Cultural accessible tourism in Algarve region, case of study

• Autor(a) principal: Rodrigues, Ana
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Pires Rosa, Manuela, Rebelo, Efigénio
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/10264
• topic: Cultural tourism; Accessibility; Universal design; Sustainability; Turismo cultural; Acessibilidade; Design universal; Sustentabilidade

This article analyse the new trends in cultural tourism, namely at the Portuguese Algarve region. Algarve is internationally known as a “Sun & Beach” destination. However, the new trends in Algarve tourism are associated with segments linked to unique and local aspects, such as: the landscape, the gastronomy, the rural and the urban heritage. Actually, the local culture consists an important variable to improve satisfaction and to create experiences for the Algarve visitors. The accessible tourism is a segment referenced in the Algarve tourism strategy. The project “Accessible beaches/beaches for all”, the “Requalification Plan of Vilamoura Downtown Resort” and the “Municipality Local Plan of Accessibility of the Portimão City” are some examples of accessible tourism implemented in Algarve. In this domain, one promotes the physical and psychological accessibility in public spaces by applying “universal design” principles. Responding to the consumers’ needs, several cultural venues in Algarve have implemented measures to accessible good practices. These measures include the historical and heritage buildings accessibility, providing a better mobility in Algarve cities. With this article we also intend to analyse the state of art of the accessibility in cultural tourism as well as to understand the importance given at accessible cultural tourism for the development of Algarve tourism industry.