Accessible tourism at Nauticsud: blog article written by Consorzio Italia
As part of the business blog writing service, I recently published the following article on the website of my client.
Accessible tourism at Nauticsud: the social cooperative "Cosy For You" presents the project "Mare e Monti"
The Overseas Exhibition will host a presentation of the project "Mare e Monti", funded by the Foundation "Con il Sud" and "Camino Verde". The project of the social cooperative "Cosy For You" aims to create a perspective for accessible tourism in Campania. There is a huge need to remove architectural or other barriers for the various disabled who like everyone have the right to take a vacation.
Cosy For You is present at the Nauticsud (7-15 February) as an exhibitor (hall 1 stand 140). It presents the project "Turismo accessibile Mare e Monti", funded by the Fondazione Con il Sud e Camino Verde. The project aims to create inclusive itineraries that contemplate new accessible routes ranging from the fascinating mountainous areas of Campania inland to the segments related to the sea and the coast, and which also include cruise and sports tourism.
In collaboration with the Fiadda and Infoirpinia partners, the nautical fair will allow visitors to "live" the itineraries in advance through a virtual tour. A special 360° video viewer allows you to visit museums, beaches and attractions included in the virtually accessible routes without moving from the Nauticsud. With this initiative, Cosy For You will continue to spread and promote its unique services for the Shore Excursions and the excursions to land in the ports of Naples and Salerno. It will do so through crocieristiche companies in addition to the classic business-to-consumer channels, thus helping tourists with disabilities to organize themselves independently, using the information made available to them through marketing actions on social media and email marketing.
What Accessible Tourism Means
Accessible tourism provides people with disabilities, specific needs, elderly people or families with children with the opportunity to travel independently, in safety and dignity. It includes the absence of architectural and sensory barriers, verified information, adequate services in facilities and transport, as well as trained staff.
Here are the key points of accessible tourism:
- Universal Definition: It's not just about wheelchairs, it's also about sensory, food, and accessibility for older people.
- Essential components: In addition to the accommodation, it requires accessible public transport, pedestrian routes, accessibility to places of junction, culture (museums) and nature (beaches, parks).
- Initiatives in Italy: Projects such as the Flag Lille reward the virtuous communities. Funds (e.g. EUR 18 million over the three-year period 2021-2023) are earmarked for removing barriers.
- Economic Impact: Accessible tourism in Italy is worth about 5.3 billion euros, with a potential of over 8.8 million arrivals.
- Information and Reception: It is crucial to provide transparent and verified information, going beyond mere accessibility statement, to ensure true travel planning.
A project in line with market trends
Over the last few years, Cosy for you has begun to support new trends aimed at making holiday more engaging and escape mass movements and "dead and escape" and deepening knowledge of the place of visit and the people who live there, in the light of a change of the characteristics of the tourist demand that has seen the need to offer so-called accessible tourism. Accessible tourism, which has 127 million people in Europe with "Access Needs", of which 10 million in Italy, is a potentially expanding and promising market for the next ten years. Italy could overcome existing barriers (for example, some estimates indicate that only 0.57% of Italian municipalities are considered "really accessible" in 2023) attracting a growing number of travellers and significantly improving their overall tourist offer.