Miami’s approach to accessibility goes beyond eliminating physical obstacles. It also encompasses digital inclusion, easy-to-understand signage, multilingual services, and specialized training for tourism staff to serve all individuals with sensitivity and care.
In this context, the leadership of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has been key. Under the direction of its President and CEO, Cuban-American Rolando Aedo, the city’s tourism board has made accessibility a core pillar of its development strategy. Through partnerships with disability organizations, public agencies, and tourism businesses, the GMCVB has launched awareness campaigns, conducted accessibility audits of tourist facilities, and provided training for the private sector. The objective is clear: Miami should not just be a place to visit, but a place where everyone can fully enjoy the tourism experience.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this process is its participatory approach, which has enabled the design of real and effective solutions. People with disabilities have not been passive beneficiaries of policy decisions—they have been active contributors to their creation and implementation. This collaboration has ensured that the measures taken truly meet users' needs, fostering a tourism model based on human rights and personal dignity.
Beyond improving the quality of life for both residents and visitors, Miami’s accessibility strategy also has a significant economic component. According to international studies, accessible tourism represents a growing market with high levels of customer loyalty and average spending, making this initiative a smart move in terms of competitiveness. In a world where societies are increasingly diverse and aging, the ability to accommodate all types of travelers is not only an ethical imperative—it is also a strategic advantage.
Miami, globally recognized for its cultural vibrancy, diversity, and warm climate, is proving that 21st-century tourism must leave no one behind. The city’s example sends a powerful message to destinations around the world: accessibility is not a luxury, nor an optional detail, but a fundamental pillar of modern tourism development. It is also an invitation to rethink the meaning of hospitality through inclusion, empathy, and respect for differences.
With this transformation, Miami not only enhances its position as a global destination but also contributes to the creation of a fairer, more sustainable, and more humane tourism model—one in which every individual, without exception, can feel truly welcome.
