DIANA - Developing Inclusive and Accessible Natural Areas

<< Background >>We applied for the DIANA project to address a clear need in the tourism sector: the lack of specific competences and tools for nature guides to provide accessible and inclusive experiences in protected natural areas. While guides are already skilled in environmental knowledge and group management, they often lack training on how to welcome and manage visitors with disabilities or special access needs. At the same time, the demand for inclusive and sustainable tourism is growing at European level, yet structured training paths on this topic remain scarce. The project aimed to fill this gap by developing practical resources and training opportunities, strengthening the professional skills of guides and enabling them to reduce physical, communicative, and organizational barriers. In doing so, it supported the broader participation of people with disabilities in nature-based tourism and promoted higher quality and sustainability of tourism offers.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the DIANA project was to improve the competences of nature guides in order to design and deliver more accessible and inclusive experiences in protected natural areas. We wanted to create innovative and practical tools that could support their professional growth and ensure that natural tourism becomes a field open to all, including people with disabilities and special access needs. Specifically, the project aimed to: collect and valorise best practices at European and international level; design and produce a practical Training Toolkit on accessible tourism; test it through piloting activities in Italy and North Macedonia; and disseminate its results to a wide audience of stakeholders. By achieving these objectives, we intended to promote more sustainable and inclusive tourism models, raise awareness about accessibility as a core quality factor, and foster the creation of a European network committed to improving participation and enjoyment of natural heritage for everyone.<< Implementation >>The project was implemented through a sequence of interconnected activities. First, partners collected, analysed and selected international best practices on accessibility in natural tourism, producing the Compendium of best practices in Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism in protected areas (IO1). Building on this, we designed and developed the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism in Nature Areas Training Toolkit (IO2), a practical handbook for training nature guides. Both outputs were created in a collaborative and participatory way, involving local associations of people with disabilities to ensure usability and relevance. We then organised two short piloting training events in Italy and North Macedonia to test and validate the Toolkit through theoretical sessions and practical fieldwork with people with disabilities. Feedback from participants was used to refine the materials. The project also included regular transnational meetings for coordination, continuous monitoring and evaluation, and a final dissemination conference in Genoa (Italy). Finally, results were widely shared through the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform, websites, social media, and sectoral events.<< Results >>The project produced two main tangible outputs. The first was the Compendium of Best Practices in Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism in Protected Nature Areas (IO1), a transnational collection of innovative and transferable solutions already implemented in different countries. This compendium provides guidance for tourism stakeholders, helping them to recognise challenges and adopt effective models. The second output was the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism in Nature Areas Training Toolkit (IO2), a practical handbook designed to improve the skills of nature guides in organising inclusive tours. It includes training materials, exercises, and recommendations, and was tested through two piloting events in Italy and North Macedonia. Beyond the outputs, the project achieved significant results: it enhanced the competences of 20 nature guides, raised awareness among training centres, policymakers and tourism operators, strengthened cooperation between partners, and created a first European network on accessible nature tourism. Results were disseminated through events, social media, websites and the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform, ensuring free access and transferability.