AHTour2022

Conference Topics

Major topics of the 1st International Conference & Exhibition on Accessible Heritage Tourism

Best Practices

Promotion of best practices in the fields of heritage tourism and accessible tourism, as well as combinations of the two, i.e., accessible heritage tourism

Common Strategies

Creation of common strategies and local-to-regional planning to improve accessibility related to heritage assets, infrastructure, transportation, communication and services in the tourism sector, with multiplier benefits, including ensuring equal opportunities for people with disabilities

ICT Applications

Utilization of innovative ICT applications for promoting and realizing the development of accessible tourism towards adding new value to the tourist product and enhancing competitiveness of accessible destinations

Tourism Entrepreneurship

Strengthening of tourism entrepreneurship through local branding to better serve citizens and visitors in the accessible destinations

Conference Program

The conference will be broadcasted through live streaming. During all main sessions two-way interpretation between Greek, English and Bulgarian languages will be provided. During all main session interpretation to Greek sign language will be also provided.

MORNING

10:00 - 10:30	Registration & Coffee
10:30 - 11:00	Welcome session
11:00 - 11:30	Keynote
11:30 - 12:00	Coffee Break
12:00 - 14:00	Session I (Moderator: Valentina Kordova) Gala - Artificial Intellect - the clever tourist guideLyubomir Yordanov, “Gala IS Systems” Ltd. Dimitrovgrad Dimitrovgrad Museum, the unique museum of the socialism, the first home of Gala AINedyalka Krasteva-Avramova, Museum, Dimitrovgrad Mountains Rila, accessibility ensured thanks to BIO2CARE project, implemented under Interreg CBC Programme Greece BulgariaStefan Kirilov, PhD, Rila National Park (representative, not in person) Sozopol - the Bulgarian member of the League of the European Accessible citiesIvan Zheliazkov, Municipality Sozopol Traditional festival for accessible natural and cultural heritage in Razlog, BulgariaMariana Trencheva, LEDA Razlog Promoting accessible tourism: Presentation of the A2H participation in international fairsLidiya Arsova, Ecoworld Rhodopes Association (representative, not in person) Best practices in Europe - Summary of Study Trips within the framework of A2H projectValentina Kordova, UDPB, Bulgaria
14:00 - 15:00	Lunch Break

AFTERNOON

15:00 - 16:00	Session II - Part 1 (Moderator: Dimitrios Aidonis) Museum of Byzantine Culture: A European, public museum accessible to allAgathoniki Tsilipakou, Director of the Museum of Byzantine Culture Accessibility, culture and tourism, good practices and achievements in GreeceYiannis Polychroniou, Architect NTUA, Disability Accessibility Experts, former Head of Accessibility Office Ministry of Culture Improving accessibility in cities: The case of Municipality of DramaAthanasios Kappas, Civil Engineer
15:00 - 16:00	Kick-off meeting of the Access2Heritage Youth Exchange Programme (Moderator: Alexandros Mourouzis) In parallel to Session II, the kick-off meeting for the participants from Greece and Bulgaria of the Access2Heritage Youth Exchange Programme will take place Welcome & introductions Overview of the Programme & presentation of the sites to be visited Accessible tourism: Opportunities and Challenges for the youth - Roundtable discussion
16:00 - 16:30	Coffee Break
16:30 - 17:30	Session II - Part 2 (Moderator: Dimitrios Aidonis) Developing Accessible Tourism in across Greece-Albania cross-border area: The 4ALL Project caseIna Janushi, Urban Research Institute Joint strategy and action plan for promoting accessible heritage tourism in the Greece - Bulgaria cross border areaGarifallos Fraggidis, International Hellenic University Joint marketing and branding for promoting Accessible Tourism in Greece-Bulgaria Cross-border AreaAlexandros Mourouzis, Associate of Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia
20:00 - 22:00	Conference Dinner

