The importance of investing in accessible tourism (and 5 experiences for everyone)

Vacation time for many, but not for everyone. Like every summer, people with disabilities who want to enjoy a few relaxing days away from home, it turns into an Odyssey. And if Ulysses struggled a lot during his journey, a person with a disability, especially if not autonomous, must compete in the marathon of patience.

But why do we always have to settle or give up? Let’s give reason to exist to this accessible tourism, leaving the highly stereotyped mental scheme that considers it «the niche of people in wheelchairs who want to travel». but let’s begin to understand the real target: people with motor disabilities, people with sensory disabilities, people with cognitive disabilities, people with autism, obese people, the elderly, parents with strollers, children, pregnant women, people with dietary needs (for physical or cultural reasons).

The numbers of accessible tourism in Europe speak for themselves: on a scientific level according to the Eurostat studythe potential demand for accessible tourism is estimated at approx 127.5 million people (46 million people with some form of disability, plus about 81 million people over 65), affecting about 17% of the European population.

The numbers are there, but then why not invest to take advantage of this commercial opportunity? Every day we launch start-ups, projects or awards on “innovative” ideas in this area: monitoring, mapping and narrating architectural barriers in public places such as hotels, restaurants and clubs, or in places of culture.

All commendable ideas, but how useful are they really? Little, very little, because everyone works within the territory, perhaps in their own small town e it does not have the objective forces to really make a difference. Each project deserves breathing space, but also to evaluate the real usefulness. Why not «elect» one of these projects as leader, make it institutional and a source of universality? It is the team concept that the disabled community is never able to address in all matters of daily importance. Through tenders, we pay for countless projects that have the life span of a moth or to break down architectural barriers we use regulations from the 1980s. The Ministry for Disability would be the right institution to create a universal reality to facilitate the progress of accessible tourism.

Accessible tourism is much more than “restructuring” our country. It’s not just accommodation, it’s also hospitality with staff trained to use appropriate approaches or be able to propose experience to really bring the tourist into the area and, to date, there are not many possibilities to experience independently.

Accessible experiences for all tastes

The experiences to be had can satisfy any holiday taste, whether it’s the sea, the mountains, the city or a sporting proposal. At high latitudes, one of the breath-taking experiences is reaching the top of Lagazuoi with a ride on the cable car up to theExpo Lagazuoi, the highest exhibition space in Italy, and with a leveled path that can also be traveled by wheelchair, reach the summit cross at 2787 m with a 360° view of the Dolomites.

We then go down to Lake Gardawhere we have two accessible opportunities: a bicycle ride with the accessible means of Remove, electric bikes for people with disabilities and special vehicles designed for children, families or the elderly (which can also be rented throughout Italy) to discover food and wine tours of the Garda area. Or go as far as Malcesine and try the experience in the water and tackle the sailing accessible to the Fraglia Vela Malcesine. If we don’t want to give up another aquatic sporting experience, here we come in Piedmont in Settimo Torinese to try wakeboarding accessible to Turin Wake Parkdiscipline also tested by the influencer in a wheelchair, Giulia Lamarca.

And for those who stay in the city? Getting to Bolognaenter from FIG and lose yourself in an all-Italian food and wine tour, in the 1st fully accessible theme park, where you can taste, but also cook with chefs or create Bologna together with the greats mortadella.