The success and overwhelming participation in the 4th AccessAbilities Expo are affirmation that the UAE is committed to follow a sustainable strategy for inclusion of people of determination into our society and channel their abilities for the growth of the economy, said H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
The fourth edition of AccessAbilities Expo and the third Dubai Accessible Travel Tourism International Summit (DATTIS) successfully concluded at Dubai World Trade Centre with a call to effectively enhance inclusion of persons of determination and make the UAE more friendly for them. The three-day expo and summit received overwhelming response from government organisations, non-government organisations (NGOs), companies and general public.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed said:
“It is heartening to note that the international organisations and experts who participated in the Expo have recommended that the world should follow the UAE model in formulating a comprehensive inclusion strategy that helped the UAE achieve the distinction of being the world’s best tourism destination for people of determination”.
H.H. added:
“Let us all work together; both private sector and public sector, to sustain this achievement and remain the leader in all activities to make the UAE the best and friendliest place to work and live for one and all, in particular for the people of determination.”
“The Expo this year is an overwhelming success as there is 20% increase in the number of exhibitors and 15% increase in the number of visitors besides showcasing an array of new advanced innovative products to ease the life of people of determination,”
said Mr Ghassan Suleiman Ahmaz, Managing Director of the Exhibition and Managing Director of Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management, the organizer of AccessAbilities Expo.
As many as 250 international companies and centres specializing in the rehabilitation of People of determination from 50 countries across the world showcased advanced technologies that facilitate the lives and mobility of people of determination at the Expo. More than 10,000 people visited the Expo.
The UAE has emerged as the world’s most friendly tourism destination for people with disabilities with the government, organisations, airports, hotels, shopping malls, hospitals and public places transformed their facilities for full inclusion.
Companies and organisations are taking keen interest in developing smart solutions and the latest technologies to provide a better life for persons of determination.
Addressing the DATTIS, Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said Dubai has revised upwards its tourism target to 25 million tourists by 2025 encouraged by the fastest recovery from the pandemic and surge in tourism arrivals.
He said:
“The vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is to ensure that Dubai becomes the number one destination for all and the number one city and destination for people of determination as well."
The 3rd Dubai Accessible Travel & Tourism International Summit (DATTIS) has come out with 59 key recommendations to deal with the main challenges faced by People of Determination or People with Disabilities (PwDs) in the areas of mobility, hospitality and travel worldwide.
The People of Determination, who participated in the Summit, called on international organisations, government bodies and public and private sectors to enact laws and regulations to remove barriers to enable more than one billion People of Determination - according to the statistics of the World Health Organization - to enjoy their rights to travel, move easily and enjoy their lives as one of their acquired rights according to relevant international laws.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
