Direction and management
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Stephanie Sheehy Protti
General Manager
I am Stephanie Sheehy, director of the Alliance for Accessible Tourism (ATACC), an initiative that was born out of a connection with Tourism Society Think Tank (TSTT) and a deep-rooted dream: to build inclusive and accessible tourism for all people. This project is the result of years of effort and passion to transform tourism into a powerful tool to break down barriers, connect communities and ensure equal opportunities in every corner of our region.
ATACC is a collaborative space, where every action counts and together we can make a positive and lasting impact. But this mission cannot be achieved alone. I invite you to be part of this Alliance, because together we can ensure that all tourists enjoy dignified and memorable experiences, implement policies and standards that ensure equal opportunities, and promote regional cooperation and capacity building that transforms tourism. Let's work together, because change begins with a shared vision and collective commitment.
My commitment to accessibility is not only professional, but deeply personal. From a very young age, I understood that my purpose was to build a more inclusive world, and this has guided every step of my journey. In 2004, together with my husband Emilio Zúñiga, I founded IL VIAGGIO TRAVEL, the first incoming tour operator in Costa Rica specialized in accessible, sustainable and family tourism. This was the beginning of a transforming adventure that led us to ensure that all people could enjoy Costa Rica in an inclusive and safe way.
In 2016, along with nine other people, I founded the Costa Rican Network of Accessible Tourism, a non-profit association that seeks to turn Costa Rica into a destination for all people. Today, this organization is a national and international benchmark in tourism accessibility, leading impactful and collaborative projects. Two years later, in 2018, together with my team, we created the social and environmental project DONATAPA, which has become a country campaign without expiration. This project raises awareness of environmental waste management, transforms recycled plastic into plastic wood and implements tourism accessibility projects through a circular economy.
In 2020, I designed LA INSPIRACIÓN, an adapted clothing brand that promotes inclusion and empowers women heads of household, providing them with dignified employment while offering functional and comfortable solutions for people with disabilities. Then, in 2023, together with UNED and national and international experts, we developed the Specialization Program in Accessible Tourism, a 5-month educational effort composed of 3 modules and 104 effective hours. In addition to this teaching role, I give multiple lectures, workshops and trainings for tourism providers.
Finally, in 2024, I promoted the Tica Network of Entrepreneurs and Artists, a space where we provide training, strategy, communication and support to talents with and without disabilities. This project connects and gives visibility to the “invisible”, promoting the formalization and integral development of their initiatives.
An achievement that fills me with pride is to have led, together with the Costa Rican Network of Accessible Tourism, the enactment of Law 10528: Law for the Promotion and Encouragement of the Tourism Program for All Persons. This historic milestone guarantees accessibility in the tourism sector and lays the groundwork for a more inclusive future.
These projects have not only impacted lives, but have also received multiple recognitions. Among them I can name a few: Being part of the UNWTO Guide of Good Practices for Accessible Tourism in Natural Spaces in FITUR 2021, Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2021, the GOLD award for Responsible Tourism in WTM LATINOAMÉRICA 2022, in 2023 Plastic Evolution Award allowing the replication of DONATAPA in Chile, the Travel Unity Award 2024, the Most Inclusive Organization award granted by Tur 4 All in FITUR 2024, among others. These achievements are a reminder of what we can achieve when we work together with a clear purpose.
Leading ATACC means for me to inspire and work as a team to demonstrate that tourism can be a powerful tool that eliminates barriers, connects people and generates wellbeing. That's why I invite you to join this transformative movement.
Together, we can build a future where accessibility is the norm, and tourism is a bridge to a more just, sustainable and inclusive world.
With gratitude and commitment,
Stephanie Sheehy
General Manager of ATACC
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