Medellin, Antioquia
With an inclusive tourism commitment, the Government of Antioquia, in coordination with the Hotel Lagotours and the newspaper El Occidental, created the first sensory bird watching route for people with visual disabilities in the department. This is to enable real inclusion in all spaces, including tourism. According to government figures, Colombia has 2 million people with visual disabilities and Antioquia has 95 thousand people with this conditionso they considered it essential to prepare the offers for the enjoyment of the entire community, with the first sensory route created in the department of Antioquia.
Margarita Restrepo, Secretary of Tourism of Antioquia, explained how the sensory route will work: “They are approached with the sounds that the birds emit, with the physiological conformation of the birds, with the texture of the birds, their beaks, their feathers, their legs, if they are birds of prey, or depending on the birds that are in the area to be sighted.”
The territory is also equipped with ropes that can indicate the difficulty of the terrain or if there are any obstacles, to guarantee the safety and tranquility of visitors.
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Today, May 23, The pilot of the tourism initiative was inaugurated in the municipality of San Jerónimo, where participants experienced nature in a unique way, connecting with birds through sounds, smells and textures. The inauguration will be in compliance with the 2023 ordinance, which as a public policy guarantees accessibility to tourism for people with disabilities.
The route, which is still a pilot, would be developed with groups of 6 people, 1 day a week to avoid congestion and excess noise. In addition to the specialization of the guides for the route who are instructors from the University of Antioquia and the Western Antioquia Bird Club.
With this initiative, It is hoped to make a positive change in the lives of people with visual disabilities who have the possibility of attending tourist attractions in the region.
