Destinations and companies place accessibility at the forefront of tourism planning and product development

Europe
4 Feb 2025

UN Tourism and the European Accessibility Resource Centre (AccessibleEU) have joined accessible tourism champions to advance policies, standards, incentives, skills and business strategies, making inclusion a reality for millions of people.

The latest report into the topic, "Advancing Accessible Tourism for Destinations, Companies, and People", produced with the Government of San Marino and AccessibleEU, showcases 25 good practices in accessibility championed by Belgium, Czechia, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. It also provides insights into accessibility improvements in culture- and nature-based tourism, festivals and pilgrimage routes, urban and rural experiences, sports and mega events, shopping tourism and transportation.

The report was officially launched at the 2025 FITUR international tourism trade fair. FITUR also served as the platform for continued public-private dialogue into further promoting inclusive and accessible tourism for all.

Governments and businesses share vision for accessible tourism

A special side event, hosted by UN Tourism and AccessibleEU with support from the ONCE Foundation, the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), and ILUNION Accesibilidad, celebrated two decades of achievements in accessible tourism.

The seminar "Accessible Tourism: Harnessing the Benefits of Inclusive Destinations for Companies and People" featured debates engaging high-level policymakers from UN Tourism Member States, including Ecuador, Italy, and Portugal, alongside accessibility leaders from Málaga and Berlin, part of the UN Tourism International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO).

Governments and promotion boards emphasized the importance of:

Improving information and communication about accessible offerings to enhance visitors' comfort, safety, and length of stay;
Strengthening transnational cooperation to size up the global accessible tourism market and monitor its constant growth;
Promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the sector; and
Utilizing innovation and data to raise public awareness and attract investments.

Private sector working side by side with destinations

UN Tourism's Affiliate Members and strategic partners in sustainability agenda – the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WHSA) – along with leading tour operators and transportation companies like IMPULSA Igualdad (Spain), Sage Travelling (USA), and Holmeswood Coaches (UK), called for:

Harmonizing accessibility standards and simplifying their implementation across the industry;
Leveraging technology and universal marketing platforms to promote accessible experiences;
Measuring the impacts of accessibility advancements on employees, customers, and key stakeholders; and
Embedding accessibility into core business strategies.