In a context where more than 4 million people in Spain and over 130 million in Europe live with some form of disability, accessible tourism is not just a necessity—it’s an opportunity for innovation and social transformation. Easy Tour was created to turn this need into a rewarding experience for everyone, and we explain everything in this article.
What is Easy Tour and who is it for?
Easy Tour is a new digital platform for inclusive tourism created with a clear purpose: to facilitate the planning of accessible trips for people with disabilities and older adults, bringing together in one place all the information about accessible points of interest, adapted tourist routes, accessible leisure options, and much more.
Developed by Innoarea Projects with the support of IVACE and co-financed by the European Union through the ERDF, Easy Tour is committed to a fairer, more connected, and barrier-free tourism model.
With over 4 million people with disabilities in Spain and a growing aging population, universal access to leisure and culture is not only a right but also a great opportunity for the tourism sector.
Inclusive tourism for people with disabilities and older adults
Easy Tour addresses the need to offer accessible and safe travel experiences to groups that have traditionally been excluded from many offerings: people with reduced mobility, wheelchair users, and older adults who require obstacle-free routes.
Through a single web application, Easy Tour allows users to discover and plan visits to accessible destinations, adapted beaches, accessible events, restaurants with certified accessibility standards, and even explore tourist attractions in augmented reality.
Additionally, it includes filters based on accessibility levels, multimedia resources, tourist pictograms, and assisted navigation tools, making the planning process smooth, reliable, and tailored to each individual’s needs.
Collaborative platform for institutions, accommodations and users
Easy Tour also functions as a collaborative accessible tourism platform, where municipalities, cultural institutions, tourism businesses, and users themselves can contribute content, enrich the experience, and keep the information up to date.
Municipal managers and organizations can register accessible routes or locations, classify them according to their accessibility conditions, upload multimedia content, and consult usage metrics.
Users can rate accessible establishments, save favorites, and leave reviews that help others make informed decisions—thus creating an active and engaged community.
With Easy Tour, we are collectively building a smart network of accessible resources and establishments, promoting the internationalization of accessible tourism and removing barriers for millions of people.
What does Easy Tour offer users?
Easy Tour provides users with an innovative tool to discover, plan, and enjoy inclusive, barrier-free travel experiences. Through its intuitive interface, accessible via web and mobile, the platform allows users to:
- Browse a directory of accessible tourism that includes accessible accommodations, adapted restaurants, inclusive museums, barrier-free natural spaces, and other verified tourist resources.
- Explore accessible tourist routes with interactive maps and assisted navigation.
- Filter destinations by accessibility level: accessible, partially accessible, or easily accessible for older adults.
- View accessibility information through text, images, videos, audio, and 3D objects with augmented reality.
- Save favorite places, leave reviews, and share experiences with other users.
Why is it important to promote accessible tourism?
Accessible tourism not only improves the quality of life for millions of people, it also represents a major opportunity for growth and innovation in the tourism sector. Today, more than 4 million people in Spain and 130 million across Europe live with some form of disability. On top of that, the aging population continues to grow, increasing the need for accessible travel guides and destinations adapted to their needs.
Promoting accessibility in tourism means ensuring everyone’s right to enjoy leisure, culture, and the natural environment, free from discrimination and obstacles. It also involves removing physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers, and providing clear, verified information in various formats.
Moreover, accessibility doesn’t just benefit those who directly need it—it enhances the experience for families with strollers, people with temporary injuries, and travelers who value comfort and safety while on the go.
Benefits of accessible tourism for destinations and businesses
Implementing inclusive tourism policies and participating in platforms like Easy Tour offers numerous benefits to municipalities, businesses, and organizations in the tourism sector:
- Increase in visitors: Accessible destinations attract a wider audience, including older adults, families, and international travelers with specific needs.
- Tourism de-seasonalization: Accessible tourism tends to be more evenly distributed throughout the year, helping sustain activity during the low season.
- Improved reputation and visibility: Being recognized as an accessible and inclusive destination enhances both institutional and business image.
- Competitive advantage: While many competitors have yet to adapt their services, offering accessible establishments and adapted routes ensures a stronger position in response to growing demand.
- Regulatory compliance and alignment with the SDGs: Promoting accessible tourism meets legal obligations regarding equality and accessibility, and also contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
With Easy Tour, destinations and businesses not only adapt to the present but also prepare for the future of a more sustainable, responsible, and inclusive tourism industry.
How to join Easy Tour
Easy Tour is a collaborative platform open to the participation of municipalities, public institutions, accommodations, restaurants, cultural venues, and leisure companies committed to accessible tourism. Our goal is to build a shared directory of accessible tourism that benefits both users and destinations.
What can your organization contribute to Easy Tour?
- Inclusion of accessible establishments such as adapted hotels, accessible restaurants, adapted beaches, accessible events, or heritage sites without barriers.
- Participation in the catalog of accessible tourist routes, with clear descriptions and classification based on accessibility conditions.
- Collaboration in data validation and contribution of evaluations from real users.
- Promotion of the platform among your visitors, residents, and networks.
What do you get by participating?
- Visibility on a specialized platform with local, national, and international reach.
- Positioning as a destination or business committed to breaking down barriers and promoting equal opportunities.
- Technical support and training to manage your content independently.
To join Easy Tour, simply get in touch with our team and request access as a collaborating organization. We are working to ensure that every corner of the territory is accessible, visible, and enjoyable for all.
Easy Tour is much more than an accessible tourism guide
Easy Tour was created as a technological tool serving people, with the mission of transforming the current tourism model into one that is fairer, more inclusive, and better connected. It’s not just a guide to accessible tourism—it’s a digital ecosystem that brings together users, institutions, and businesses to build a more equitable future for the sector.
This project has been developed as part of the IVACE’s INNOVATeiC-CV 2023 initiative, with co-financing from the European Union through the ERDF, reinforcing its strategic and transformative role in the development of smart and sustainable tourism.
In short, Easy Tour is committed to a model where accessible tourism is not the exception, but the norm. A proposal for those who believe that traveling, discovering, and enjoying the world should be within everyone’s reach.
