About TFA Training
One of the objectives of Tourism for All UK is to support the hospitality industry in ensuring that the needs of all people whatever their circumstances are understood and met.
Tourism for All UK has been part of a European Leonardo da Vinci funded project called ‘HAPPY TOURIST’, creating an e-learning tool to provide training in welcoming disabled customers both by self- or distance learning, or on-the-job or guided training courses.
Anticipating need and understanding the access problems of others can be very difficult if it is not something you have experienced. It is also easy to cause unnecessary offence if you feel awkward as a result. The DDA requires you to be able to some extent to anticipate the needs of disabled guests, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s advice is that compensation cases where guests have been discriminated against and suffered humiliation as a result are likely to be the hardest-hitting.
Getting yourself and your staff trained is one of the best ways to raise your confidence and gain insight in how to improve the accessibility of your business, as well as providing evidence of your commitment should it be needed.
The HAPPY TOURIST Training programme has been developed with the help of people with disabilities, industry professionals from across Europe. It is a fresh, user friendly and thorough training tool which can be accessed easily either at the work place, in an office or at home.
Much of the content will be familiar to many people and staff will already be practising many of the skills it is hoped that the industry will radically raise its welcome standards and that the tourism industry in the United Kingdom will become recognised as a World Leader by 2012.
It must be recognised that Tourists are visitors for all kinds of purposes – they may be on a long holiday touring the world, a family on their annual trip to the seaside, an elderly couple visiting an attraction or a mother taking her children out for the day.
They may be fit, elderly, disabled (temporarily or permanently) with all sorts of impairments, un-abled, young, or in many other guises. The point to remember is that they are out for enjoyment and they are customers spending money and therefore should earn the respect of staff and be highly valued. All tourists have different needs and that is why this training programme gives an insight into how staff in the industry can make a difference – every time.
Tourism for All can also provide training, both at your premises or shared by a number of providers. Also, look out in our Business News section for any of our periodic Roadshow events or collaborations in your area, offering both practical training and advice with networking opportunities. We also work with the 'Welcome All' training offered through the Regional Tourist Boards.
(Last Updated: 28-04-2008)