What does accessibility mean on the I-DEST platform?

During the development of I-DEST, we created a unique accessibility evaluation system that integrates international certification standards while introducing stricter requirements in certain areas. This ensures that people with disabilities can identify and access services tailored to their needs. The system aims to provide an accurate and transparent framework for assessing accessibility, considering the real needs of individuals with different types of disabilities. The foundation of this evaluation system was built through close collaboration with advocacy organizations representing people with disabilities. This cooperation ensured that the filters and badges indicating accessibility on our platform are both practical and effective in real-world scenarios. Special attention was given to the needs of individuals with various disabilities, including those with mobility impairments, visual and hearing impairments, and cognitive challenges, during the development of the standards.

Tourism for all

The evaluation of accessibility is based on the following criteria:

Mobility-friendly
Vision-impaired-friendly
Hearing-impaired-friendly
Intellectual disability-friendly
Autism-friendly
Stroller-friendly
Senior-friendly

Principles

The core principle of the evaluation system is that without the presence of certain basic services, a location cannot be classified as accessible. These fundamental services are essential for individuals with various disabilities to use the site independently and safely.

It is important to note that the information available on the I-DEST website is based on self-declaration by businesses, and no on-site audits are conducted. Therefore, the displayed ratings should not be considered certifications but serve informational purposes only.

The rigor of the evaluation system ensures credibility and quality assurance. Beyond the presence of basic services, the assessment also examines the quality of services, usability, and overall experience. This comprehensive approach guarantees that locations classified as accessible genuinely meet the expectations of the intended users, promoting social equality and inclusion.

Evaluation Criteria Categories

Our evaluation framework for different types of accessibility includes a total of 74 criteria, organized into the following categories:

Information for planning, prior notification, and booking
Physical accessibility
Communication accessibility – the availability of tools to assist local information and navigation
Target group-specific accessibility
Social responsibility considerations

According to our system, a location can be classified as accessible for a particular type of accessibility if it meets the basic criteria and fulfills at least 70% of the criteria points within that accessibility category.

Where to find the information?

Accessibility-related information can be found in several places on the i-dest.com platform:

Filter by Accessibility Type: On pages listing attractions, accommodations, and dining establishments, you can use the filter bar on the left side to sort by the type of accessibility.
Accessibility Badges: On individual location profiles, accessibility badges are displayed in the text row beneath the main image, indicating the types of accessibility available.

Accessible webpage

I-DEST is committed to providing an accessible and easy-to-use website for its customers. We aim to make our website content and services accessible to the widest possible audience. We are committed to incorporating the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 into our product design process. We recognize that WCAG is constantly evolving and we must follow suit if we are to remain compliant with these standards.

We make our website accessible using userway.org, which provides technical solutions not only for the visually impaired, but also for people with dyslexia, autism, spectrum disorders and other mental health issues, so that they can access the necessary content as comfortably and safely as possible while browsing our websites.