair, Thessaloniki Chambers of Commerce, etc. 2. Ministry of Interior, Greece - a central administration structure with a key role to play based on applicable public tourism requirements, providing accessibility for people with disabilities and reduced mobility, and virtually managing the project. 3. Mobility Bitola, North Macedonia - Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities of Bitola, Demir Hisar and Resen, founded in 1987. One of the main priorities is accessibility.
Whether the project will be approved and realized, we will find out in a few months.
