Tourism and disability

The Pays d’Aubagne et de l’Étoile Intercommunal Tourist Office is proud to have been awarded the “Tourisme & Handicap” label, a government mark designed to guarantee reliable and uniform conditions of welcome and accessibility for all. This label, the only one of its kind in France for tourist accessibility, covers four major categories of disability: motor, visual, hearing and mental. In our region, this accessibility drive is an integral part of our tourism project: informing, adapting, welcoming. So, whether you’re a visitor or a tourism professional, we want to make our region a destination where “being able to welcome” becomes a real “wanting to welcome”.

The Tourist Office's commitment

For many years, the Pays d’Aubagne et de l’Étoile Intercommunal Tourist Office has been committed to welcoming people with disabilities who live in or come to the area. Our “Tourisme & Handicap” accreditation bears witness to this commitment.

In concrete terms, the Tourist Office is certified for: motor, hearing and mental disabilities. For the visually impaired, even if the label has not yet been awarded, targeted facilities have been implemented: adapted signage, signposted access and awareness-raising for the reception team.

The office provides an accessibility register, as required by the regulations, so that all visitors can find out about the conditions of access to the premises and services. Finally, the information provided online or on-site is designed to be clear, explicit and understandable – an essential part of the label, which aims to provide “reliable, objective and consistent information”.

The commitment of professionals

of the region's tourism

The “Tourisme & Handicap” label is not just for tourist offices: it is open to all players in the tourism sector – accommodation, restaurants, tours, leisure activities, etc.

For professionals in the Pays d’Aubagne et de l’Étoile, this label represents :

a benchmark of quality: visitors with disabilities can identify establishments that have been awarded the label, and have access to secure information about their accessibility.
A voluntary and rewarding approach: establishments undertake to comply with specific accessibility and reception criteria (self-assessment, audit, visit by assessors) for at least two of the disability families, with the possibility of covering all four.
A lever for differentiation and loyalty: accessibility is a real asset – not only for customers with disabilities, but also for families, senior citizens or anyone who needs adapted services from time to time.

Our Tourist Office will therefore be encouraging local professionals to :

Find out more about the label’s specifications,
undertake a self-assessment of their structure,
plan the necessary adaptations (physical, communication, staff training),
submit their application online via the dedicated platform and welcome the external evaluation.

Labelled professionals

Tourism & Disability brochures

and further information

2023/ 2024 brochure

Inventory of the local tourist offer

Accessibility register

Criteria by type of disability

Staff trained to welcome people with disabilities.
Public car park nearby with reserved spaces.
Accessible main entrance.
External call button if required.
Public reception area on the ground floor of the building.
Wooden counter, partially lowered, designed for wheelchair users or people of small stature.
Tourist literature classified by theme and available for self-distribution on accessible display racks.
Adapted shop area.
Adapted toilets are available in this area, which are not public but accessible on request.

Staff trained to welcome people with disabilities.
Hearing aid system with magnetic loop available at reception.
Clear and legible signage

Staff trained to welcome people with disabilities.
Clear, legible signage
Use of pictograms to facilitate understanding

Staff trained to welcome people with disabilities.
Pedometer guidance strip integrated into the floor to make it easier to find your way to the reception desk.
Colour-contrasted pillars in the reception area to make it easier to find your way around.
Relief map of the region available

Discover also

Practical information