Accessible Tourism in Protected Natural Areas: An Empirical Study in the Lazio Region

Abstract

The article aims to analyze the state of the art on services provided by protected natural areas in the Lazio region. The paper highlights the strengths and the aspects to improve in these protected natural areas to promote and incentivize accessible and inclusive tourism. An empirical investigation involving the region of Lazio (Italy) was performed, adopting a quantitative research design. First, the authors collected secondary data on the protected natural areas in the region and on the services available. Then, a questionnaire was used to quantitatively investigate the services provided to meet the needs of tourists with disabilities. The findings show that the structures provide essential services, such as marked paths, equipped bathrooms, various aids to overcome obstacles along the visit route and flooring that allows accessible transit. However, there is a need to invest in staff training and continuously update information on the websites. It is important to address the lack of information on the needs and expectations of disabled individuals.