Juist receives certificate: Barrier-free travel for everyone!

Juist receives certificate: Barrier-free travel for everyone!

The North Sea Tourism Agency has good news to report from Juist. The tourist information centers in the town hall and in the harbor of the popular holiday island were checked and re-certified as part of the “Travel for All” initiative. This certification promotes inclusion and barrier-free equipment at the information points, which are among the most frequented on the island. The tourist information team leader, Benita Martin, expressed her enthusiasm about the renewed recognition, which is valid for three years.

The positive aspects of the certification include step-free access and a door width of at least 90 cm to accommodate physical limitations. Equally important for certification are clear signage and clearly designed information that make orientation easier for all visitors. It is also required that at least one employee of the tourist information office has completed accessibility training.

Points of criticism and opportunities for improvement

However, the review also identified some points of criticism. These include the lack of information in plain language and Braille as well as the lack of visual warning signals. The Juist spa administration has already announced that it will examine these suggestions for improvement. It is important to remember that around 10 million people in Germany have a disability, 10% of whom rely on accessible information. 40% of people with disabilities perceive barrier-free information as a particular added value for their travel needs.

The information on accessibility on Juist is available on the Juist spa administration website. “Travel for All” represents a nationwide label for barrier-free tourist businesses and is awarded by Bayern Tourist GmbH in cooperation with the Lower Saxony Ministry.

Barrier-free offers in Saxony-Anhalt

At the same time, there is also progress in the area of ​​barrier-free tourism in other regions of Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, 139 companies and tourist facilities were presented in a brochure entitled “Travel for All in Saxony-Anhalt”. This is published by the Investitions- und Marketinggesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH (IMG) on behalf of the Ministry of Economics, Science and Digitalization and offers a 60-page overview of certified barrier-free offers.

Barbara Weinert-Nachbagauer, Head of Marketing at IMG, emphasizes that accessibility is becoming increasingly important as a comfort criterion for all travelers. The destinations presented use a Germany-wide uniform labeling and pictogram system that was developed as part of the “Travel for All” project.

The brochure can be easily ordered online and those wishing to travel have the opportunity to research accessible destinations directly on the website. It is also available as a PDF download and there is an e-learning platform that offers extensive information about accessibility options, including a course on the topic.

In summary, both Juist and Saxony-Anhalt are taking steps in the right direction to promote barrier-free tourism. This initiative will not only benefit those who rely on accessible information, but also create a more comfortable travel experience for all travelers.

For more information on this topic, see the articles North Sea Tourism Agency and des Tourism network Saxony-Anhalt.