“Accessible Spaces for All” is the name of the project in which Weinviertel Tourismus GmbH participates. Tourist experiences must be accessible to everyone. Barrier-free tourism is an interesting topic. This cross-border project will discover “what we can contribute to this”, explained managing director Hannes Steinacker at the opening conference at the Unternalber OBENauf.
“It’s not about building different paths, it should always be the same path that takes as many people as possible to their destination,” emphasizes Steinacker, saying that it’s mainly about creating awareness. When the priority on accessibility increases, it is often just small things that need to be changed so that even more people can participate.
Monument protection is more important than accessibility” Martin Bruno Walther
The aim of the project is to facilitate the planning and design of tourist experiences for people with disabilities using digital technologies. The focus is on people with limited mobility, blind or visually or hearing impaired. The project aims to bring together authorities, companies, tourism organizations and people with disabilities to improve accessibility in tourism.
At the conference, contributions from experts in the areas of tourism, digital technologies and spatial planning were presented and practical examples were presented.
“Mapping” in Retz showed what was already working well and where needed to be readjusted
Clemens Beyer, from Boku, also emphasized that often “it’s not much, but you need to think about it”. She is a partner in the project and took on the so-called “mapping”. It records whether there are already guidance systems for the blind, the slope of ramps and the slope of sidewalks. What is the best way to do this? “With people with mobility impairments and blind people on site recording their impressions,” Beyer explains that such a group was traveling in Retz.
And then the first challenge arose. From the train station to the main square there is a paved, tree-lined path. This is good in the summer because they provide shade. But Martin Bruno Walther noticed something in the photo that was shown: “The gravel is lost, we can't drive there”, said the wheelchair user. Retzer Tourism Councilor Daniel Wöhrer explained that for environmental reasons less salt is used, especially near green areas and trees, which is why many communities spread more gravel in winter.
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How does tourism become barrier-free? Pilot project also at the Weinviertel. A sliding glass door here, a vase of flowers on a ramp there; Here the sand in winter, there the cobblestones – for a healthy person these are details that they often don't even notice. For people with disabilities, these are obstacles that they find difficult to overcome. Weinviertel Tourism is currently participating in a pilot project to make tourism barrier-free. It is often enough to create awareness, says managing director Hannes Steinacker.
There were also difficulties getting there during the “mapping” tour: although wheelchair users were registered, there was an old set of carriages on the tracks that did not have a ramp. Fortunately, everyone at Retz train station helped together and removed the wheelchair users from the train. “If you are alone, you don’t have a chance,” noted one affected person.
Clara Ulrich and Markus Karasek from the company Unterretzbach Karasek Bau spoke about barrier-free construction. They make it clear that it is particularly difficult to make existing buildings barrier-free and that many compromises need to be made. For example at Retzer Raika: you could only get there by steps, now there is a ramp – but as there is little space there the ramp is very steep. “But it’s a start,” Karasek said.
What's important: “We put ourselves in a wheelchair. If every planner does this, they will see things completely differently.” The sliding glass door of the Retz town hall is also a challenge. Anyone who sees poorly or doesn't see at all will have problems here. Karasek recommended partially covering it with advertising, but it had to stand out clearly from the background.
It's about raising awareness…
Karasek also showed a photo of Schrattenthal's town hall. A building that is under monumental protection and does not allow any scope for barrier-free conversions. His suggestion: set up a room on the ground floor that is accessible to everyone. “You could also make an external elevator,” suggested one affected person in the audience. “You forget: monument protection is more important than accessibility,” Walther responded sarcastically.
What Weinviertel Tourism and those affected showed: There are several advantages to making tourism accessible to people with disabilities. “In my circle of friends, I am the only one with a disability. My friends go with me to places without barriers.”
If a business or excursion destination has no barriers, even more people will visit it. A ramp not only helps wheelchair users or elderly people who can no longer walk as well, but also young families with strollers. This clearly shows: “It’s about raising awareness,” repeated Steinacker.
About the “Accessible Spaces for All” project:
- The “Accessible Spaces for All” project is supported by the Interreg Central Europe 2021-2027 funding program and is based on the premise that people with disabilities can freely visit cultural monuments, national parks or locations outside cities and main tourist routes.
- In the implementation of the international project Twelve partners from Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Poland participate in the project, as well as the European Disability Forum (EDF), an umbrella organization that represents the interests of 80 million citizens with disabilities in Europe.
- The cross-border region of Weinviertel-South Moravia It is one of three pilot regions being worked on as models as part of the project and where the focus is on cross-border activities.
- As an Austrian practice partner The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna participates in the implementation of the project.
- During the three-year project period A thorough survey will have to be carried out in the cross-border area of the project – for Weinviertel Tourism this mainly concerns the area around the Thayatal National Park / Podyjí National Park and the towns of Znojmo and Retz – in order to allow potential visitors to have restrictions, tours and stays with accommodation providers, restaurants, tour destinations and winemakers to make it taste good.
- Around 270,000 euros are available for the project on the Weinviertel.