Athena na cestách

The ATHENA project has started an action to support accessible tourism in the Czech Republic. The campaign JEDEME TAKY aneb Cestování podle Vás will last until 31 January, 2011, and its major aim is the exchange of experience in accessible tourism solutions.Applicants can participate by sending photographs or stories on tourism. The contributions can depict solutions which make travelling and tourist stays comfortable and accessible for all as well as problematic issues that complicate travelling or even make it impossible. “The campaign strives to motivate people to share their experience with tourism services as well as real-life experiences from travelling regarding accessibility and barrier-free access. Their suggestions and observations can inspire the improvement of tourism services in our country so that tourism can become accessible for all,” explained Ing. Jarmila Šagátová, the ATHENA project manager, about the purpose of the campaign.

Anyone can send their contributions to give evidence about, for example:
•    the quality and accessibility of information before a planned trip (information and promotional materials of hotels and tourist facilities, booking systems, information on facility accessibility),
•    the quality of communication with the service providers (willingness to comply with specific requirements, the employees' approach, the ability to answer accessibility inquiries),
•    the accessibility of hotels, restaurants and places of interest (equipment, the staff's approach, assistance services),
•    the accessibility by various means of transport.

The contributions will be continuously published on the project website until the end of 2010. During January 2011, the website visitors can vote for the best ones. “At the same time, the contributions will be assessed by a committee of project experts. Twelve of the best contributions from each category will be incorporated into a diary to be published after the end of the campaign,” said Ing. Šagátová, about the assessment procedure.

The action is open to anyone who sends their contribution together with a duly completed registration form, which is available for download on the project website. The applicants can send their contributions (photographs or written stories) by e-mail or post to the address of the project office. Anyone can send as many contributions as they want to, however not later than by 31 December, 2010. Detailed information on the campaign and its rules are available on the project ATHENA website www.project-athena.cz. 

The main objective of the project ATHENA that is financed from the European Social Fund by means of the Operational Programme Human Resources and Development, and from the state budget of the Czech Republic, is to support the development of human resources and employment in the sphere of accessible tourism in the Czech Republic applying the experience and inspiration from other EU-member countries. Its activities focus mainly on the increase of awareness and understanding of this issue by employers in the tourist industry, bodies of state administration, educational institutions as well as by the disabled persons, non-profit organizations associating with or employing such persons, and by the general public. The project which ends in May 2011 is being realized mainly in the Moravian-Silesian Region, Hradec Kralove Region, South Bohemian Region and the capital city Prague.



More Information:
Ing. Jarmila Šagátová                               
Project Manager                               
Phone: 558 335 479                                          
E-mail: kazuist@kazuist.cz