On 3 December 2013, within the context of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Minister and Member of the Francophone Brussels Government (Cocof), responsible for the Support Policy for People with Disabilities, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Minister-President of the Francophone Brussels Government (Cocof), responsible for Tourism, Christos DOULKERIDIS, State Secretary of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for Mobility, Civil Service, Equal Opportunities and Administrative Simplification, Bruno De Lille, CEO of VISITBRUSSELS, Patrick BONTINCK, Director of the not-for-profit organisation AMT Concept [Access and Mobility for All], Miguel GEREZ, with the participation of the Marivaux Hotel, presented the publication of the 2013 tourist guide “Brussels For All”. This trilingual guide offers an overview of the accessibility of tourist facilities for people with limited mobility looking for information when staying in Brussels. This trilingual tourist guide has a brand new layout for its 10th anniversary edition.
The “Brussels For All” guide is a comprehensive tool that’s packed with practical information about access to accommodation, hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, sports centres and leisure venues. It also helps to raise awareness among travel agencies, transport service providers and accommodation suppliers.
Developing “tourism for all” is the challenge that the not-for-profit organisation AMT CONCEPT has been relishing for more than 10 years, with its guide as well as a website. “This hard copy version is a valuable resource based on the website. It is packed with simple, concise information about accessibility, referring to the website for more details and illustrations,” explains Miguel Gerez, Director of the not-for-profit organisation AMT Concept. AMT Concept also offers suggestions for ways of tackling the behavioural and architectural barriers preventing disabled tourists from travelling safely.
“As well as the choice of accommodation, leisure activities in general are an integral part of the destination’s tourist activities and appeal. In the medium and long term, tourist venues must also be carefully thought out to make sure everyone has access to all aspects of the Brussels experience,” clarifies Christos Doulkeridis, Minister-President of the Francophone Brussels Government (Cocof), responsible for Tourism.
Although there have been significant improvements in recent years in Brussels, accessibility to tourist venues is far from perfect, particularly when it comes to public transport, public buildings, shops, restaurants, leisure venues etc.
In reality, this guide concerns everybody. “All too often, we tend to forget that people with limited mobility represent around one third of the population. Associating them exclusively with people with disabilities is too restrictive! In fact, at some point in our lives, we can all experience difficulties when it comes to getting around (…),” highlights Evelyne Huytebroeck, Minister, Member of the
Francophone Brussels Government (Cocof), responsible for the Support Policy for People with Disabilities.
“We are all one day facing mobility issues. This is why integral accessibility is touching more people than the ones with a handicap. Integral accessibility means an access to social, cultural and economic life. It’s a matter of equality of chances and a fundamental right”, says Bruno De Lille, Brussels Secretary of State for Equality of Chances
At the beginning of any journey, it is important to provide detailed information about the destination.
A step to climb, a badly designed door width or a poorly positioned flower plot can often be a source of dependency and fatigue for disabled travellers or their companions.
“As well as its website, VISITBRUSSELS also provides information about accessibility for people with limited mobility in most of its brochures. That’s why, for the sake of consistency and to supplement this information, we were keen to support this hard copy version of the “Brussels For All” guide,” explains Patrick Bontinck, CEO of VISITBRUSSELS.
Quote for the Marivaux Hotel
Lastly, this guide alone is not enough: it complements other traditional tourist guides, which are still
crucial when it comes to appreciating all the cultural and leisure activities that Brussels has to offer.
More info?
Miguel Gerez, Director of the not-for-profit organisation ASBL AMT Concept (Accès et Mobilité pour
Tous – Access and Mobility for All)
0032 2 705 03 48
