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History of ENAT ENAT , the European Network for Accessible Tourism was founded in 2008 , as a Belgian nonprofit association , which promotes accessibility to tourism for the benefit of all citizens . ENAT began as an EU-funded pilot project which had the aim to mainstream the concept and consideration of accessible tourism and disability issues .
It was established by a number of organisations and individuals whose common goal was to make tourism accessible for all .
These included :
• EWORX S . A ., Athens , Greece
• Fundación ONCE , Madrid , Spain
• Vzw Toegankelijkheidsbureau , Hasselt , Belgium
• Association National pour le Logement des personnes Handicapées asbl , Bruxelles , Belgium
• VisitBritain , London , UK
• Tourism for All in Sweden , Helsingborg , Sweden
• Work Research Centre , Dublin , Ireland
• Ministry of Tourism , Athens , Greece
• Disability Now , Thessaloniki , Greece
• ATHLA Onlus , Italy
• Turismo do Centro , Portugal
The demand for accessible tourism , in its wide conception of Tourism for All , was and still is now growing . It ' s now recognized as an opportunity for the tourism sector rather than an obligation . If the tourism industry wants to maintain and develop quality , sustainability and competitiveness , it must support and develop tourism which is accessible for all .
However , almost always , when “ Tourism for All ” is taken into consideration by the tourism sector , the focus of all activities , promotions and offers is normally on tourists with disabilities as a separate “ segment ” of the market , to be managed as such , and therefore without genuine inclusion in a mainstream logic .
The founding members were the organisations which belonged to the Partnership for the development of the pilot project . Since the founding , many other members were accepted as full members . The Network is ruled by a Statute , approved by the majority of the full members and is led by an international Board of Directors . Its members are national and regional tourist bodies , public and private tourism companies , tourism professionals , academic and research institutions and non-governmental organizations of people with disabilities from more than 30 countries worldwide .
The goal of ENAT , since the very beginning , has been the promotion of accessible tourism in Europe and in the rest of the world , in an inclusive perspective of environments , products and services .