NSAI Public Consultation

I.S. 373: Universal Design for customer engagement in tourism services

The National Standards Authority of Ireland wishes to announce the launch of a period of public enquiry from the 4th March until the 29th March 2013 on the Standard I.S. 373
  Full details on this draft Standard and the mechanism for submitting comments is available directly through this link:

• I.S. 373 Universal Design

This Irish Standard, which is voluntary, provides an industry best-practice reference on design requirements for the application of Universal Design by Tourism Service Providers. It outlines Universal Design requirements that facilitate positive customer engagement through the provision of products and services for communications that can be easily accessed, understood and used by tourism customers. The categories of communications include written communications, face-to-face communications and electronic/web-based communications.

This Irish Standard is intended to enable tourism providers to communicate more effectively with a wider range of tourists and has the potential to grow the tourist market for Irish tourism. Universal Design for customer engagement extends beyond a focus on disability and special needs to include all people, regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.

Tourism services may primarily include, but are not limited to, accommodation services, food & beverages outlets, arts and cultural institutions, attractions, leisure, recreation, culture and sporting activities, transport providers, information providers, conferences, events and shopping.

By applying the design requirements and guidelines set out in this Irish Standard, Tourism Service Providers will be developing products and services for communication that can be easily accessed, understood and used by tourism customers. The standard will also benefit the Tourism Service Provider by having Universal Designs in place to address the needs of tourists from a diversity of backgrounds, including those whose first language is not English.

Customer communications based on Universal Design principles enable a diversity of tourists to participate equitably in tourism markets in Ireland.
 

The Scope of this Irish Standard:

• provides requirements and guidance on Universal Design, for tourism service providers, in the provision of tourism products communications and tourism services communications;
• is intended to assist Tourism Service Providers to make their products and services for communications more  accessible and usable by as many people as possible without the need for additional adaptation or specialized design;
• is not intended to be used as a basis for tourism service provider associated ratings, awards schemes, certifications and accreditations.

For further information on Standards Development Committees
or to contact nsai@nsai.ie