Barrier-free tourism: Edersee National Park makes it possible!

Barrier-free tourism: Edersee National Park makes it possible!

As part of a celebratory event at the National Park Center in Vöhl, 19 tourism providers were awarded the “Travel for All” certificate. This award confirms that the recipients present their entire range of services to their guests in a barrier-free manner. Inclusion and the needs of all guests are at the heart of this initiative, which is becoming important to more and more people.

The “Travel for All” award is a nationwide designation in the area of ​​accessibility that collects necessary information for guests and evaluates it according to uniform quality criteria. In Hesse, this quality initiative is coordinated by “Quality compact”, which acts on behalf of the Hessian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas. Marie Schmelzeisen from “Quality compact” emphasizes the importance of this award for inclusion in tourism.

Variety of certified companies

The award-winning companies include a wide range of providers from the hotel, catering and leisure sectors. Jens Knopf, head of department at the National Park Authority, emphasizes that accessibility represents added value for all guests, regardless of their abilities or limitations. This perspective is particularly important because barrier-free travel is becoming increasingly important for people with disabilities, families, seniors and also for guests with temporary restrictions.

It is particularly pleasing that two companies received awards for the first time. This recognition shows the providers' continuous development and commitment to providing their guests with barrier-free access. Bayern Tourist GmbH (BTG) coordinates “Travel for All” at the federal level and is the central contact for licensees and interested companies.

Sustainable improvements in Hessian tourism

The “Quality Compact” initiative is a joint collaboration between DEHOGA, the Hessian Tourism Association and the Hessen Agency, which have set themselves the goal of systematically and sustainably improving the quality of Hessian tourism. The certificate awarding event not only illustrates the diversity of the offerings, but also the constant effort to optimize the conditions for barrier-free travel in the Kellerwald-Edersee region.

The award and the continuous improvement of the offers are milestones in the development of barrier-free tourism. HNA and Kellerwald-Edersee National Park report that this is a big step towards an inclusive society. Ultimately, barrier-free travel not only benefits people with special needs, but also enriches the entire tourism offering in the region.