The three-day activities organized by the Municipality of Thassos, in the framework of the European Territorial Cooperation Programme (Interreg Europe) “Greece – Bulgaria 2014-2020”, which implements the project entitled: “Initiative for improving the capacity and accessibility of tourism destinations in the cross border area” and acronym “Destinations for all”, in cooperation with the lead partner of the project Municipality of Garmen (LB) on Wednesday 22, Thursday 23 and Friday 24 September 2021 on the island of Thassos.
In a targeted effort to develop tourism for persons with disabilities (PWD), thus promoting tourism development in the cross-border region, but also the vital improvement of accessibility to tourism infrastructure, on Wednesday 22 September an ‘Open Day of Success Stories’ for 100 participants took place at the Municipal Camping of Golden Beach in Skala Panagia, Thassos, with the participation of journalists and representatives of Disability Support Organisations from Greece and Bulgaria. In the framework of this action, greetings were given by both the Mayor of Thassos, Mr. Eleftherios Kyriakides, and the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Garmen, Mr. Ahmed Vranchev.
After that, the floor was given to Mrs. Tanya Ivanova, Representative of a Tourism Agent, working with people with disabilities, who made a detailed presentation of the project “Initiative for improving the capacity and accessibility of tourism destinations in the cross border area” and acronym “Destinations for all” and its objectives. Then, in a climate of consultation in a specially designed area with round tables, the President of the Regional Federation of Disabled People of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Kremmidas Smaragdos, was given the floor, who raised the issue of general accessibility for people with disabilities, pointing out the need to ensure full accessibility in the region, in order to facilitate accessibility and accessibility of the areas, especially to all beach structures.
Mr. Menelaos Demogerontas, Vice President of the Prefectural Association of Disabled People of Kavala, spoke about the difficulties of unhindered and equal accessibility of people with disabilities to tourism activities and the need to raise awareness and change attitudes and attitudes towards people with disabilities.
In the context of the open dialogue and exchange of ideas, Ms. Kotsaki Dimitra, President of the Association of Disabled People of Xanthi and mother of a child with Autism, tried to make an experiential approach around the existing and non-existing initiatives to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities in the place where she lives and is active in recent years, within the Region, representing, as she said, the mothers of children with disabilities of the Association and making a characteristic reference to initiatives at airports and archaeological sites.
The cycle of presentations, in the course of extracting useful conclusions, was closed by Mr. Spiros Ntantanidis, Member of the Board of Directors of “PERPATO-Association of People with Mobility Problems” of Komotini, who referred to the necessity of promoting autonomy and self-care ability, through the improvement of the functionality, abilities and potential of people with disabilities, showing a video of the Association “PERPATO”. The workshop concluded with a discussion, participants’ statements and final conclusions based on what was discussed.
Subsequently, on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 September, a “Two-Day Photography Exhibition” was held similarly at the premises of the Municipal Camping of Golden Beach in Skala Panagia in Thassos, with the ultimate aim of developing tourism for people with disabilities and increasing the attractiveness of the region and the number of tourists visiting the border area, through the promotion of exhibits related to infrastructures suitable for people with disabilities in the two regions respectively.
On the first of the two days (Thursday, 23.09) exhibits of the Bulgarian photographer Mr. Ivajlo Tahirov were presented and shown. Mr. Tahirov presented his works one by one to the attendees, explaining that their aim is to raise public awareness on accessibility issues for people with disabilities in a range of tourism-related activities, in recreational, cultural, archaeological or sports venues.
The floor was then given again to Mrs. Dimitra Kotsaki, President of the Association of Disabled People of Xanthi and mother of a child with Autism, presenting four (4) specific proposals to the Municipal Authorities on both sides, which could serve as possible initiatives to enhance accessibility and mass participation of people with disabilities in tourism activities.
On the second of the two days (Friday, 24.09), exhibits of the Greek Photographers of Greek origin, Mr. Nikolaos Sideris and Mr. Nikolaos Karanikolas, Photographer of the “PERPATO” Association. Due to the impossibility of the physical presence of the two Photographers, due to the limitations of Covid-19, their exhibits were presented based on the descriptions they themselves sent during the preparation of the Triennial.
Finally, the Two-Day Photography Exhibition was also attended by Ms. Christina Nefraim, Journalist from enachannel, with multiple activities in the issue of promoting the accessibility of people with disabilities to tourism activities in the field of information in the local community of Thassos and the wider region of Kavala. Ms. Nefraim, after the end of the Photo Exhibition, conducted interviews both with the representatives of the Municipal Authorities and the Photographer who was there.
At the end of the second day of the Two-Day Photography Exhibition, there was space for discussion, with statements from the attendees, with the aim of drawing final conclusions.
At the same time, during these three days (22, 23 and 24 September), Information Visits to places in the Municipality of Thassos were held for journalists and members of organizations for people with disabilities from Greece and Bulgaria, with the final aim of promoting tourism for people with disabilities.
Therefore, on the first of the three days, an informative visit and guided tour took place in Dasilios Prinou and the village of Limenaria. On the second day, a visit was made to the old capital of the island, Theologos, the waterfalls of Kefalogerna, the mansions of the early 1800s, the folklore museum of the island, and finally the house of the Greek Ambassador to UNESCO, which originated in Theologos, standing imposingly for over 120 years in one of the squares of Theologos. On the third and final day, there was a tour of the facilities of the Municipal Camping in Golden Beach, as it is a campsite with facilities that facilitate access for people with disabilities. After that, there was a visit to the mountainous preserved settlement of Panagia, springs, the pottery, the old oil mill, the historical chapel of Panagia made entirely of snow-white marble of Thassos, a short tour of the ancient town of Thassos (Ancient market, the walls, the entrance of the town, the war harbour and the wonderful mosaic of the old Christian mosaic of the port).
The activities of the three days are accompanied by photos and the corresponding enachannel link, available here: https://www.enanews.gr/%ce%b8%ce%ac%cf%83%ce%bf%cf%82-%ce%bf%ce%bb%ce%bf%ce%ba%ce%bb%ce%b7%cf%81%cf%8e%ce%b8%ce%b7%ce%ba%ce%b5-%ce%bc%ce%b5-%ce%b5%cf%80%ce%b9%cf%84%cf%85%cf%87%ce%af%ce%b1-%cf%84%ce%bf-%ce%ad%cf%81%ce%b3/
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