The Destinations for All World Summit on Accessible Tourism (DFA) will take place on September 19-21, 2021 in Miami, Florida. DFA is dedicated to the development of inclusive tourism to allow all visitors, whatever their capabilities, to fully participate in the experiences offered by any destination in the world. The goal is to promote a future with full inclusion by “Providing Access Today for a More Inclusive Tomorrow,” the theme of DFA 2021.
“Accessibility in travel and tourism has never been more important than it is today,” notes Eric Lipp, Executive Director of Open Doors Organization (ODO). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15% of the world’s population experiences some form of disability. Including family members, more than 2 billion people are directly affected by a disability.
“The proof is in the numbers,” Lipp continues. “Access needs to be prioritized on a global scale but we know a lot of hesitation comes from not knowing where to start. That’s what makes this event so beneficial. People leave DFA with a new toolbox of ideas and concrete implementation strategies, all of which is gathered from their peers who are industry leaders. And what better place to share all of these ideas than sunny Miami, Florida?”
This two-day event invites panelists from around the world to share how they’ve made their programs, products or services accessible to visitors with disabilities, the challenges they faced during implementation, and how they were overcome. It is by sharing and disseminating best practices in accessible tourism that the World Summit on Accessible Tourism helps the industry develop and grow in a way that enables all future visitors to participate in any experience they want. Failing to promote or provide a path to accessible tourism will exclude a market that continues to grow and neglects the desire for people with disabilities to enjoy the same pleasures from travel as everyone else.
The 3rd Destinations for All World Summit on Accessible Tourism will be hosted by Open Doors Organization (ODO) with guidance from previous DFA organizers Kéroul (Montreal 2014) and Collectif Accessibilité Wallonie-Bruxelles (CAWaB) (Brussels 2018). More information about the event can be found at destinationsforall2021.com.
