The Turin Manifesto 2025: Accessible Tourism as a Shared Responsibility

Travelling means discovering new places, exploring different cultures, meeting people and enjoying new experiences. Yet these opportunities are not equally accessible to everyone.

Barriers that can make travelling difficult are not limited to physical spaces. They can arise when searching for information, booking accommodation, getting around or participating in activities offered by a destination.

This awareness also inspired the Turin Manifesto on Tourism for All 2025, adopted on 7 October 2025 during the third World Summit on Accessible Tourism – Destinations for All, held in Turin from 5 to 7 October.

This international document identifies key priorities for making tourism more accessible, involving public institutions, businesses, organisations representing people with disabilities and tourism professionals.

One year after its adoption, the Manifesto offers an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of accessibility and the role that different stakeholders can play in creating more inclusive tourism experiences.

Accessibility Goes Beyond Buildings and Facilities

One of the central principles of the Manifesto is the importance of considering accessibility an integral part of tourism planning and development.

It is not simply about removing architectural barriers, but also about developing services, infrastructure and experiences that respond to different needs.

The document refers to the principles of Universal Design and emphasises the importance of adopting shared guidelines and standards, enabling destinations and tourism operators to work according to common criteria.

Another fundamental element is the direct involvement of people with disabilities and the organisations that represent them.

Designing services together with the people who will use them makes it possible to better understand their needs, identify appropriate solutions and avoid measures that, despite good intentions, may prove ineffective.

From this perspective, accessibility becomes an ongoing process of listening, collaboration and continuous improvement.

The Role of Businesses and Hospitality

The Manifesto also pays particular attention to businesses operating in the tourism sector, encouraging them to consider people's accessibility requirements as an essential part of service quality.

Among its recommendations is the importance of providing objective, reliable and up-to-date information about the accessibility features of facilities and services.

Knowing in advance the accessibility conditions of accommodation, the characteristics of its spaces or the availability of specific services allows people to independently assess whether an offer meets their individual needs.

The document also highlights the need to make booking systems accessible and ensure that requested services are properly provided.

These aspects directly concern the hospitality industry, but they can also be applied to the entire tourism experience.

Inclusive hospitality does not depend solely on the availability of specific facilities or equipment. It also requires thoughtful communication, a willingness to listen and the ability to provide accurate information without assuming that everyone has the same needs.

Culture, Nature and New Technologies

The Manifesto also addresses cultural attractions and natural environments.

Museums, historical sites, parks, protected areas and tourist routes are encouraged to develop solutions that facilitate participation by people with disabilities, while respecting heritage conservation and environmental protection requirements.

Particular attention is given to outdoor activities and adventure tourism, with the aim of making these experiences more accessible.

The document also recognises the potential contribution of digital technologies, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence.

These tools can provide alternative ways to experience content, improve navigation and support people's independence, particularly in situations where existing barriers cannot be completely removed.

Technology, however, is only one of the available tools: understanding people's needs must remain the starting point.

From Turin, a Commitment That Extends Beyond the Region

The adoption of the Manifesto in Turin creates a meaningful connection between Piedmont and the international discussion on accessible tourism.

The document addresses a wide range of stakeholders, from policymakers and businesses to managers of cultural and natural resources and developers of innovative technological solutions.

Among the proposed initiatives is the establishment of a Global Observatory on Accessible Tourism, intended to monitor progress, provide guidance and share good practices.

The Manifesto therefore does not represent a goal that has already been achieved, but rather a declaration of intent and a framework for collective action.

The challenge will be to turn these principles into concrete decisions capable of influencing how services are organised and improving opportunities for participation.

More Accessible Tourism Is Built Together

For us at Heimat, sharing the Turin Manifesto means highlighting a principle that also runs through the experiences featured in our Piemonte Accessibile series: inclusion cannot depend solely on the initiative of an individual operator or the availability of an accessible facility.

It is the result of collective efforts involving people, organisations, businesses and public institutions, all called upon to recognise accessibility as an essential part of the quality of the tourism experience.

Making a destination more welcoming also means providing clear information, recognising different needs and creating opportunities for participation that leave no one behind.

One year after the adoption of the Manifesto, its message remains an important point of reference: Tourism for All is not only about the destinations we want to reach, but also about how we choose to plan, design and share the journey.

Through Piemonte Accessibile, we will continue to highlight projects, experiences and initiatives that help make Piedmont an increasingly open and welcoming destination for everyone.

Source

This article is inspired by the official document Torino Manifesto on Tourism for All 2025, adopted on 7 October 2025 in Turin during the third World Summit on Accessible Tourism – Destinations for All.

The Manifesto refers to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and previous international declarations on accessible tourism.

This article is an independent editorial adaptation for informational purposes.