Middle East awareness

The potential in encouraging travel by people with disabilities received some recognition in the Middle east recently. From Khaleej Times Online coverage of a press conference on the Second International Forum for people with special needs in the Middle East to be held in Dubai on May 23:

"... Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group, has urged the players in the regional travel and tourism sectors and allied industry to acknowledge the economic and humanitarian significance of promoting tourism for people with special needs.

"'I call upon the public and private sector establishments to work with us as strategic partners, to set the marketing and services strategies that will lead to a blending of this special segment of society and encourage them to travel freely through providing the appropriate facilities and services in airports, hotels, airline trips, shopping malls and land transportation,' said Shaikh Ahmed in a statement."