These advances are taking place at a key moment for the region: tourism is experiencing a record year, with nearly 30 million visitors in 2024, a 15.5% increase in international arrivals and a 21.2% rise in foreign spending. Tourism now represents more than 16% of the regional GDP and provides jobs for over 280,000 people. In this context, the commitment to accessibility is no longer seen as an added extra but as a strategic component for the destination’s competitiveness and sustainability.
According to Miguel Carrasco, Chief Operating Officer of TUR4all Travel, “with accessibility now at the heart of its tourism strategy, the Region of Valencia is setting a new standard for European destinations. It has understood that accessibility is not just about eliminating barriers, but about opening up opportunities.” He adds that inclusion and competitiveness go hand in hand, and that an accessible offer benefits not only people with disabilities, but also older people, families and travellers with temporary limitations, shaping a more sustainable and resilient tourism model.
The accessible tourism segment represents a significant economic and social opportunity. More than 1.3 billion people, around 15% of the world’s population, live with some form of disability, and in Europe over 100 million travellers have accessibility needs. This group tends to travel more frequently, shows high loyalty and in many cases has an above-average spending power. As destinations are designed to be inclusive, the additional cost of visiting them decreases, generating value both for visitors and for the host community.
Valencia’s strategy is based on integrating accessibility as a central factor in tourism development: from infrastructure design, staff training and communication of resources to the creation of specific products that respond to the diverse needs of visitors. This approach allows the region to build an offer based on experience, inclusion and quality, moving tourism towards models that no longer focus solely on “seeing”, but on participating, enjoying and feeling genuinely welcome.
In this sense, accessible tourism becomes a vector of innovation for the destination. Adaptability, reliable information for travellers, trained personnel and an inclusive mindset emerge as the pillars of a tourism offer that is committed to differentiation and long-term sustainability. Beyond the growing number of visitors, what truly sets Valencia apart is the value created within the community: the aim is to ensure that these new visitors are well cared for, that they enjoy a memorable experience and that their presence contributes to strengthening the destination and improving overall well-being.
Valencia’s drive to position itself as a leader in accessible tourism becomes even more significant when viewed as part of a broader vision: that of tourist destinations evolving from simple mass attraction towards more responsible, diversified and human-centred models. Along this path, accessibility is not only a way to attract more visitors, but also a means to improve the lives of those who visit and those who live there. The Region of Valencia demonstrates that this path is profitable, strategically sound and aligned with the values of today’s tourism.
The message is clear: a tourism experience where the barrier is not disability, but the lack of willingness to adapt. And today, Valencia stands as a tangible example that when a destination embraces inclusion, it opens up opportunities for everyone.
