by InTrieste
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region is intensifying its efforts to promote accessible tourism with several new initiatives aimed at ensuring people of all abilities can fully experience the area’s natural beauty and attractions.
Sergio Emidio Bini, the region’s Councillor for Productive Activities, outlined the Region’s ongoing projects in a recent online meeting with Alessandra Locatelli, the Minister for Disabilities. Bini highlighted the importance of inclusivity in tourism, emphasizing the region’s commitment to creating an accessible environment for both residents and visitors with disabilities.
“On the front of social inclusion, the Region is working diligently to ensure tourism is within reach for everyone, including through detailed mapping of local facilities and offering tailored services,” Bini said. He pointed to the FVG per tutti website and the A-mare il mare project as examples of these efforts. These initiatives aim to provide accessible options at both coastal and mountain destinations.
The FVG per tutti platform, launched by the region, offers a detailed map of hotels, resorts, and beach establishments, providing users with accessibility ratings to ensure that people with disabilities can find suitable accommodations. Bini explained that this tool is the result of years of collaboration with accessibility experts and represents a significant resource for making the regional tourism experience more inclusive.
Another notable project is A-mare il mare, designed to improve accessibility along the Friuli Venezia Giulia coast. This initiative, which has received €1.2 million in funding from the Ministry for Disabilities and an additional €120,000 from the region, includes technical assessments of tourism facilities, specialized training for tourism operators, and the purchase of adaptive equipment for beach resorts.
“These actions,” Bini said, “are part of a long-term strategy that began in 2015 with the first agreement between PromoTurismoFVG and the Regional Council for People with Disabilities. The collaboration, renewed in 2022, has led to the development of innovative tools and materials, including a data analysis software for accessibility and easy-to-read promotional brochures.”
Additionally, the region has implemented Accessiway, an artificial intelligence-based solution that makes the PromoTurismoFVG website fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Looking forward, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region plans to continue investing in inclusive tourism. Bini announced that the region is working on the I AM FVG – Inclusion and Accessibility for Enjoyable and Livable Mountains project for 2025, aimed at improving accessibility to regional mountain areas during both the winter and summer seasons. This project is expected to receive support from the National Unified Fund for People with Disabilities.
“The goal is to make inclusion a standard practice,” Bini said, “and to transform tourism into a barrier-free experience. We are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of physical or sensory abilities, can fully enjoy the beauty of Friuli Venezia Giulia.”
The initiatives reflect an ongoing commitment by the Region to enhance the accessibility of its tourist offerings, ensuring that people with disabilities can experience the same opportunities for leisure and exploration as any other visitor.
