Best Practices in MaltaBest Practices in Maltaand further cooperationand further cooperationin Accessible Tourismin Accessible Tourism

Joseph M. CamilleriChairman, Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b’Diżabilità (KNPD)

(with Ms. M. Barbara)

Friday, 16th November, 2012

ACAACAACCESSIBLE CULTURE FOR ALLACCESSIBLE CULTURE FOR ALL

ACCESSIBILITY IN MALTAACCESSIBILITY IN MALTA

Accommodation: Hotels, boutique-hotels, guest-houses and hostels

Airport Beaches Churches Pavements Public gardens Retails, bars and restaurants Schools

Our review of accessibility in Malta is based on the Access for All Design Guidelines (3rd edition 2011) (AADG) which includes:

KNPD – MEPA COLLABORATIONKNPD – MEPA COLLABORATION

Development plans vetted to ensure AADG compliance

Pre-consultation meetings held with KNPD draughtsperson (Ms.

Marie Barbara) at MEPA, by appointment

Upon request, meetings may be arranged with KNPD Chair &/or KNPD’s consultant architect

Where there are issues specific to persons with restricted mobility, KNPD Chair may carry out an on-site visit and offer suggestions

KNPD advises the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) regarding applications for public buildings. We do this in the following ways:

Access For All Access For All Design Guidelines 2011Design Guidelines 2011

1st edition (2000) - 2nd edition (2005) - 3rd edition (2011)

Restructuring of the guidelines in an amended format

A review of the technical design guidance, taking in advances in new technology

Include more guidance in areas not addressed in previous editions of the AADG

More focus on differing context of new-build and existing buildings

KNPD’s modus operandiKNPD’s modus operandi

We take in consideration the location and type of building and we try to find a reasonable and generally acceptable compromise.

The Maltese building industry still tends to take the line that the minimum requirements in the AADG are actually the maximum required, thus trying to water down the guidelines. KNPD resistance to this trend is robust.

In cases where there is a problem and an outright exemption is requested applicants may apply to KNPD’s Test of Reasonableness Board.

SOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTSSOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS

Hotels/ guest-houses/ hostels/ boutique-hotels

Restaurants & retail outlets

Places of interest

Blue flag beaches wooden gangways, waterborne wheelchairs, accessible-

for-all sanitary facilities

There is a slow but sure growth in accessible tourism facilities in Malta:

TRANSPORTTRANSPORTSEASEA, land & air, land & air

Gozo Channel ferries are accessible for all

The Gozo terminal is accessible, while the Malta terminal (still under construction) will be functional and accessible by the end of 2012

The cruise liner terminal is accessible to all, as is most of the Valletta Waterfront. However, disabled Maltese still experience significant difficulties booking accessible cabins with local cruise- ship travel agencies

Harbour cruise facilities vary in respect of accessibility --- our saving grace remains, as always, our very helpful and supportive population

TRANSPORTTRANSPORTsea, sea, LANDLAND, air, air

The local bus service (Arriva Ltd) is, by and large, accessible to all, but land infrastructure (bus-stops, pavements, etc) lag far behind Wheelchair-users and local Blue Badge holders travel free-

of-charge

Wheelchair accessible transport includes: Yellow cabs Individual taxis Some mini-bus services (although these cater for multiple

wheelchair-users and are thus very expensive as an individual option)

Hand-control Rental Vehicles are still not available, although KNPD has been working very hard to resolve this issue

TRANSPORTTRANSPORTland , sea & land , sea & AIRAIR

Malta International Airport is physically accessible to all

Air Malta offers various services to disabled persons: Wheelchair accessible transport to and from the aircraft Assistance to and from one’s plane seat Personal assistance and priority services for wheelchair users to

and from destination Guide dog owners have their own arrangements

As an EU Member-State, Malta is bound by the European Commission’s guidelines to improve and facilitate the application of Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 [SWD(2012)171]

HERITAGE SITESHERITAGE SITES

Ggantija TempleGgantija Temple (Gozo)(Gozo) The Ġgantija temples are the earliest of

a series of megalithic temples in Malta.

External approach from the drop off

point / parking to the temples.

The solution had to be non invasive and

not to cause irreversible damage, i.e.,

suspended timber walkway

Now, more than 80% of the building is

accessible to all

HERITAGE SITESHERITAGE SITES Palazzo de PiroPalazzo de Piro - Mdina - Mdina

This 17th century palazzo in Malta's old capital city, Mdina, has been recently restored to create a venue of cross-cultural, artistic and social dialogue

Heritage Malta agreed to the installation of a timber ramp was installed to avoid further alterations to the façade

There are different levels on same floor

Lifts and step lifts are being installed

To date almost all the building is accessible to all except for one small room

HERITAGE SITESHERITAGE SITESCittadella Cittadella (Gozo)(Gozo)

is a historic fortified city or castle with steep, stepped passageways

The best possible non-compliant AADG ramps to be installed

KNPD has recommended the following: Information maps which will

indicate which areas are accessible and which not, and the gradient of the streets

Electric scooters are to be made available

HERITAGE SITESHERITAGE SITESLascaris War Rooms & NATO TunnelsLascaris War Rooms & NATO Tunnels

Thery were deliberately designed to be inaccessible

It is impossible to render them fully accessible to all

KNPD & Heritage Malta have collaborated to maximise

accessibility

are located 400 feet under the Upper Barrakka Gardens, they

are composed of a network of underground tunnels and

chambers that housed the WW2 HQ in Malta from where all

the defence and offensive operations in the Mediterranean

were directed.

BOUTIQUE HOTELSBOUTIQUE HOTELS… … BirguBirgu

located in one of the ‘Three Cities’ the owner of this boutique hotel

has rendered the historic building accessible to the maximum extent

possible, without damaging its fabric or historic value.

‘‘COULD-DO-BETTER’ Sectors COULD-DO-BETTER’ Sectors

Existing buildings Harbour cruises and sea cruises Encroachments on public land (restaurants, bars,

etc) hamper access for blind people and people with restricted mobility

Roads and public transport infrastructure

More investment and effort is always needed in order to change public attitudes

NOTE - Malta is a late-comer to accessibility. EU-funding with its obligation to increasing inclusion has ‘kick started’ a sudden interest in accessibility

TOURISM FOR DISABLED PEOPLETOURISM FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

Holiday planning: accessible websites & accessible, accurate information

Travel to destination: vehicle/ terminal accessibility & affordability?

Travel at destination: availability … affordability?

Accommodation: accessibility/ affordability … choice!

Heritage sites: accessibility site/ information

Leisure venues: bars, restaurants, discos

Cultural activities: Malta Nights, Evenings on Campus, Notte Bianca, various local festivals

ATTITUDE, attitude, attitude

Accessible tourism is a long chain made up of individual links, if one link is weak or broken the whole chain collapses.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

KNPD website: www.knpd.org

Access for All Design Guidelines (KNPD on-line publication)

Rights, Not Charity (KNPD on-line publication)

Disability Equality Training for staff (contact KNPD)

KNPD ● Bugeia Institute, Triq Braille, Sta. Venera SVR1619 - MALTA ●

● T: 2278 8555 ● F: 2278 8490 ● SMS biss/ SMS only: 7978 8555 ●

● W: http://www.knpd.org/ ● E: helpdesk@knpd.org ●