Brussels, 14/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is aware that tourism, and a pro-active European policy on tourism, holds economic growth prospects. It is also aware that more can be done to develop access to tourism for persons with disabilities. After a public hearing on “accessible tourism” organised by the EPP Group at the European Parliament, the rapporteur for a European tourism policy, Carlo Fidanza, underlined how important it was for tourism to be extended to those with disabilities. “Its destinations, its infrastructure and its communication tools must become fully accessible to people with disabilities, so that they become tourists not only in name but in their own right and increase their travel requests. This does not only represent the protection of a right but also the investment in a very strategic area of the economy”, the Italian MEP said. He presented a pilot project for accessible tourism, soon to become a pilot project of the European Commission, he was pleased to say. (IL/transl.jl)