Assessing physical accessibility conditions to tourist attractions. The case of Maspalomas Costa Canaria urban area (Gran Canaria, Spain)

Abstract

In this research, a methodology for the analysis of accessibility conditions for people with physical disabilities was developed. The analysis is based on an assessment of the sidewalk network in two tourist areas located in Maspalomas Costa Canaria (Gran Canaria, Spain). ArcMap's Network Analyst was used, and Spanish regulations on accessibility in urbanized public spaces, as well as the points of origin (tourist accommodation, bus stops and reserved parking lots for people with reduced mobility) and destination (access points to the beach and other tourist elements, some of them with heritage value) for typical users were considered. After application of the methodology, a set of potential routes were obtained. The results reveal deficient walkability, with breaks in the accessibility chain in both study areas. It is concluded that new measures to improve accessibility are required which can be used as a basis for the development of new tourist products to reinforce the competitiveness of the tourist destination.