Best Practices in Malta and further cooperation in Accessible Tourism

1. ACAACCESSIBLE CULTURE FOR ALL Best Practices in Maltaand further cooperationin Accessible Tourism Joseph M. Camilleri Chairman, Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b’Diżabilità (KNPD) (with Ms. M. Barbara) Friday, 16th November, 2012

2. ACCESSIBILITY IN MALTA Our review of accessibility in Malta is based on the Access for All Design Guidelines (3rd edition 2011) (AADG) which includes: • Accommodation: • Hotels, boutique-hotels, guest-houses and hostels • Airport • Beaches • Churches • Pavements • Public gardens • Retails, bars and restaurants • Schools

3. KNPD – MEPA COLLABORATION KNPD advises the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) regarding applications for public buildings. We do this in the following ways: • Development plans vetted to ensure AADG compliance • Pre-consultation meetings held with KNPD draughtsperson (Ms. Marie Barbara) at MEPA, by appointment • Upon request, meetings may be arranged with KNPD Chair &/or KNPD’s consultant architect • Where there are issues specific to persons with restricted mobility, KNPD Chair may carry out an on-site visit and offer suggestions

4. Access For All Design Guidelines 20111st edition (2000) - 2nd edition (2005) - 3rd edition (2011) • Restructuring of the guidelines in an amended format • A review of the technical design guidance, taking in advances in new technology • Include more guidance in areas not addressed in previous editions of the AADG • More focus on differing context of new-build and existing buildings

5. KNPD’s modus operandi • We take in consideration the location and type of building and we try to find a reasonable and generally acceptable compromise. • The Maltese building industry still tends to take the line that the minimum requirements in the AADG are actually the maximum required, thus trying to water down the guidelines. KNPD resistance to this trend is robust. • In cases where there is a problem and an outright exemption is requested applicants may apply to KNPD’s Test of Reasonableness Board.

6. SOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS There is a slow but sure growth in accessible tourism facilities in Malta: • Hotels/ guest-houses/ hostels/ boutique-hotels • Restaurants & retail outlets • Places of interest • Blue flag beaches • wooden gangways, waterborne wheelchairs, accessible-for-all sanitary facilities

7. TRANSPORTSEA, land & air • Gozo Channel ferries are accessible for all • The Gozo terminal is accessible, while the Malta terminal (still under construction) will be functional and accessible by the end of 2012 • The cruise liner terminal is accessible to all, as is most of the Valletta Waterfront. However, disabled Maltese still experience significant difficulties booking accessible cabins with local cruise- ship travel agencies • Harbour cruise facilities vary in respect of accessibility --- our saving grace remains, as always, our very helpful and supportive population

8. TRANSPORTsea, LAND, air • The local bus service (Arriva Ltd) is, by and large, accessible to all, but land infrastructure (bus-stops, pavements, etc) lag far behind • Wheelchair-users and local Blue Badge holders travel free-of-charge • Wheelchair accessible transport includes: • Yellow cabs • Individual taxis • Some mini-bus services (although these cater for multiple wheelchair-users and are thus very expensive as an individual option) • Hand-control Rental Vehicles are still not available, although KNPD has been working very hard to resolve this issue

9. TRANSPORTland , sea & AIR As an EU Member-State, Malta is bound by the European Commission’s guidelines to improve and facilitate the application of Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 [SWD(2012)171] • Malta International Airport is physically accessible to all • Air Malta offers various services to disabled persons: • Wheelchair accessible transport to and from the aircraft • Assistance to and from one’s plane seat • Personal assistance and priority services for wheelchair users to and from destination • Guide dog owners have their own arrangements

10. . . HERITAGE SITESGgantija Temple(Gozo) • The Ġgantija temples are the earliest of a series of megalithic temples in Malta. • External approach from the drop off point / parking to the temples. • The solution had to be non invasiveand not to cause irreversible damage, i.e., suspended timber walkway • Now, more than 80% of the building is accessible to all

11. BEFORE AFTER HERITAGE SITESPalazzo de Piro - Mdina • This 17thcentury palazzo in Malta's old capital city, Mdina, has been recently restored to create a venue of cross-cultural, artistic and social dialogue • Heritage Malta agreed to the installation of a timber ramp was installed to avoid further alterations to the façade • There are different levels on same floor • Lifts and step lifts are being installed • To date almost all the building is accessible to all except for one small room

12. . . HERITAGE SITESCittadella (Gozo) • is a historic fortified city or castle with steep, stepped passageways • The best possible non-compliant AADG ramps to be installed • KNPD has recommended the following: • Information maps which will indicate which areas are accessible and which not, and the gradient of the streets • Electric scooters are to be made available

13. HERITAGE SITESLascaris War Rooms & NATO Tunnels • Thery were deliberately designed to be inaccessible • It is impossible to render them fully accessible to all • KNPD & Heritage Malta have collaborated to maximise accessibility are located 400 feet under the Upper Barrakka Gardens, they are composed of a network of underground tunnels and chambers that housed the WW2 HQ in Malta from where all the defence and offensive operations in theMediterranean were directed.

14. BATHROOM LEVEL ENTRANCE LEVEL INTERIOR RAMP TO POOL BOUTIQUE HOTELS… Birgu located in one of the ‘Three Cities’ the owner of this boutique hotel has rendered the historic building accessible to the maximum extent possible, without damaging its fabric or historic value.

15. ‘COULD-DO-BETTER’ Sectors • Existing buildings • Harbour cruises and sea cruises • Encroachments on public land (restaurants, bars, etc) hamper access for blind people and people with restricted mobility • Roads and public transport infrastructure • More investment and effort is always needed in order to change public attitudes • NOTE - Malta is a late-comer to accessibility. EU-funding with its obligation to increasing inclusion has ‘kick started’ a sudden interest in accessibility

16. TOURISM FOR DISABLED PEOPLE Accessible tourism is a long chain made up of individual links, if one link is weak or broken the whole chain collapses. • Holiday planning: accessible websites & accessible, accurate information • Travel to destination: vehicle/ terminal accessibility & affordability? • Travel at destination: availability … affordability? • Accommodation: accessibility/ affordability … choice! • Heritage sites: accessibility site/ information • Leisure venues: bars, restaurants, discos • Cultural activities: Malta Nights, Evenings on Campus, Notte Bianca, various local festivals • ATTITUDE, attitude, attitude

17. THANK YOU • KNPD website:www.knpd.org • Access for All Design Guidelines (KNPD on-line publication) • Rights, Not Charity (KNPD on-line publication) • Disability Equality Training for staff (contact KNPD) KNPD ● Bugeia Institute, Triq Braille, Sta. Venera SVR1619 - MALTA ● ● T: 2278 8555 ● F: 2278 8490 ● SMS biss/ SMS only: 7978 8555 ● ● W: http://www.knpd.org/ ● E: helpdesk@knpd.org ●