Scots Swimmer Backs New Glasgow Guides For Disabled Visitors

A press release from VisitScotland:

A rising star of Scottish para-swimming is backing a scheme to help make Glasgow one of the country’s most accessible tourism destinations.

Hope Gordon, who also represents Scotland in para-rowing, today (Wednesday 8 July) helped VisitScotland launch its new Glasgow holiday itineraries, which highlight some of the visitor attractions that have made a commitment to accessible tourism, including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the Glasgow Film Theatre and the Centre for Contemporary Arts.

The accessible itineraries, which contain things to see and do in Glasgow and Strathclyde Country Park during next week’s IPC Swimming World Championships and beyond, is available to download from today at www.visitscotland.com/holidays/accessible/. VisitScotland commissioned disabled access review website Euan’s Guide to ‘road test’ each itinerary.

There are plans to produce accessible itineraries for other parts of Scotland at a later date.

Twenty-year-old Hope today gave a talk to tourism representatives at Hutchesons Bar & Brasserie, one of 25 local businesses that have taken part in VisitScotland’s Glasgow and Strathclyde Country Park Accessible Tourism Destination Pilot Project.

As part of the project, the businesses have committed to creating online Access Statements, which clearly define their accessible facilities, and completing a VisitScotland Accessible Tourism online training course. VisitScotland worked closely with VisitLanarkshire, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and a number of other Glasgow partners to deliver the pilot project.

People with access requirements include not only those with a disability, but also the elderly and those with young children.

The event at Hutchesons took place as Glasgow gears up to welcome the International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships from 13-19 July. Around 5,000 spectators are expected at the Championships, which will see 600 athletes from 70 countries taking part.

Hope, a fitness student at Forth Valley College in Falkirk, suffers from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) – a neurological condition which affects the mobility in her legs and leaves her in constant pain.

Originally from Rogart in Sutherland, wheelchair user Hope trains in both Stirling and Strathclyde. She said: “As we saw during last summer’s Commonwealth Games, Glasgow already offers a warm welcome to visitors from all over the world, but producing these Access Statements and itineraries allows those with access requirements to find out more about what is on offer at hotels and attractions in and around the city. This will allow disabled visitors and others with access needs to better plan their holiday and make the most of their time in this amazing city.”

Chris McCoy, who heads up VisitScotland’s Accessible Tourism Project, said: “Access Statements allow people to make informed decisions about visiting a particular hotel or attraction, and I would like to congratulate all the businesses who are taking part in our pilot project. Glasgow is now on its way to becoming one of Scotland’s most accessible destinations, which is apt as the city is about to welcome disabled athletes from around the world for the IPC Swimming World Championships.

“The Accessible Tourism market is worth around £1.5 billion to the Scottish economy so, apart from anything else, ensuring this market feels as welcome as possible makes excellent business sense.”

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “Travel publication Rough Guides described Glasgow as the World’s Friendliest City. This project makes experience in Glasgow that much more accessible to all our visitors and enables everyone to enjoy what the city has to offer.”

Mark Calpin, Chair of the Lanarkshire Area Tourism Partnership, said: “Lanarkshire offers a variety of accessible attractions and accommodation including M&D’s and the Boathouse Gym and the Alona and Holiday Inn Express within Strathclyde Country Park. The partnership is committed to welcoming all visitors by improving customer service and information for anyone with additional access needs.”

James Rusk, Chairman of Glasgow Welcomes and restaurateur owner of Butchershop Bar & Grill and Hutchesons Bar & Brasserie, said: “Glasgow is an incredible city, renowned for delivering an amazing service to every guest who visits.  These itineraries are an extension of the service we already offer to our guests in a condensed accessible context, with our ‘same way, every day’ company ethos. Not only do they help each and every customer understand our facilities and what we offer at our venues, but they also enable guests to plan their experience based on their own access needs, which is an invaluable customer service tool.”

Euan MacDonald, co-founder of Euan’s Guide, was also at the event to talk about the website’s support of the project.