Customer-friendly tourism campaign pushes accessibility for all
A new drive will encourage the hospitality industry to be more open to people with handicaps and families with children
Tourism for everyone
The drive is the latest step in Ben Weyts’ strategy to turn Flanders into a tourist destination for a wide public. It aims to provide owners of cafes and restaurants with tips on how to improve their welcome for the target groups, by distributing brochures and 1,000 promotional packets containing badges, coasters and feedback forms.
“The campaign offers achievable solutions,” Weyts said at the launch. “Thanks to a few smart tips, any owner can open up their business to a wider public. My wish is for a pleasant restaurant visit or an agreeable evening in a cafe to be available for everyone.”
The patron of the campaign is Gert De Mangeleer, three-starred chef of Hertog Jan in Zedelgem, West Flanders.
“Customer-friendliness and real hospitality are the essence of every restaurant,” he said. “When we converted our farmhouse into the new Hertog Jan, we deliberately chose an accessible building, with an adapted bathroom and a lower front desk. But there’s more to it than infrastructure. There are also the 101 little things that respond to the guests’ needs. I’m honoured to be the face of this campaign.”
The campaign is being run by industry federations Horeca Vlaanderen and Toerisme Vlaanderen.
Photo: Milo Profi/Visit Flanders
