Flying, visiting a museum, staying in a hotel… For people with mobility or mental, visual or hearing impairments, these routine activities can become a real obstacle when they travel. The obstacles are far from anecdotal, while some 10 million French people are concerned. On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this December 3rd, Annette Masson, President of Tourism and the Disabled, founded in 2001 by the Ministry of Tourism and Associations, discusses various travel-related issues with us. Between inadequate infrastructure and not always trained staff.
- Stay in France. weekends, hotels and customized accommodation from our partners
LE FIGARO. – What are the main difficulties faced by people with disabilities while traveling?
Annette MASON – The main downside is transportation. Many air travelers with limited mobility are in for an unpleasant surprise when they get off the plane to find their wheelchair damaged. Although airlines are aware of the efforts to be made and are open to dialogue, there is still much to be done to improve care for people with disabilities. We would like suitable transport boxes to be fitted on the aircraft to reduce the risk of breakage. The conditions of railway support remain restrictive, namely the need to book at least 24 or 48 hours in advance. Furthermore, these support services are often provided by staff who are unaware of these issues. In fact, wheelchairs are sometimes treated as a mere commodity. Beyond the train and the plane, the whole difficulty is to ensure the chain of movement without a break. This ranges from transport to tourism activities through visits or transfers. A transport strike, a broken lift or a taxi that is not suitable for people with mobility (People with reduced mobility, editor’s note) enough to compromise to stay. However, while an able-bodied traveler easily adapts to an unforeseen event, remember that the difficulty is multiplied tenfold for disabled passengers.
fig-i-1e71c96e529900b281ff0f4f6fe12cda fig-lazy fig-placeholder–with-dimensions” data-module=”fig-photo” data-context=”was @visible” data-modal-image=’
How do you assess the situation in France?
In France, we are in the middle of the pack. However, there is an improvement. Previously, we had to push the doors of professionals and insist on accessibility. Today, they are the ones who come to us to bring them up to standards. Owners of furnished tourist accommodation or small bed and breakfasts are not required by law to adapt their accommodation as it is a private property. However, they try harder than some hoteliers.
Considering the next major sporting events, such as the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, what do you expect from tourism professionals and government authorities?
I am concerned about the significant delay France has taken on accessibility. For some events, if you have to get there by subway, it’s all over for people in wheelchairs. It remains to be hoped that shuttles and other accessible ground transportation will be installed. In terms of accommodation, few hoteliers have real adapted rooms. If there are many requests, we will not be able to answer them. All these shortcomings will not tempt these visitors to stay a few more days to visit the sights.
Which destinations do you think are the most advanced in terms of accessibility? Conversely, who are the bad students?
The Nordic countries are a model because they integrate global reach into all their development projects. The United States and Canada, for their part, have infrastructures that are perfectly adapted for people with disabilities, even if they are less efficient for others. In France, I highlight the initiative of the Department of Hérault, which has just launched its Hérault Mobility app. It is a digital travel diary that is rich with accessible addresses and routes. Charents (who represent Charente and Charente-Maritime, Ed), Toulouse or Bordeaux, have a fully equipped public transport system. On the other hand, Ile de France and Paris in particular are unfortunately lagging behind, especially in terms of heavy public transport (metro and RER). People with reduced mobility can only rely on buses and trams while using some drivers’ unscrupulous roads.
Do you have any tips for travelers with disabilities?
Going through a travel agency can be an option for a peaceful vacation, but it is far from mandatory. When you are planning your vacation, you should know as much as possible about each place you visit. For example, it is better to contact the hotel owner to ask him for photos of the facilities. Very precise information is needed, such as the width of the door or the slope of the entrance ramp. The words “accessible accommodation” or “disabled room” on a furnished rental offer or hotel website are often too vague and reflect a reality that is not in line with the reality of people with disabilities. … Professionals do not always take into account. consider the desire for autonomy, however important. That is why we have created an interactive map of 4,000 tourist attractions that carry our Tourism and Disability brand (hotels, museums, tourist offices, etc.) that guarantee at least two disabilities (auditory, intellectual, motor and disabled) ) adapted facilities. visual).
Source: Le Figaro
I’m Ashley Mark, a news website author for Buna Times. I specialize in writing articles about current trends and breaking news stories. With my passion for uncovering the truth behind every story, I strive to bring readers the most up-to-date information available.