Participation of Department Faculty and Students in the International Webinar «Accessible Tourism for All: Focus on Ukraine»

Accessible tourism goes beyond the right to travel for all people, regardless of disability. It represents an excellent opportunity for destinations and businesses to expand their markets and reduce seasonality. Ukraine promotes the rights of persons with disabilities based on national policies aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Key initiatives include the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030 and the 2025-2026 Action Plan for its implementation, aimed at improving the accessibility of infrastructure, transportation, information, and public services.

On November 18, 2025, Associate Professors Kateryna Lemish, Olena Tokarenko, Tetiana Sydorchenko, and Senior Lecturer Viktoriia Shvachko, together with bachelor’s and master’s students of the educational programs «Management», «Organization Management», and «Hotel, Resort and Tourism Management» took part in an important international event.

The webinar, organized by UN Tourism and the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, focused on exploring opportunities and challenges related to accessibility at national and international levels. This topic has gained even greater relevance in Ukraine, especially within the context of the country’s reconstruction.

Accessible tourism is not just about the right of every person to travel, regardless of disability – it also offers significant opportunities for destinations and businesses to expand their markets and mitigate seasonality. The Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, Ms. Nataliia Tabaka, emphasized that currently, less than 23% of Ukraine’s tourism infrastructure meets accessibility standards.

Our faculty members and students joined discussions that brought together international experts who shared best practices and innovations. Among the foreign speakers were representatives of:

• ONCE Foundation (Spain), who presented insights on adapting built environments and removing barriers through initiatives such as AccessibleEU. They stressed that accessibility is not only a technical solution but a principle of dignity, a driver of economic growth, and a foundation for sustainable societies.
• European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) – one of the leading global networks in the field. It was noted that catering to customers with accessibility needs enhances the overall quality of services.
• Turismo de Portugal, who shared their experience in implementing the international standard ISO 21902:2021.

Special attention was drawn to Ukrainian initiatives:

• Lviv City Council, which showcased a comprehensive strategy for promoting barrier-free tourism, including support programs for veterans undergoing treatment.
• NGO «EtnoChary» (Vinnytsia), which presented a project integrating accessibility and inclusiveness into traditional local crafts, such as pottery for people with visual impairments.

Webinar participants took part in a dynamic panel discussion featuring international experts, government representatives, and civil society organizations. This productive session enabled the exchange of advanced experiences, identification of innovative solutions, and discussion of the need to implement international standards essential for building an inclusive and sustainable tourism sector in Ukraine.

The event concluded with closing remarks by UN Tourism Executive Director Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, who expressed warm greetings and gratitude to the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine for the initiative. Ms. Urosevic highlighted UN Tourism’s strong commitment to accessibility over the past 20 years, referencing key milestones such as the publication of the first comprehensive ISO standard on accessible tourism (2021), the launch of the San Marino Action Agenda (2023), and the upcoming member-state accessibility survey. «Accessibility is not about ‘them’ and ‘us.’ It is about all people. Tourism must be for everyone», she emphasized, calling for collective efforts to make the sector more profitable, welcoming, and conducive to building a fairer and more peaceful world where accessibility is fundamental.

Participation in the webinar became an important step in deepening the knowledge of our faculty and students in inclusive management and tourism – essential for preparing highly qualified professionals capable of implementing universal design and barrier-free principles in their future careers.

The knowledge gained will contribute to developing new educational materials and projects aimed at positioning Ukraine as one of Europe’s leading destinations for inclusive and accessible tourism. Together, we are building a future where tourism is accessible, comfortable, transparent, and open to every traveler.

We invite everyone to join us in creating an inclusive and barrier-free environment!

Prepared by the Department of Economics, Management and Finance