Overcoming Accessibility Challenges on the Trails:
The decision to explore new destinations, especially for someone with disabilities, involves a lot of unknowns. Whether in outdoor or indoor spaces, it is crucial for travelers to be guaranteed a wide range of accessible options that allow them to feel as safe as possible, ultimately giving them more of a reason to return in the future.
An excellent example of an accessible destination is the Educational Trail Las Trancas, nestled in the Ñuble region of central-southern Chile. Its owner, Tomas Cams, recognized the importance of improving accessibility so that as many visitors as possible can experience it’s natural beauty.
Thanks to a collaboration with Lazarillo, more than 206 meters of the trail have been geolocated, providing users with invaluable information about the local flora, fauna, points of interest, and geographical landmarks. Moreover, the Lazarillo app allows easy access to parking lots, entrances, recycling points, and restrooms, which can be conveniently selected via the trail’s profile, guiding users to their desired destinations using their mobile devices.
Tomas enthusiastically expressed his satisfaction with the project, stating that Lazarillo has been an invaluable partner in understanding and supporting his vision for an accessible trail. This achievement has directly translated into increased footfall and growing interest from diverse groups of people eager to experience this natural wonder – now more accessible than ever.
According to Marcela Rodríguez, director of the National Tourism Service in Ñuble, ensuring that people with diverse access needs can have new outdoor experiences must be a commitment of the entire tourism sector.
“In dining, hospitality and the enormous range of services that tourism offers, we have to expand the scope of our management, so that each person can have access in a dignified manner and regardless of their disability.”
Daniel López, Marketing and Communications Director of Lazarillo and representative of the team during the activity, pointed out that this is a job and a commitment in which every positive step adds up.
“The more institutions understand the need to generate accessible spaces in tourism, the idea that fun and recreation are essential rights that contribute to a better development of accessibility, the closer we get to an inclusive society.”
