Friuli Venezia Giulia fosters accessible and inclusive tourism in mountain areas

Friuli Venezia Giulia is taking a major step toward making its mountain regions more accessible, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone. That is the goal of “I AM FVG – Inclusion and Accessibility, Making Mountains Easy to Experience and Enjoy,” a new regional initiative involving 84 municipalities across the northeastern Italian region.

The project introduces a broad set of measures aimed at improving access to tourism services and outdoor experiences in mountain areas throughout both the summer and winter seasons. Through detailed technical assessments of infrastructure, trails, and tourism services, I AM FVG is building a clear picture of current accessibility standards while identifying gaps and priorities for targeted improvements.

All data collected will be made available on the “FVG for All” website, a central platform designed to help visitors independently select experiences, services, accommodations, and restaurants that best match their individual needs. The site is intended as a practical planning tool for travelers seeking reliable information on accessibility across the region.

Beyond mapping and assessment, the initiative also supports tourism, cultural, and sports professionals with specialized equipment and practical aids to help implement accessibility on the ground. Dedicated training programs are a key component, with the aim of making mountain experiences safer, more autonomous, and more inclusive. Communication plays an equally important role, with multimedia content and targeted promotional campaigns highlighting an inclusive tourism offer that puts people first.

One flagship initiative under I AM FVG is a specialization course for ski instructors focused on teaching and accompanying people with disabilities. Organized by the Italian Ski Instructors’ Association of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the regional Ski Instructors’ College, in collaboration with PromoTurismoFVG, the course runs through March and involves 33 instructors. The curriculum combines theory and practice, covering physical and sensory disabilities as well as neurodiversity, to strengthen professional skills and support more inclusive skiing.

The region has also updated existing information materials and produced new publications. The brochure “FVG – A Region for Everyone: Accessible Tourism in Friuli Venezia Giulia” presents the full range of accessible tourism options across the region. “A Sea of Accessibility” highlights inclusive coastal tourism developed through the A Mare il Mare project, while “FVG – The Most Beautiful Places and Villages to Visit” uses easy-to-read language to make the region’s attractions more accessible to all.

With I AM FVG, PromoTurismoFVG builds on work launched in 2015 with the Regional Advisory Commission for people with disabilities and their families, reinforcing accessibility as a structural pillar of the region’s tourism strategy. Ongoing measures include accessibility assessments of guided tours, a free Italian Sign Language interpretation service, and the systematic collection of data on accessible routes and services in parks, nature reserves, historic villages, and social agricultural enterprises. The initiative also extends to thematic projects such as the Wine and Taste Route of Friuli Venezia Giulia, identifying accessible wineries, restaurants, and businesses, alongside urban accessibility mapping carried out in partnership with local administrations.

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