The United Nations has declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism. As Florence works to adapt to the shifting needs of travelers—in the face of preexisting challenges presented by mass tourism—the Renaissance city will work to better implement the inclusive principles that such a year will encourage.
Tuscany is renowned the world over for its natural beauty and for the values of “slow living” that it embodies. Simple pleasures like savoring a glass of Chianti wine or marveling at a landscape are just as integral to Tuscan travel as bigger “bucket-list” moments like seeing Michelangelo’s David or standing at the base of the baptistery’s bronze doors. Travelability, a network of gamechangers in the tourism industry, works to ensure that such memories are not just available to a privileged few, by focusing on building unforgettable experiences for the elderly and those with disabilities.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”, goes a saying commonly attributed to Saint Augustine. In today’s globalized world, age and disability should never be obstacles to “reading” that book by exploring. Travel enriches us, no matter our age or circumstances, but realistically, resources for the “wanderlusters” in these two groups have been limited. Travelability works tirelessly to correct that.
Perhaps a young woman in a wheelchair needs assistance in weaving her way through the Uffizi’s hallowed halls. Think of a senior who wants to take the trip of a lifetime, but needs to ensure he continues his physical therapy to maintain muscle tone after an operation. In these cases and in countless others, Travelability can assemble a team of professionals to take charge of the client’s customizable needs, consulting health records and ensuring top-quality assistance throughout the trip, no matter its duration.
Travelability’s mission and assistance doesn’t stop at fundamental medical services. Keeping up with a sightseeing group can be grueling, even for those of us with fewer physical challenges. The company responds to this by offering tailor-made tours so clients can take in the wonders of Tuscany at a pace that works for them. After all, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus is certainly more striking, and the tombs of Santa Croce certainly more captivating, when you’re allowed time to take a breath and take it in.
The specifics remain to be seen, but Travelability will embrace this opportunity to work toward making Tuscany more accessible. In the meantime, they’ll continue to encourage people to keep exploring the world—flipping one page at a time.
For more info visit the Travelability website, send an email to [email protected] or call +39 055.4684663.
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