The fifth edition of the “International Conference on Accessible Travel and Tourism” will take place next month in Dubai under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group.

A statement released yesterday indicated that the conference, scheduled for October 7-8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, aims to enhance legislation, policies, infrastructure, and services, especially in air, land, and sea transportation, as well as accommodation and hospitality services to meet the needs of 1.3 billion people of determination.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said: “The conference aims to bring together decision-makers and experts in accessible travel and tourism under one roof to share ideas and learn best practices, to promote the accessible tourism industry and highlight Dubai and the UAE’s achievements as a pioneering country where people of determination are given special priority.”

He added: “I am proud that Dubai was chosen as a child-friendly city for those on the autism spectrum, and that Emirates Airline and Dubai Airports were selected as friendly facilities. This is the result of continuous joint efforts and our commitment to empower people of determination to advance Dubai and the UAE to become the best destination in the world for tourism services.”

He called for international cooperation to ensure accessible tourism for more than a billion people worldwide, wishing the conference participants success in their endeavors.

For his part, Ghassan Suleiman, the conference secretary-general, said: “The tourism industry needs more than ever to adopt the concept of ‘inclusive tourism’ that meets the aspirations of millions of people of determination, from the moment they consider embarking on a trip until the moment they reach their destination and return, relying on implementing a series of relevant legislations, smart solutions, distinguished services in transportation, hospitality, communication, and qualified human resources, to continue growth and double the size of this industry in the coming years.”

He added that “stakeholders in the travel and tourism chain need to work together to remove barriers preventing travel, especially with international support for the rights of this segment to smooth mobility.”

The conference includes a session titled “Lessons from Dubai” with the participation of Emirates Airline, Dubai Airports, Roads and Transport Authority, and the Department of Economy and Tourism to review key local experiences that made Dubai a leading model in this sector.

According to estimates by the World Health Organization, people of determination represent 15% of the world’s population, about 1.3 billion people, with the number expected to rise to 2 billion by 2050. The European Network for Accessible Tourism confirms that 257 million tourists seek easily accessible destinations, opening wide horizons for the global tourism sector to enhance its economic and social role.