Cortina, the new frontier of inclusive and accessible tourism

The 2026 Winter Paralympics represent an extraordinary opportunity for Cortina d’Ampezzo. It is not just about hosting world-class athletes, but about transforming the city into an inclusive, accessible and welcoming destination for all, both during the Games and in the years to come. This major sporting event has prompted Cortina to undertake a series of projects that aim to make the area usable not only for Paralympic athletes, but also for citizens and visitors of all ages with different needs.
Thanks to this unique opportunity, Cortina is undergoing a profound and forward-looking transformation aimed at breaking down architectural barriers and fostering inclusion in every area of town and tourist life. The interventions being implemented today are designed to ensure a legacy that will remain available to all after 2026.

An inclusive vision for the future

The section “Cortina: Destination for All” was created with the aim of informing citizens, tourists and economic operators about the works and initiatives underway. The interventions will allow Cortina to become a welcoming destination for all, ensuring barrier-free mobility and easier access to all urban and tourist services.

Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi said:
“The Paralympics are not only a great sporting opportunity, but a unique opportunity to improve the city’s infrastructure. We aim to make Cortina an example of inclusion and accessibility, values that will endure long after 2026.”

Roberta Alverà, Deputy Mayor, added:
“The project is not limited to the organization of the Paralympics, but represents a challenge for the future of Cortina as an accessible tourist destination. We want our city to be usable by everyone, ensuring that every person has the opportunity to experience our area without obstacles.”

Projects for accessible tourism

Cortina is working on several fronts to make the city accessible to all, with interventions touching on various aspects:

• Redevelopment of urban infrastructure: improvement of roads, sidewalks and pedestrian paths.
• Adaptation of sports facilities: ski slopes and ski lifts will be adapted for both Paralympic athletes and tourists with disabilities.
• Accessible mountain trails: safe and barrier-free trails will be created, allowing everyone to explore the magnificent Ampezzo Mountains.
• Accessibility in accommodations: hotels, restaurants and stores will be incentivized to improve the accessibility of their spaces to offer an inclusive welcome to every guest.

Armando De Salvatore, head of accessibility for the Milan Cortina 2026 Foundation, emphasized the key role of the Paralympics in catalyzing this change:
“The Paralympics are not just a sporting event, but an engine of transformation. We are working to ensure that Cortina becomes a city at the forefront of accessibility, offering an inclusive experience for anyone who decides to visit, not only during the Games, but also in the future.”

Opportunities for entrepreneurs as well

The transformation of Cortina d’Ampezzo into an inclusive destination is not only a moral duty, but also an extraordinary opportunity for business operators. The adaptation of hotels, restaurants and other commercial facilities to the needs of people with disabilities is not only a matter of fairness, but also responds to a precise regulation: the Italian accessibility law obliges commercial activities to remove architectural barriers and to guarantee access to all citizens, without discrimination. This is an investment that, in addition to complying with current regulations, can open the doors to a new and broad market.

As pointed out by Roberto Vitali, CEO of Village for All, the accessible tourism market is growing rapidly:
“In Europe there are more than 127 million people with special needs who travel, and they never do so alone. This sector is worth more than 58 billion euros. Making facilities accessible not only improves the quality of the service offered, but also represents an important growth opportunity for businesses.”

To help local business owners adapt to these standards, specific funds are available to incentivize the upgrading of facilities. Thanks to these funds, restaurateurs, hoteliers and merchants can undertake the necessary work to eliminate architectural barriers and improve the accessibility of their businesses, without having to worry about large upfront costs.

Together, we are building a more inclusive Cortina, ready to welcome everyone!