The summit will be held at the Lingotto Conference Center and will feature a comprehensive program of keynote presentations, workshops, debate sessions, and networking opportunities focused on key themes such as destination governance, technological innovation, the use of artificial intelligence, inclusive hospitality design, and universal accessibility strategies. The opening ceremony will feature prominent Italian figures such as Daniela Santanchè, Minister of Tourism, and Alessandra Locatelli, Minister for Disabilities, alongside internationally recognized speakers. Angelo Pittro, Director of Lonely Planet Italy, will moderate the October 6 plenary session.
By hosting this major event, Turin reaffirms its commitment to transforming tourism into a fully inclusive model. Previous summits were held in Montreal (2014) and Brussels (2018), and now Turin takes up the mantle as European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025, showcasing its innovative projects such as Turismabile, which integrates accessible routes and adapted services, and Welcome Tours – Your First Time in Turin, which features sensory experiences for visitors with visual impairments as well as international sign language interpretation.
Organized by Turismo Torino e Provincia in collaboration with the City of Turin, the Chamber of Commerce, and various local stakeholders, the congress seeks to strengthen cooperation among cities aiming to become inclusive destinations. Turin intends to become a space for exchanging solutions that extend beyond Europe to inspire global change, turning tourism into a universal right.
The choice of Turin as host city is deeply symbolic. By combining its cultural heritage with progressive urban developments, the city illustrates how accessible tourism can be embedded in everyday urban life and serve as a catalyst for social innovation. By welcoming experts to analyze worldwide best practices—from cities with long-standing inclusion policies to emerging destinations—this summit aims to generate concrete commitments, technical guidance, and collaborative networks to transform tourist destinations into spaces where no one is excluded by physical, sensory, or communication barriers.
This third edition also underscores a central message: accessible tourism should not be an afterthought but a fundamental component of sustainable destination development. Participants are expected to share success stories, emerging technologies, inclusive design strategies, and actionable plans that can be replicated across regions, encouraging public policies that recognize and embrace traveler diversity. By presenting its own experience as a smart and accessible city, Turin seeks to serve as an inspiring model for other cities and organizations striving to create more equitable tourism.
The Third World Summit on Accessible Tourism in Turin projects a clear vision: tourism for all, where accessibility is no longer an aspirational goal but an intrinsic practice in destination management. From October 5 to 7, the city will provide not only a platform for dialogue and reflection but also real opportunities for international cooperation, technological exchange, and the strengthening of a global network of destinations committed to inclusion. Attendees will contribute to reshaping the cities of tomorrow—places where human diversity is not a barrier but the driving force for creating travel experiences that are more humane, integrative, and transformative.
