From October 2023 to June 2024, activities and new challenges are underway in the field of equalizing opportunities for persons with disabilities, as part of the project Tourism for Me! We will present the project on December 4th, 2023, at the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Zagreb!

A challenging period awaits us, during which we will have the opportunity to, together with our partner, associated partners and associates, initiate changes and contribute to the development of accessible tourism in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and Croatia.

The project will contribute to creating new tourism values and awareness of the benefits of inclusive access for persons with disabilities, as a business policy that contributes to equalizing the opportunities of persons with disabilities, both as guests – tourists, and as workers or tourist capacities.

The project is financed from the Public Tender of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports – co-financing of tourism association projects, Public Tender R. no. 5658,

Program area: projects to develop awareness of accessible tourism.

Duration: from October 2023 to June 2024

Target groups: persons with disabilities, employers in tourism, employees in tourism, tourist boards.

The funds are intended for the co-financing of projects that contribute to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labor market in tourism, encouraging employers and tourist boards in tourism to develop accessible tourism.

Partners: Association of private renters of the City of Opatija (a condition of the Invitation is the association) – https://www.opatijaholiday.com/si/info/6

Associated partners: Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka, Hilton Hotel (condition of Invitation for associated partners)

Collaborators: Association of Tourist Guides of Kvarner, https://www.vodici-kvarnera.hr/hr/ Association of Private Renters of the City of Rijeka and other tourism workers.

Financed by: Ministry of Tourism and Sports

Associated partners: Rijeka Tourist Board, Hotel Hilton Costabella

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The partner’s role is to contribute to spreading awareness of the right of persons with disabilities to the availability of sustainable and accessible tourism, as well as employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in tourism. With its experience, the partner will contribute to the formation of the training program for workers in tourism, as well as the training program for persons with disabilities who work or can work in tourism, participate in the campaign for sustainable and affordable tourism in the Republic of Croatia, especially since it is from the Istrian County, which is extremely tourist-oriented.

The role of the associate partner – the associate partner does not have the right to compensation, but contributes to the objectives of the competition, and by ensuring participation in the project, contributes to the reputation and higher quality of the company’s operations, ensures the participation of workers in training, etc.

Schedule of activities from October 2023 until June 2024

Provision of infrastructure for the implementation of DIP activities (participants: partners, associated partners, collaborators) – Association of Private Renters of the City of Opatija, Hotel Hilton Costabella, TC Rijeka, Association of Tourist Guides Kvarner, Association of Private Renters of the City of Rijeka) – from October 2023 – April 2024

1.1. Module 1. Training programs for employees in tourism, those who come into direct contact with persons with disabilities on the topic of taking care of guests with disabilities, equalizing opportunities for persons with disabilities – participants: partners, associated partners, associates – Association of Private Renters of the City of Opatija Hotel Hilton Costabella, TC Rijeka, Association of Tourist Guides Kvarner, Association of Private Renters of the City of Rijeka; according to the agreement for 5 to 15 tourism workers from each organization, in DIP and/or Hilton and/or Opatija. Duration: 2-4 hours, as needed x 2

– Trained up to 15 tourist workers to work with PWDs – tourist, guest; how to deal with PWDs, what to provide, how to adapt the service; what is not the duty of workers in tourism, and what is?

2. Module 2. Training and development programs for persons with disabilities for work in tourism and catering – for employed persons with disabilities and potential employees

– for associated partners, for persons who are already employed and 10 PWDs who are potential workers – jobseekers in tourism,

participants: partners, associated partners, collaborators: Association of private renters of the City of Opatija, Hotel Hilton Costabella, TC Rijeka

Association of Tourist Guides Kvarner, Association of Private Renters City of Rijeka

– other interested persons with disabilities: for 2 to 5 PWD workers of associated partners and associates and 10 potential DIP members

Duration: 1-2 hours x 2 Held workshops for PWDs on topics: work ethics and discipline, rights, communication

3. Module 3. training and development programs for mentors in the company who are directly superior to workers with disabilities employed in the company – Employers in tourism:                                                                      – employees at the Hilton Hotel and other employers (TZ, other employers in tourism), mentors for persons with disabilities who work in the company, other employers (HOK, HGK)

– for two to 5 persons who are immediate superiors, or work with persons with disabilities

Trained 3 to 5, and a maximum of 10 mentors or future mentors for assessment, reception, adjustment of workplace, support of PWD, and communication with PWD.

4. Active participation in the campaign to ensure the availability of sustainable and adapted tourism: 

1. Participation in press conferences
2. At the round table on adapted tourism (as an example of good practice)
3. at informative meetings.
4.  in the creation of an adapted text for persons with disabilities at min. two languages, which they will place on their pages and other capacities, that is, place QR codes for persons with disabilities. DIP

– participants: partners, associated partners, collaborators: Association of private renters of the City of Opatija, Hotel Hilton Costabella, TZ Rijeka

Association of Tourist Guides Kvarner, Association of Private Renters City of Rijeka, Company for creating QR codes; Tourist boards: TZ Rijeka, Opatija, PGC

Adapted text for persons with disabilities:

a) About capacities: level of architectural adaptation, visual, communication adaptation

b) Assignment of accessibility marks

preparation of the assessment element – collected data according to criteria for several degrees of adaptability – assessment by experts and PWDs in a language adapted for PWDs; created QR code, assigned codes for tourist facilities;

1. testing, invitations to representatives of tourist facilities
2. tour and assessment
3. development of codes according to the assessment results
4. ceremonial awarding of codes on adaptability and information at a round table. Held a round table on accessible tourism

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