The world's best beaches will be accessible to tourists with disabilities
More than 3,700 beaches in 44 countries can boast of a prestigious award - the Blue Flag, which confirms the high level of service and infrastructure development, environmental safety and water quality. The Blue Flag eloquently testifies to the guests: it is perfectly possible to swim here, it is convenient and comfortable here. In 2018, the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) and the Blue Flag agreed to include a new mandatory criterion for the list - universal accessibility of beaches for people with disabilities. From now on, only beaches that develop a barrier-free environment can qualify for the award.
On February 25, the Blue Flag entered into a partnership agreement with Total Beach Access, which is working to provide general access for all travelers to beaches around the world. To do this, the beaches - owners of the Blue Flag, will be equipped with everything necessary so that people with wheelchairs, the elderly, blind and visually impaired can enjoy swimming and relaxing.
.jpg)
allowing wheelchair users and families with prams easy access (Source)
“This ground-breaking new partnership is a real game-changer that will ensure our Blue Flag beaches are accessible to everyone including the elderly, families with baby buggies and people with physical disabilities or visual impairments. It will impact the experience of millions” says International Blue Flag Programme Director Sophie Bachet Granados.
the elderly, blind and visually impaired can enjoy swimming and relaxing (Source)
“Blue Flag and Total Beach Access working together can change the world by welcoming those who previously struggled to navigate their way to the water. This is a necessary change so that all people have the same opportunity to enjoy the beach” says Connie Skibicki from Total Beach Access.
which will allow people to enjoy the water (Source)
On the practical side, the universal accessibility of the Blue Flag beaches will be provided in two stages.
A specially-made walkway system will be placed on a Blue Flag awarded beach allowing wheelchair users and families with prams easy access over soft sand or small pebbles. This will be equipped with special devices to guide the visually impaired using a phone app.
“Access to the beach is the first part, but we also wanted to make sure people with physical disabilities didn’t just have to just stay on the beach and watch others enjoy the water. So we have designed a state-of-the-art amphibious wheelchair which will allow them to go in as well.” says Connie Skibicki.
Currently, Cape Verde, Colombia, Finland, India, and South Korea have joined the work on creating a barrier-free environment on the Blue Flag beaches. The first beaches accessible to all will be named by the summer of 2019.