EDEN awards tourism without barriers

19 destinations across Europe win awards for accessible and sustainable tourism

Representatives of 19 destinations from all over Europe have been awarded EDEN trophies for their efforts to offer accessible features and equipment such as walking paths adapted to wheelchairs or prams, specially adapted bike rentals as well as adapted access to beaches and mountains.

These kinds of services and features make holidays more enjoyable for people with different kinds of special access needs: reduced mobility, visual impairments or learning difficulties; but also for senior citizens or families with children. They also mean better overall quality of services and more comfort for all tourists.

EDEN is an accolade that the European Commission has been giving out for six years now, awarding emerging destinations that have successfully contributed to sustainability and opening up tourism to everybody.

The goal of this year’s EDEN awards is to give accessible tourism more visibility and to encourage other destinations across Europe to start following their example. In return, they will reap great benefits, because barrier-free tourism opens many new, sometimes niche, markets and attracts new clients. This in turn has a positive effect on economic growth and the jobs that come with it.

The awards criteria were:

For this year’s EDEN awards, five main aspects of accessibility have been taken into consideration. The winners had to demonstrate that their destination:

• is barrier-free (infrastructure and facilities);
• is accessible by transport means suitable for all users;
• has high quality services provided by trained staff;
• has activities, exhibits, attractions in which everyone can participate;
• has marketing, booking systems, web sites and other information services which are accessible to all.
• In addition, destinations also had to fulfill the general criteria of EDEN destinations. They had to demonstrate that they:
• are "non-traditional", with a low number of visitors (in comparison with the national average);
• manage their own tourism offer in a way that ensures social, cultural and environmental sustainability;
• are managed by a partnership between the public authorities and all those involved in tourism in and around the area;
• are preparing or have in place a marketing management structure and a defined strategy for sustainable tourism development.

This years winners were:

Kaunertal Valley, Austria

Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve,

Stancija 1904 – Svetvin-enat, Croatia

Polis Chrysochous Municipality, Cyprus

Lipno, Czech Republic

Haapsalu City, Estonia

Morvan Regional Natural Park, France

Municipality of Marathon, Greece

Kaposvr and the Zselic area, Hungary

Cavan Town and environs, Ireland

Pistoia, Italy

Liep-ja, Latvia

Telšiai, Lithuania

Horsterwold, Netherlands

Przemy-›l, Poland

Jurilovca, Romania

Laško, Slovenia

Natural Park of Guara’s Mountains and Canyons, Spain

Tarakl-± District, Turkey

Valere Tjolle

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