Religious Tourism and Accessibility: Cathedrals of Palma and Barcelona

Introduction

The diversification of tourism products, the pursuit of satisfaction of tourists to increase the average tourist expenditure and reduction of seasonality are undoubtedly challenges assumed by the destination. But, are the resources on which products and services are based always accessible to the client-visitor? This book chapter aims to analyze the management of accessibility that takes place in the Cathedrals of Palma and Barcelona.

In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, Spain has shown fully consolidated as a destination tourist receiver, ranking among the five most important destinations worldwide, according to data of the UNWTO (2013). The Spanish position in the tourist sector has allowed both the consolidation and the creation of new products such as: activities with different transport types: segways, electric cars; guided tours and specific topic areas as gastronomical, literary, filmmakers, etc. and territorial global new airport railway infrastructure, among others.

One of the areas that most reflected the changes brought about by the tourism sector has been and it is the religious heritage. Both the intangible and tangible heritage configure today the essential pillars for religious tourism cause visitors’ flows and is one of the important claims of a city. But, what about resources that are part of the products and services are always accessible to the client-visitor? It is clear that there are a group of resources that are more likely that others to be able to adapt to the needs of demand, the new religious buildings, the external accesses to religious resources, between others, are spaces where adaptation is easier than in those resources of ancient buildings, where own protection declarations do, sometimes unworkable its adaptation.

But, what is meant by accessible tourism also known as tourism for all? Basically, the accessible tourism is one that aims to ensure that both services and products, such as the same environment can be enjoyed on equal terms by any plaintiff tourism whether or not disabled, therefore not only it refers to the elimination of physical barriers, sensory or communication, but full integration in all the elements that make up the design of the global tourism sector. (PREDIF, 2014)

In 2005, the UNWTO approved a resolution that was trying to give the basic criteria for the tourism sector with the aim of allowing an equalization of opportunities for people with restricted abilities (OMT, 2005). Nine years later, the own UNWTO (2014) indicates that facilitate an accessible tourism is one of the landmarks to take into account by tour operators.

This should add a new demand, which also causes different tour operators views. If 40 years ago concerned little or nothing of the need to adapt both the infrastructures and services to people, who were enduring a physical or psychic disabilities, it is currently unthinkable that new tourist trends does not take into account the concepts of accessibility and support. The pyramid Spanish population in recent decades is showing a profile that shows a widening from the twenty-five years which remains up to seventy-five years, with a base diminished (INE, 2017). In this widened is where a public that over the years sees diminished faculties, little or much, but that obviously the more accessible is the best resource for the visit.

This fact has led to certain destinations in the State have shown for more than one decade ago the need for changes in their products and services.