Sustainability in tourism goes far beyond ecological aspects - it includes social responsibility, social justice and, above all, accessibility. At the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, this comprehensive concept of sustainability is not only dealt with theoretically, but also made tangible in practice. In the fifth semester of the Tourism Management course, a special learning unit was designed that not only makes barriers visible, but also tangible. Students tackled the challenges of barrier-free travel in a practical teaching project - an experiential format that both promotes empathy and opens up new perspectives for inclusive tourism practice.

Accessible travel is more than just a quality feature - it is a human right that is enshrined in the German constitution. This is precisely why this topic is an integral part of teaching at the Faculty of Managerial and Cultural Studies. As part of a practical teaching format, fifth semester students on the Tourism Management course were given the opportunity not only to reflect on the topic of accessibility in theory, but also to experience it first-hand in a self-experience unit. The aim was to explore the university city of Görlitz from the perspective of people with disabilities.

The participants used various simulation aids such as a rollator, wheelchair, old people's suit and aids for impaired vision and hearing. These realistic experiences made it possible to consciously perceive the everyday hurdles that many people face - from inaccessible routes to a lack of information. This not only promotes understanding and empathy, but also raises awareness of inclusion as a key component of sustainable tourism.

The implementation of the course unit pursued a clear goal: to deepen students' awareness of inclusion and accessibility through personal experience. This approach is exemplary of the innovative, interdisciplinary teaching approach at the F-MK faculty. By changing their perspective, the students were able to experience first-hand the obstacles that people with mobility or sensory impairments have to overcome when traveling - and where structural improvements are still needed.

At the same time, the experience also showed the potential that accessible offers hold for the tourism industry - not only as an ethical requirement, but also as an important quality and competitive feature. The combination of theory and practice strengthens the students' ability to act and equips them for their future role in shaping sustainable tourism.

The visit by Antje Rennarck from Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen (TMGS) provided a special impetus. She presented the project "Experience Saxony barrier-free!" - a state-wide project that sees accessibility as an integral part of tourism quality. This project is not just about selective measures, but about completely barrier-free service chains - from arrival to accommodation to leisure activities.

The key point here is that accessibility is seen as a comfort feature for everyone. People with mobility, visual or hearing impairments, older travelers, families with small children - they all benefit from transparent information and structurally and communicatively accessible offers. TMGS lists over 550 certified accessible businesses on a specially created online platform, including accommodation, cultural and nature experiences, tours and museums throughout Saxony.

Ms. Rennarck gave the students valuable insights into the practical side of things and showed them how accessibility is implemented in practice through quality assurance, awareness-raising and marketing measures. This made it clear to the participants how inclusion is not only a social requirement, but also an economic opportunity for tourism.