Bangkok (Thailand) – September 30, 2016 – (travelindex.com) – Thailand plans to create unique tourism routes in each of the country's eight main regions, specifically tailored to the needs of travelers with special requirements.

This year's theme for World Tourism Day 2016, "Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility," served as the impetus and inspiration for the project. Upon completion, it aims to expand Thailand's tourism offerings in line with existing promotional efforts and make travel within the country accessible to all tourists, regardless of impairments or disabilities.

Her Excellency Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, announced the innovative initiative during the World Tourism Day 2016 celebrations in Bangkok.

She said: “Amazing Thailand means Amazing Thailand for everyone. To create a high-quality tourism experience and equality for every visitor, this will first be introduced on a trial basis in Khon Kaen and then implemented nationwide without interruptions between arrival and departure.”

"It is aimed not only at physically disabled travelers, but also at visually or hearing impaired tourists, elderly people or all people with special needs, so that everyone has the opportunity to travel to all regions of Thailand."

While all major tourist centers in the country have some facilities, such as toilets with the disabled logo, according to Ms. Kobkarn, about 50% of them are not functional.

“We need to train and educate tourism service providers on how to appropriately care for and respect all types of travelers with special needs, such as the over-60s who travel globally and require special services. Although wheelchair users are naturally the most visible, they only represent 6% of the global market for people with special needs in tourism.”

“To better understand the challenges, I tried to reach the hotel myself in a wheelchair, but it wasn’t possible. I learned that people with physical disabilities are proud and want an infrastructure that allows them to travel and get around as independently as possible.”

"So it all starts with the concept of 'universal design' to ensure that suitable facilities are in place, but a one-size-fits-all solution is not suitable for everyone. It requires collaboration between the public and private sectors to apply cultural standards that are also appropriate for the local population."

She also pointed out the exhibition that the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports had set up in the lobby of the Siam Kempinski Hotel in Bangkok to mark World Tourism Day 2016. The most prominent participants were the athletes from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, who proudly displayed their medals, attracting media attention.

There were also practical exhibits showcasing the concept of "universal design" for all people, not just those with mobility impairments. These exhibits included SIM card access points for the hearing impaired, advanced accessible toilet designs from leading sanitaryware manufacturers, and a three-dimensional representation of the Grand Palace in Bangkok that allowed visually impaired tourists to experience Thailand's most famous sights using their sense of touch.

Contact information: International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48 Fax: +66 (0) 2250 0246 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.tatnews.org