Turin, named by the European Commission as the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025, was selected as the host city due to its dedicated efforts in enhancing accessibility and hospitality in tourism. The city has successfully implemented numerous initiatives designed to ensure that its tourism infrastructure and services are inclusive, positioning it as a leading European example in accessible tourism.
The origins of the World Summit on Accessible Tourism date back to its first edition held in Montreal in 2014, organized by the Canadian association Kéroul with support from the World Tourism Organization (now UN Tourism), the United Nations, the European Network for Accessible Tourism, and the International Civil Aviation Organization. During this inaugural event, the "A World for All" declaration was adopted, a groundbreaking document available in ten languages featuring 40 actionable recommendations for monitoring and implementing UN Tourism’s inclusive tourism guidelines.
The second edition of the summit was held in Brussels in 2018, organized by Kéroul alongside the Collectif Accessibilité Wallonie-Bruxelles (CAWaB). This event saw participation from over 400 delegates representing 266 organizations from 42 countries, establishing the summit as a critical global platform addressing challenges and opportunities within accessible tourism.
The 2025 Turin Summit will take place at the Lingotto Conference Centre, featuring three days of panel discussions, debates, and interactive workshops. The carefully designed program aims to actively engage tourist destinations, accommodation providers, transportation services, and any entities invested in developing inclusive tourism. Participants are expected to exchange experiences, strategies, and innovative solutions aimed at creating welcoming and accessible tourism environments for everyone.
The significance of this summit lies in its potential to foster substantial changes in the global approach to tourism management and conceptualization. According to UN Tourism, modest investments in accessibility and innovation can profoundly impact tourist destinations, improving visitor experiences and significantly benefiting local communities. Additionally, accessible tourism is recognized not only as a matter of social inclusion but also as a substantial economic opportunity, as travelers with disabilities and their companions generally spend more than the average tourist.
Within this context, the 2025 World Summit on Accessible Tourism represents a critical platform for fostering collaboration between governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. Its primary aim is to promote policies and practices ensuring all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can fully experience tourism offerings.
The selection of Turin as the summit’s location also highlights Europe’s leading role in advancing accessible tourism. Cities like Madrid and Barcelona have notably implemented significant accessibility improvements in their tourism infrastructure and services, setting benchmarks for other European and global cities.
Ultimately, the third edition of the World Summit on Accessible Tourism in Turin offers an exceptional opportunity to progress towards genuinely inclusive tourism. By convening diverse stakeholders committed to accessibility, the summit aims to catalyze concrete actions that transform the tourism industry into a powerful driver of inclusion, equity, and sustainable development for all.
