Solano Lucas and Rodríguez Guillén provide a comparative analysis of the extensive European regulatory framework that has been developed since the 1990s, covering transport, signage, digital accessibility, and the rights of persons with disabilities. The study acknowledges significant legislative progress, particularly regarding the harmonisation of standards and the recent approval of instruments such as the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card. At the same time, it highlights that real-world implementation remains uneven across Member States, with marked differences between Northern and Southern Europe.
One of the study’s most relevant findings is the confirmation of a direct relationship between public investment levels and the effective degree of compliance with accessibility regulations in tourism. Countries that allocate higher budgetary resources to infrastructure, staff training, and service adaptation show stronger results in practical accessibility. Conversely, in areas where investment is lower, significant barriers persist—especially in rural territories, secondary transport hubs, and destinations with lower population density—where inclusive travel experiences remain fragmented and inconsistent.
The study also offers an in-depth reflection on the conceptual shift from the traditional disability framework toward the paradigm of functional diversity. The authors note that this evolution moves beyond deficit-based perspectives to recognise the plurality of human capabilities, focusing instead on the social, physical, and cultural barriers that restrict full participation. Applied to tourism, this approach strengthens the argument that accessibility benefits society as a whole, improving overall service quality while expanding demand segments and market opportunities.
Social innovation is a central pillar of the authors’ conclusions. According to Solano Lucas and Rodríguez Guillén, Member States that explicitly incorporate social innovation strategies into their tourism policies tend to record higher satisfaction levels among travellers with functional diversity. Collaborative approaches—bringing together public authorities, tourism businesses, civil society organisations, and users themselves—enable solutions that better reflect real needs, ranging from improvements in signage and wayfinding to the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence that support travel planning and enhance the visitor experience.
However, the study also warns that technological innovation can create new risks if not accompanied by robust ethical frameworks and appropriate oversight. Opaque algorithms or poorly designed digital systems may generate fresh forms of exclusion. For this reason, the authors stress the importance of embedding accessibility from the outset of technological design and establishing independent evaluation mechanisms to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
Among the main recommendations, the research calls for greater regulatory harmonisation at the European level, stronger specialised training in accessibility for professionals and decision-makers, and a more decisive orientation of European funding toward projects that remove persistent barriers. The authors also propose the development of a pan-European tourism accessibility barometer to measure progress consistently and enable meaningful comparisons across countries.
Overall, the study by Juan Carlos Solano Lucas and David Rodríguez Guillén concludes that the European Union already has a solid regulatory foundation to advance inclusive tourism, but that tangible impact will depend on sustained investment, multilevel governance, and the integration of social innovation as a central axis of tourism policy. Accessible tourism is therefore positioned as a decisive driver for building a more just, competitive, and cohesive Europe—one in which travelling on equal terms moves from aspiration to effective reality.
