Accessibility in the Kaunertal

Dietmar Walser: The Kaunertal has been committed to barrier-free tourism since the 1980s. Under the motto "Holidays for all", the entire region - from restaurants and cable cars to hiking trails - has been gradually adapted to the needs of people with limited mobility.

Today, the Kaunertal offers barrier-free accommodation, wide paths and even special winter sports offers for monoskiers. The Kaunertal Glacier is also perfectly adapted to barrier-free needs: Modern cable cars with level access, wide access paths and special aids enable all guests to enjoy winter sports without restrictions. As a result, the region has not only established itself as a popular destination for guests with disabilities, but also as an international role model for barrier-free infrastructure in Alpine regions.

Particularly impressive are the barrier-free viewing platforms, which allow all visitors to enjoy the breathtaking mountain landscape without restriction. In addition, comprehensive training for tourism businesses ensures that the quality of barrier-free offers is continuously improved.

Dietmar Walser: The focus on barrier-free tourism has made the Kaunertal an inclusive destination that warmly welcomes guests with different needs. People with mobility impairments often travel with families or accompanying persons, which further strengthens the region's economic added value. At the same time, older people and families with baby carriages also benefit from the barrier-free infrastructure.

The Kaunertal has thus not only increased its appeal to tourists, but also impressively demonstrated that inclusion and economic success can go hand in hand. In addition, barrier-free tourism strengthens social participation and a sense of community locally - many businesses have made a conscious decision to make their offers inclusive. The high level of acceptance of this concept is reflected in the growing number of visitors who specifically choose the Kaunertal for their vacation.

Dietmar Walser: We are constantly working on improving our offer. Future projects include the expansion of barrier-free hiking trails and cross-country ski trails, an optimized communication strategy for our barrier-free offer and even closer cooperation with international partners in the area of inclusion.

Another focus is on raising awareness of accessible tourism. We want to further increase awareness of this through targeted collaborations and public events. At the same time, we are driving forward sustainable mobility concepts: the expansion of the barrier-free public transport network and the implementation of e-mobility solutions should enable all guests to travel in an environmentally friendly and comfortable way and enjoy unrestricted mobility on site.

We are also focusing on more intensive cooperation with tour operators in order to better market our barrier-free offer and specifically address new target groups.

Our long-term goal is to establish the Kaunertal as one of the leading destinations for accessible tourism in Europe.