A special event was held on the 31st March to promote accessible tourism in Nepal and mark the second Accessible Tourism Day. Titled “Nepal for All: Bringing Business, Best Practices and Vision Together to Promote Accessible Tourism in Nepal“, the one day event in Dhulikhel saw a range of speakers and talk sessions followed by the soft inauguration of the Accessible Unity Trail. Sagar Prasai is pictured on the Accessible Unity Trail that has been designed and developed for people with access needs and the elderly.
The second Accessible Tourism Day was organised jointly by Dhulikhel Municipality and International Development Institute in partnership with Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Army, Four Season Travel and Tours and Sangai Hami (Together We). Bringing accessibility into our daily conversation is a priority as we continue to isolate many leading to the loss of immense opportunities. Businesses from hotels, travel agencies to service sector workers need to think about the needs of all types of customers.
There are millions of wheelchair users, people with no sight or low sight and different learning needs who are still passionate about travelling and experiencing the world around them in different ways and we can definitely be more creative in how we play a part to meet the needs of all. The “Travelling Blind” BBC show makes for an insightful watch with the show following Amar Latif and his sight guide exploring Istanbul in Turkey.
READ: Making Travel In Nepal More Accessible
Media and people need to continue playing an important role in not only featuring individuals such as Sagar Prasai and Shristi KC but the positive work of businesses and changemakers who prioritise diversity and inclusion. It was very saddening to wake up one morning and see the photos of wheelchair users break down the raised-up footpaths in Kathmandu. Some sections of our city is at the perfect time for it to be made with everyone in mind and to see how easily we get it wrong is simply distressing.
