Services for usable, inclusive and welcoming hospitality
The aim of the SOFIA project is to increase the competitiveness and innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector within the five cross-border regions, by offering them a range of INTEGRATED SERVICES (group training, individual coaching and development of local business projects), aimed at developing new expertise in the field of accessible tourism, in particular linked to overcoming the four types of barriers: physical, perceptual and orientation, communication, cultural-relational. These new skills will increase companies’ performance, allowing them to reach a broader market target represented by ‘tourists with special needs’ and their families.
 A JOINT PROTOCOL of services for businesses, initially launched by expert partners in the sector, will define the guidelines and standards relating to accessibility issues and the contents of the services themselves, which will then be provided by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. The services will be provided to around 45 tourism businesses, some of which have already been identified as part of previous projects (Tesori Nascosti, ITACA, S.MAR.TIC); these businesses are interested in adapting/improving their tourism activities and services based on the needs of people with different types of disability. Based on the requirements expressed by companies during group consultations, customised coaching sessions will be launched with professionals who are experts in the field (architects, psychologists, communication and certification experts, etc.). BUSINESS PROJECTS in pilot areas will also be developed with groups of interested companies, aimed at creating an integrated accessible hospitality system able to comprehensively meet all special needs and therefore attract many new tourists to the area.