Beyond Accessibility: Towards an Experiential Paradigm for Inclusive Mountain Environments

Today, improving accessibility in mountainous regions is a key priority for international political agendas. Overcoming the barriers in these areas requires a fundamental change in approach. Within the framework of the 2030 Agenda and the UN recommendations for sustainable mountain development, accessibility and inclusion are now integral components of high-quality territorial policies, rather than secondary dimensions. Consequently, the natural, infrastructural, sensory, communicative or cultural barriers inherent in mountainous regions must not be considered as individual obstacles. Rather, they constitute an interconnected, multilevel system that restricts access and full participation for people with disabilities and anyone else with specific needs. Given this complexity, the key challenge is to understand how to create truly inclusive and accessible mountain environments. Through a comparative analysis of selected Italian projects and participatory initiatives, this research identifies the key design levels and collaborative processes necessary to achieve a systemic model of inclusion within mountain landscapes. The aim is to transform mountains from places to visit into places to enjoy. Trails and natural areas thus become meeting places where disability ceases to be a barrier to shared experiences. Implementing this vision requires a holistic, integrated approach to transform mountain environments from basic visitor infrastructure into spaces that actively promote wellbeing and social inclusion.