The meeting was attended by the interim Minister of Tourism, Remo Monzeglio, the Coordinator of the Accessibility Group of MINTUR, Gimena Chiazzaro, the representative of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, Alberto López Chaves, the Director of the National Secretariat for Care and Disability of the Ministry of Social Development, Karen Sass, the Coordinator of Community Sports of the National Secretariat of Sports, José Luis Bringa, among other departmental, regional, and local authorities.
The interim Minister of Tourism, Remo Monzeglio, congratulated all those who were part of this work, “disability is not something that is foreign to us in life, on the contrary, all of us in our families have had it and that is when we realize the value of the work that you do on the beaches, hotels, inns and talking to people.” The minister stressed that “the fact that other people can go to accessible places encourages them to go individually, as a family, in groups, it makes them lose that fear that the person who suffers from a disability has of integrating.”
On this special occasion, exceptional initiatives in the categories of Inclusive Beach and Accessible Good Practices were celebrated.
The award for inclusive beaches went to the Inclusive Policies Department of the Maldonado Municipality, for stop 8 of the Mansa in Punta del Este, which has: signposted preferential parking, access with shower, wooden walkway with railing leading to the deck, shaded and resting area on the deck, accessible bathrooms, access ramp to the carpet leading to the sea on the sand, railing in the water providing support, amphibious chairs, lifeguard service, increased red codes for the lifeguard service, priority emergency service (immediate), extended accompaniment hours (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) every day.
The awards for good practices in accessibility and inclusion went to:
1) General Directorate of Tourism of the Municipality of Maldonado, for the Cycle of Training, Dissemination and Technical Support in different activities related to accessibility and inclusion.
2) Departmental Government of Durazno through the Tourism Section for the Hispanidad Park. It contemplates free entry through a preferential path with adequate signage. An accessible path where people in wheelchairs can move independently. A platform was built next to the main stage. This space was designed taking into account multiple disabilities. It has a perimeter railing that guarantees safety, exclusive parking, tactile reference for blind people, illuminated path for people with low vision, accessible bathrooms, human resources available to act immediately at the request of the person.
3) Regency Hotel for being a hotel that has accessible infrastructure and services such as: Units adapted for people with reduced mobility, adapted bathroom, elevator, accessible parking, Braille signage.
4) Tourism Division of the Municipality of Montevideo for various actions undertaken in pursuit of more accessible and inclusive tourism.
5) In 2024, The Gran Hotel made a strong alliance with local suppliers that have vehicles prepared for people with disabilities. They have emergency buttons in disabled bathrooms, an electric system to open curtains on the windows in Handycap rooms, in addition to their infrastructure and other accessible services.
6) Municipality of Punta del Este via Paseo de Av Francia, 3,200 linear meters and 33 accessible ramps, this accessible walk offers a linear route interacting with the garden neighborhood, respecting nature and providing a safe experience.
7) Municipality A for Playa del Cerro, an accessible beach. It has a concrete ramp with railings and a wooden board walkway to the sand, amphibious chairs and an accessible bathroom.
8) Sport Fishing Guide, which includes pictograms developed with the support of people with ASD to improve understanding.
9) Tourism Department of the Tacuarembó Municipality for the Project to incorporate accessibility for people with visual disabilities and people with ASD on its tourism website to facilitate the reference of tourist services.
10) Tourism Department of the Rocha Municipality for the Rocha Tourist Bus, which is an initiative that reflects the department's commitment to inclusive tourism, promoting universal access to the main tourist attractions and fostering social integration.
11) Natural Dam – Salus by the reserve features trails, accessible parking. In the interpretation room, there are various audiovisual and tactile materials. Accessibility was a central aspect in the redesign of the Reserve.
12) Bullring for having reserved parking for people with disabilities, duly signposted. Street and sidewalk, has zebra crossings and curb cuts, with tactile tiles and well signposted. The entrance is wide and allows the passage of people with and without disabilities. It has two accessible elevators that connect the three levels of the place. It has a bathroom with accessibility elements.
13) Santa Filomena - Colonia for accessible services in the house and pool designed exclusively for wheelchairs, as well as the main bathroom.
14) “La Macarena, At the end of the Wetland”, for its active participation in the National Roundtable for Accessible Tourism, as a private sector.
The certificate of appreciation and participation in the last meeting of the National Accessible Tourism Board 2024 was then presented to the representative of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, Alberto López Chaves.
The plaque for the creditor of the “Fund for the development of accessible tourist circuits” is for the project “Beach for all - Parador and accessible public bathrooms” of Piriápolis, for the construction of a battery of accessible bathrooms, showers and parking in Plaza Armenia, promoting the accessible promenade circuit of Pirápolis, connecting the beginning of the city with its historic center from the Rambla de los Argentinos to the Port.
And for the members of the Tourist Accessibility Group, they gave to Magister Beatriz Muniz, for her great work, commitment and empathy in tourist accessibility.
Source: MINTUR Uruguay.