10:00 - 10:30	Registration
10:30 - 11:30	Session III - Part 1 (Moderator: Alexandros Mourouzis) Rethymno: A city committed to offer accessible tourism experiences to all: Objectives and achievements of the “Accessible Cities” and the “In-Heritage” cross-border projectsNatalia Kiriakopoulou, Municipality of Rethymnon Making sun and beach tourism in Ayia Napa accessible and attractive to senior and disabled touristsLabros Kaikitis, Municipality of Ayia Napa Designing accessible experiences for the visitors of the THALASSA Museum in Ayia NapaFotos Kikillos, THALASSA Municipal Museum, Ayia Napa Access2Heritage project: En route to culture and nature escapes for allAlexandros Mourouzis, National Confederation of Disabled People in Greece
11:30 - 12:00	Coffee Break
12:00 - 13:00	Session III - Part 2 (Moderator: Alexandros Mourouzis) The new Tourist Information Guide with Accessibility Information for Visitors of KavalaYiannis Tsampoulatidis, National Confederation of Disabled People in Greece Needs and barriers-faced by deaf people in culture accessChristos Georgokostopoulos, PhD Candidate, Occupational Therapist, Special Educator, Sign Language Teacher The BIO2CARE Guidebook for Accessible Nature Trails: Design Guidelines and Evaluation SystemAlexandros Mourouzis, National Confederation of Disabled People in Greece Accessible eco-trails: The Parangalitsa & Keramoti examplesAlexandros Mourouzis, National Confederation of Disabled People in Greece
13:00 - 14:00	Roundtable (Moderator: Alexandros Mourouzis)The partners of the Access2Heritage project are pleased to invite you to attend a roundtable discussion they are jointly organizing on the theme: “Opening the doors for all to Nature and Culture". The objective of the round-table discussion is to highlight the role of disability organisations and of management bodies of natural and cultural assets in developing attractive accessible tourism opportunities and to inform decision-makers on the importance of their role as fundamental actors and partners in dialogue and development initiatives at the local and national levels.
14:00 - 15:00	Lunch Break - Press Conference

15:00 - 15:45	Session IV - Part 1 (Moderator: Charisios Achillas) Tips for preparing successful proposals on Horizon EuropeMaria Samara, PRAXI Network - Horizon Europe \| National Contact Point
15:45 - 16:45	Session IV - Part 2 (Moderator: Charisios Achillas) A novel application for performing systematic accessibility audits of pedestrian pathways and points of interestYiannis Tsampoulatidis, International Hellenic University Routing of people with disabilities in the urban environmentKiriakos Koritsoglou, University of Ioannina Utilizing modern digital technologies and virtual reality tools to enhance remote accessibility to paleontological historical heritageEmmanouil Tzimtzimis, Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology - CERTH Enhancing the accessibility of art museums by utilizing 3D scanning, virtual reality and multimedia technologiesSavvas Koltsakidis, Aristotle University Thessaloniki
16:45 - 17:00	Coffee Break
17:00 - 18:00	Conference Closing Session
16:30 - 20:00	Open Field Trip (Keramoti)In parallel to the second part of Session IV, a field trip will be organized for the Conference participants at a new eco trail, the KOTZA-ORMAN FOREST ECO TRAIL at Keramoti, which was designed in order to accommodate also the needs of visitors with disabilities, and which starts from the Delta Nestos Information Center operated by the Management Agency of Nestos Delta - Bistonida - Ismarida and Thassos (www.fd-nestosvistonis.gr), Partner of the BIO2CARE Project. For more information, please contact the Conference Secretariate upon your arrival and registration to the conference. Participants may wish to use their own means of transportation of book a seat upon their registration for the bus service that will be provided (Note: the service is free, but the number of available seats is limited).

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10:00 - 10:30	Registration & Coffee
10:30 - 11:15	B2B Meetings (Moderator: Charisios Achillas) Oriented to real prospects and new proposals for the new programming period aiming at: Fostering the creation or the improvement of products (goods and services) or the improvement of production processes in order to better meet the needs of senior and disabled tourists. Enhancing the development of new value chains in the targeted accessible tourism markets through a systematic approach providing innovation support to individual and consortium of SMEs. Supporting the development of large-scale demonstrators and destinations of reference. Offering SMEs the opportunity to outreach and extend their markets worldwide.
11:00 - 15:00	Open Field Trip (Paranesti)A field trip will be organized for the Conference participants at the premises of the Rodopi Mountain Range National Park (www.fdor.gr), Lead Partner of the Access2Heritage Project, at Paranesti. For more information, please contact the Conference Secretariate upon your arrival and registration to the conference. Participants may wish to use their own means of transportation of book a seat upon their registration for the bus service that will be provided (Note: the service is free, but the number of available seats is limited).