ABOUT 200 disabled people will form a convoy to promote Accessible Tourism with the starting and finishing points at Sunway Pyramid on Nov 27. Beautiful Gate Foundation executive director Sia Siew Chin said apart from creating disability awareness, the convoy was aimed at promoting Accessible Tourism for the elderly and disabled.
“Many firms still refuse to provide disabled-friendly facilities because they view this as unnecessary and an additional cost to the company. Malaysia is moving towards an ageing population and by 2020, the number of old people is expected to increase by 3.4 million. As such, we have to create awareness. Catering to the needs of the disabled also means helping the ageing society overcome obstacles faced in the environment,” Sia told reporters at RMCafe in Sunway Pyramid, Bandar Sunway recently.
This is the second time the event is being held. Held in conjunction with the International Day for the Disabled Persons 2011, Sia said this time, the foundation was taking a step further by organising a Pro-International Conference on Accessible Tourism from Nov 25 to 28 at Sunway Pyramid.
“About 200 international and local participants will attend the conference, out of which 30 are from Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and India. The conference allows participants to understand the latest improvements and best practices as well as provide insight into the future development of tourism,” she added.
Other events to be held include an exhibition, Asia Pacific photo contest, talent time for the disabled, performance by local artistes and a children’s colouring contest.
Researchers, students and tourism-related organisations have been urged to take part in the conference. PJ Utara MP Tony Pua said since Malaysia was a developing nation, it was crucial to look into the needs of the disabled as they were part of the society.
“The conference is a great opportunity for the corporate sector to grasp their knowledge in Accessible Tourism. Malaysia will gain an edge by being an Accessible Tourism destination for the elderly since there has been an increase in the number of elderly tourists visiting the country,” said Pua.
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