FITUR 4all highlights a 10% increase in tourists with reduced mobility in Spain in 2025
The UN Tourism official responsible for Social Responsibility stressed that governments have a duty to guarantee accessible tourism as a human right and a major business opportunity for destinations and companies.
Participants at FITUR 4all highlighted on Friday that Spain recorded a 10% increase in tourists with some form of reduced mobility in 2025, underlining the need to continue working to firmly establish the country as a leading global reference for tourism for all. The specialized FITUR section brought together experts, institutional representatives and business leaders, who emphasized accessibility as a driver of competitiveness, innovation and positive impact within the tourism sector.
Francisco Sardón, president of Impulsa Igualdad, said that “accessible tourism is experiencing significant growth” and added that “the sector is convinced of its importance and of the economic return it generates”. According to data presented by Sardón, Spain recorded a 10% increase in tourists with some form of reduced mobility in 2025. “At Impulsa Igualdad, we continue working to ensure that Spain is firmly established as the country of reference for tourism for all,” he said. Sardón also noted that “in this 2026 edition of FITUR, we are very proud to have consolidated the FITUR 4all Awards as the leading international recognitions in the field of accessible tourism”.
Igor Stefanovic, Head of Culture, Ethics and Social Responsibility at UN Tourism, moderated a roundtable discussion on public policies at national and regional level aimed at advancing the inclusive and accessible tourism agenda. He said that “governments have a duty to guarantee accessible tourism for all people as a human right and as a major business opportunity for destinations and companies in their respective countries”. He also pointed out that “at any given time, one third of the world’s population has specific access needs, whether due to age, disability or health conditions, when using tourism infrastructure and services”.
Miguel Carrasco, Director of Tourism at Impulsa Igualdad, analysed Spain’s current international positioning as an accessible and inclusive destination, noting that “there are significant differences in the demands of Spain’s main source markets for accessible tourism”. For example, “the French market tends to seek active tourism, with younger travellers and shorter average stays, while North American tourists look for longer stays, heritage and gastronomic tourism, and are generally older, with many senior travellers”.
New Turespaña brand
Bárbara Couto, Deputy Director General for Marketing at Turespaña, said that accessibility is “an increasingly relevant issue, both in terms of tourism product development and from a human perspective”. She outlined the objectives of Spain’s new tourism brand, “Think you know Spain? Think again”, which “invites visitors to travel at a more relaxed pace and positions the country as a diverse, innovative and accessible destination, placing equality of opportunity at the heart of its tourism proposition in international markets”. In this context, she addressed Spain’s positioning in strategic markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
John Sage, CEO of Accessible Travel Solutions, stressed that “the foundation for developing and improving accessible tourism lies in training professionals to ensure appropriate service for travellers with specific needs”. Meanwhile, Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, highlighted the importance of social sustainability and accessibility in accommodation worldwide, emphasizing the need to “build an industry that everyone can belong to”.
FITUR 4all also showcased specific examples of territorial transformation. Public-sector representatives from Peru, Colombia, the Barcelona Provincial Council and Vizcaya shared their perspectives on social sustainability, while representatives from destinations and organizations such as Flanders, Germany and Austria underlined that accessibility is no longer a niche, but a key factor for competitiveness. In addition, executives from iUrban, Visualfy, Navilens and ParkDis demonstrated how digital innovation can remove barriers and enhance personal autonomy.
3rd FITUR 4all Awards and public awareness day
The day concluded with the presentation of the 3rd FITUR 4all Awards, recognizing destinations, companies and organizations leading the transition towards more accessible and responsible tourism. On Saturday, 24 January, a program of awareness-raising and knowledge-sharing workshops will be held for the public.