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2024 Highlights

The 4th edition of the Accessible Travel & Tourism International Conference (ATTIC) brought together representatives and decision-makers from international organisations, airports, airlines, hotels, tour operators and other relevant stakeholders and discussed the challenges of Accessible Tourism. Experts during the conference suggested ways and means that will make a world of difference for tourists with disabilities.

Below are the key highlights of the conference.

  • Wide and exceptional publicity in print and electronic media in both Arabic and English, locally and internationally, highlighting Dubai’s commitment to Accessible Travel and Tourism and will help in building image and credibility about Dubai, its initiatives and future plans
  • His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein, President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Jordan, inaugurated the conference through a virtual message, emphasizing the vast potential of investing in inclusive tourism. He urged businesses to embrace change and promote accessibility, highlighting the reciprocal benefits that such initiatives offer. Additionally, he stressed the need for countries heavily reliant on tourism to think innovatively and extend their reach, ensuring facilities are accommodating to people of determination.
  • His Excellency Majid Al Usaimi delivered a keynote address, calling for investments in the accessible travel and tourism sector to attract individuals with various disabilities. He envisioned Dubai becoming the primary and preferred destination for them, citing the availability of world-class infrastructure and services that ensure safety for both travelers and their families.
  • The conference saw the participation of 31 officials and experts representing international organizations, including UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airport Council International (ACI-World), as well as Dubai Government officials from Dubai Municipality, Dubai Economy and Tourism, Roads and Transport Authority, universities, and specialized institutions. Their contributions focused on highlighting their roles and initiatives for bettering accessible tourism and shed light on the requirements of people with disabilities when traveling and exploring tourist destinations.
  • Two workshops hosted by IATA, providing valuable insights on the organization’s efforts to enhance air carrier services for passengers with disabilities.
  • A staggering 142 billion euros of missed economic and global tourism opportunities due to the reluctance of tourists with disabilities to travel, attributed to the lack of suitable services and facilities.
  • The conference garnered participation from 450 officials in the travel and tourism sectors, underlining its significance in the industry.\
  • The conference was a qualitative and an excellent addition to the efforts of Dubai in highlighting the strengths of its tourism offering for people with disabilities.
  • Enthusiastic response to Dubai’s efforts in the accessibility tourism domain and successfully highlighting Dubai as a far better place for tourists with disabilities than other established destinations

Watch all the sessions of the 2-day conference below:

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