In-Tour Info Day on “Vocational training in accessible Tourism” – Ileia Chamber of Commerce, Pyrgos (GR), 9 June 2022

On June 9, 2022, the In-Tour Info Day took place at the Ileia Chamber of Commerce in Pyrgos, Greece.

In his opening speech, the President of the Ileia Chamber of Commerce, Mr Konstantinos Nikoloutsos, welcomed the event as an important step in highlighting the contribution of accessible Tourism to Tourism growth. He underlined its interconnection with cultural heritage and the role of vocational training as a tool for professional development, but also as a link to employment policies.

The event was greeted, online, by Dr Achilles Kameas, Professor at Hellenic Open University, Head of the DAISSy Research Group, who presented the research projects and activities of the DAISSy Group.

Then Ms Vicky Maratou and Ms Panagiota Polymeropoulou, Researchers with the DAISSy Group, presented the European curricula of In-Tour, as well as the new professional profiles for the Manager and the Frontline Staff in Accessible Tourism. They announced that starting October, the Hellenic Open University, through the Center for Training and Lifelong Learning, will offer the two courses, one for each profile.

The importance of accessible Tourism for Tourism growth was the main speech topic of both Mr Ivor Ambrose, Managing Director and Mrs Katerina Papamichael, Accessibility Expert of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT). They presented good practices, measurable indicators, as well as strategies to highlight the economic and development dimension of accessible Tourism. They added that this could be incorporated as a valuable tool in the design of relevant measures and policies. After a short break, the event continued with the presentation of Mr Konstantinos V. Antonopoulos, MSc Archaeologist, Ephorate of Antiquities of Ileia, who presented the very interesting recent actions and achievements regarding accessibility in the archaeological sites and museums of the Region of Ileia.

The event closed with the speech of Ms Panagiota Stathopoulou, Employment Counsellor, DYPA. She focused on the importance of the integration of training in accessible Tourism, and the employment policies that could actively support companies in the search for qualified and highly skilled personnel.

The event was attended, among others, by representatives of the Members of Parliament for Ileia, members of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Ileia, representatives of DYPA, representatives of hotel and tourist units, VET providers, students, tour operators and others.

The event was streamed online through the official YouTube channel of the Chamber of Ileia and is available here. The event was mentioned in the local press.