| THURSDAY, JUNE 18 2026 |
Aquarium of Genoa Area Porto Antico - Ponte Spinola 16 – Genoa |
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08:30 – 09:00 Participants' arrival and registration. Video projection |
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OPENING MESSAGES Chaired by: Ivor Ambrose - Managing Director - ENAT (European Network for Accessible Tourism) - Brussels, Belgium. |
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09:00 – 09:45 - Apostolos Tzitzikostas: Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism – European Commission - Brussels, Belgium. (video message). (Video)
- Alessandra Locatelli: Italian Ministry of Disability – Rome, Italy - (video message).
- Gianmarco Mazzi: Italian Ministry of Tourism – Rome, Italy (message).
- Luca Lombardi: Councillor for Tourism, Territorial Marketing, Agency inLiguria, Leisure, Digital Transition and Information Technology – Liguria Region – Genoa, Italy.
- Tiziana Beghin: Councillor for Commerce, Tourism, Territorial Marketing, Pro Loco, CIV, Traditions, European Projects – Municipality of Genoa – Genoa, Italy.
- Igor Stefanovic: Ethics and Social Responsibility Programme – UN Tourism - Madrid, Spain.
- Victoria Petrova: Senior Expert MOVE.A5 Tourism - European Commission - Brussels, Belgium - (online).
- Anna Grazia Laura: President ENAT – Brussels, Belgium.
- Mario Alberto Battaglia: President FISM (Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation) / CEO AISM (Italian Multiple Sclerosis Society) / President World Federation of Multiple Sclerosis – Genoa, Italy.
- Anna Galleano: Head of External Relations, Press and Tourism - Genoa, Italy.
- Giuseppe Costa: President Costa Edutainment – Genoa, Italy.
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| KEYNOTE SPEECH |
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09:45 – 10:00 - Inmaculada Placencia Porrero: Senior Expert on Disability at DG Justice and Consumers - European Commission – Brussels, Belgium and Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) - (online).
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SESSION 1: SMART AND ACCESSIBLE CITIES In cooperation with European Capitals of Tourism (*) Chaired by: Ivor Ambrose - Managing Director - ENAT (European Network for Accessible Tourism) - Brussels, Belgium. |
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10:00 – 11:10 - Heli Jokela: Marketing and Communications Director - Visit Tampere - Tampere, Finland - 2026 European Capital of Smart Tourism.
- Ana Hrnić: Head of Administrative Department for Tourism and Sports - City of Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik, Croatia - 2026 European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism.
- Francesca Sibilla (Head of Product Development Department, Turismo Torino e Provincia - PDF) and Sara Piana (Tourism Department Officer, Consulta per le Persone in Difficoltà) - PDF - Torino, Italy - 2025 European Capital of Smart Tourism.
- Sandra Torre: Director Tourism Department - Genoa Municipality - Genoa, Italy – 2026 Shortlisted European Capital of Smart Tourism.
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| (*) The former European Capital & Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions have been merged under the unified title European Capitals of Tourism. |
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SESSION 2: DESTINATION MANAGEMENT (NTOs and DMOs) Chaired by: Marco Pizzio - Head Tourism, Accessibility and Events - AISM / Board Member - ENAT / National Expert Italy - Accessible EU – Genoa, Italy |
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11:25 – 12:50 - Teresa Ferreira: Director Tourism Development Department - Turismo de Portugal – Lisbon, Portugal. (PDF)
- Vesna Ferencak Brodarić: Expert Adviser, Specialist, Sector for Sustainable Development - Ministry of Tourism and Sport of Republic of Croatia - Zagreb, Croatia. (PDF)
- Elena Magni: Manager of the Sustainable Tourism and Tourism Enterprises Sector – Liguria Region - Genoa, Italy. (PDF)
- Pablo Ortega: Network Promotion Manager - Department of tourism of the Government of Catalonia - Barcelona, Spain. (PDF)
- Dejan Ristić: Project Manager - Ljubljana Tourism – Ljubljana, Slovenia. (PDF)
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SESSION 3: ACCESSIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE Chaired by: Katerina Papamichail - Board Member - European Network for Accessible Tourism – Athens, Greece. Architect, Expert on Accessibility and Universal Design |
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14:00 – 15:15 - Maria Grazia Filetici: former Director of the Ministry of Culture and Accessibility Designer for Archaeological Areas - Accessible Roman Forum – Rome, Italy.
- Elena Di Giovanni: Scientific coordinator of accessibility, Arena di Verona Opera Festival – Verona, Italy.
- Christian D’Angiò: project coordinator Ravenna Mosaics for All and UNESCO Monuments Accessibility Advisor - Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia - Ravenna, Italy.
- Francesca Paola Leon: New Media Manager and expert in accessibility projects for cultural heritage - ETT Dedagroup – Genoa, Italy.
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CLOSING SESSION – ROUND TABLE Chaired by: Igor Stefanovic - Ethics and Social Responsibility Programme – UN Tourism - Madrid, Spain. |
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15:40 – 16:40 Arguments - Accessible Destinations
- Tourism businesses embracing accessibility
- Accessible Tourism Observatory
Participants - Ivor Ambrose: Managing Director - ENAT (European Network for Accessible Tourism) - Brussels, Belgium.
- Teresa Ferreira: Director Tourism Development Department - Turismo de Portugal – Lisbon, Portugal.
- Pablo Ortega: Network Promotion Manager - Department of tourism of the Government of Catalonia - Barcelona, Spain.
- Gianmaria Patti: Head of Concept & Customer Assistance - Alpitour World – Torino, Italy.
- Edoardo Colombo: President - Turismi.ai, Association for Artificial Intelligence in Tourism – Rome, Italy.
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| CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS – TOP TAKEAWAYS |
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16:50 – 17:00 Conclusions for the day |
