Spain’s commitment to accessible tourism took centre stage in Valencia as the Spanish Tourist Office (UK) brought together industry leaders, accessibility specialists and tourism partners for the second overseas meeting of its Spain4All Advisory Committee.
Hosted by the Spanish Tourist Office (UK) and led by its Director, Manuel Butler, the summit focused on sharing best practice and developing practical initiatives to improve accessibility across the tourism sector.
Representatives from local government, transport providers, disability organisations and the travel industry joined discussions on how destinations can become more inclusive for visitors.
Accessibility specialists also took part in activities around the city to discover how it is catering to Disabled travellers.
Yousif Nur, a Travel For Every Body (TFEB) Awards judge, co-founder of JourneyEase and accessible travel writer, attended the event and heaped praise on the destination, saying: “I thought it was a wonderful initiative put together by SpainForAll as it really showcased what Valencia as a city, and to a larger extent Spain, is doing for accessibility.”
He added: “For the few days that we were there, the sites we were taken to, and even the hotels we stayed at with their accessibility features, really highlighted how in many ways Spain is ahead of the game in terms of looking after the needs of people with disabilities as they go above and beyond for them. It will be exciting to see how this progresses over the coming years.”
Paula Hansen, who is also a TFEB Awards judge and the Founder of World Accessible Holidays, said: “Valencia genuinely impressed me as a destination for accessible travel. I was especially struck by the beach facilities at Malvarrosa. The boardwalks, amphibious beach wheelchairs and assisted bathing make the sea genuinely reachable for clients who’d otherwise be left watching from the promenade.
“Another highlight was the accessible boat trip in Albufera Natural Park, gliding through the rice fields on an adapted barge with wonderful birdlife all around. It’s encouraging to see a destination treat accessibility as part of the experience rather than an afterthought, and the SpainForAll trip showcased that brilliantly. It’s a place I’d confidently recommend.”
Accessibility in Valencia
In Valencia, accessibility is embedded throughout the visitor experience, from 87 accessible beaches offering adapted facilities and assisted bathing programmes to inclusive public spaces, attractions and transport.
That commitment is why Valencia was chosen to host the summit after being named Inclusive National Destination at the 2026 Fitur4All Awards and finishing runner-up in the European Access City Awards. The city has invested in accessible infrastructure across its beaches, attractions and public transport network.
Visitors can access adapted facilities at beaches including La Malvarrosa, Cabanyal, El Saler and Pinedo, where free services include adapted walkways, amphibious wheelchairs, hoists and assisted bathing programmes. Across the wider Valencia region, there are 87 accessible beaches spanning the provinces of Valencia, Alicante and Castellón.
Accessibility has also been incorporated into the city’s cultural attractions. Valencia’s UNESCO-listed Las Fallas festival now features QR and NaviLens technology providing audio descriptions, sign language videos and Easy Read information, alongside dedicated viewing areas for visitors with reduced mobility and low-sensory sessions.
Elsewhere, the city’s nine-kilometre Turia Gardens has been developed as an accessible green route, while the Valencia region now offers 26 accessible tourism itineraries through its ‘La Comunitat Valenciana, també per a tu’ initiative. Public transport has also been designed with accessibility in mind, with low-floor buses, step-free metro and tram stations and tactile paving throughout the network.
Following the summit, Manuel Butler, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office (UK), said: “It has been an honour to bring this initiative to Valencia and to learn from a city and region so unwaveringly focused on creating a destination where no one is left behind. We believe travel is a fundamental human right.”
He added: “This Advisory Board Summit on Accessibility was created as part of our SpainforAll campaign, which aims to eliminate discrimination, champion diversity and elevate accessibility standards across the entire travel sector.”
The wider destination also forms part of Spain’s broader accessibility strategy, alongside initiatives such as Benidorm’s water management, enhanced accessibility measures across Catalonia and investment in transport and rail infrastructure to support year-round travel and ease pressure on peak destinations.
Looking ahead, the SpainForAll UK working group is developing accessibility information standards for hotels, designed to help travellers access clear, detailed information before booking without needing to contact properties directly.
