After mapping the historical, architectural and environmental attractions with local NGOs, the municipality co-designed the project with residents. Works began with an accessible outdoor path, followed by the removal of architectural barriers in the village centre and the installation of sensors and wi-fi hotspots near the main attractions, so that visitors receive information on them on their smartphones.

Monteverde reports that the village centre is now accessible and that the number of tourists and visitors increased considerably with the events linked to the project, though the extracts I read give no figures. The case shows how a small rural destination can treat accessibility as a way to open new markets and make the village more usable for everyone, including residents. 

#AccessibleTourism #RuralTourism #InclusiveDestinations #SmartVillages