Lokrum O3 – Experience, Taste, Take Away
LokrumO3 – Experience, Taste, Take Away – is a project that culminated in a conference on accessible tourism held in an accessible Congress hall on Lokrum Island. Nearly 100 attendees participated, with almost half being individuals with disabilities and children with developmental needs.
In addition to the conference, a soap-making workshop with "the scents of Lokrum" took place outside the Congress Hall, involving students from Montovjerna Elementary School, members of the Rina Mašera Association, the Down Syndrome Association of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, and the Josipovac Center.
Apart from the conference and throughout the overall project, an informative brochure was produced. This brochure contains information on how to interact with people with disabilities as well as simple recipes featuring ingredients that grow on Lokrum.
Some of the official programme participants were:
* Nada Zrinušić - Director-General of Directorate-General for Programs and Projects from the Department of the Ministry of Labor and Pension System, Family and Social Policy
* Nina Skurić - Dubrovnik-Neretva County Representative
* Miho Katičić - City of Dubrovnik Deputy Head of the Department for Education, Sports, Social Welfare, and Civil Society
* Nikolina Pozniak - Director of the public Institution Lokrum Reserve
* Darijo Jurišić - Ombudsperson for Individuals with Disabilities
* Davor Novevski - writer and travel enthusiast from Cavtat
* Adela Jelinek Bišćan -Director of Business Performance and Operations at AKD d.o.o
We discussed the accessibility of spaces, content, and services in the tourism offerings for people with disabilities, methods of inclusive communication, employment opportunities for PwDs in tourism, and examples of good tourism practices for PwDs without barriers in the Dubrovnik region.
We heard a presentation on the employment of PwDs in tourism from the ombudsman Dario Jurišić, while examples of good practices for the city of Dubrovnik were presented by Mr Miho Katičić, and for the island of Lokrum by Ms Kristina Ćurćija. Davor Novevski, a wheelchair user, also shared his travel experiences and the challenges he has faced.
This project will continue through all trained employees for working with PwDs, but it will also be present in every home through eco-friendly soaps that bring the scents of Lokrum Island. The conference concludes that there are still many challenges for people with disabilities, but also many prospects in tourism, whether they are employees in tourism or tourists themselves.
The project is implemented by the Special Friends Association from Dubrovnik in partnership with the Rina Mašera Association, Josipovac Rehabilitation Center, UP2DATE Center, Montovjerna Elementary School, and the Public Institution Lokrum Reserve, with financial support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Montovjerna Elementary School, Special Friends Association Dubrovnik, Rina Masera Association, Lokrum Reserve, Josipovac Rehabilitation Center.
