The Costa Daurada has 34 beaches with some form of adapted service for people with reduced mobility, the highest total on the Catalan coast, according to a count by Farré Accessibilitat reported by Diari de Girona. The figure means that nearly half of the area's beaches have adapted provision.

For residents and visitors who need step-free access or assisted bathing, the wider picture remains limited: the count identified 82 beaches with at least one adapted service across Catalonia, equivalent to one in four beaches. Three quarters therefore had no adapted service recorded.

Large differences between coastal areas

The tally found substantial variation between Catalonia's coastal regions. It did not identify a single beach with adapted services on the Terres de l'Ebre coast.

  • Costa Daurada: 34 adapted beaches, nearly half of its coastline total.
  • Maresme: 55 adapted beaches, or 32% of its total.
  • Garraf: 12 adapted beaches, or 43% of its total.
  • Costa Brava: 13 adapted beaches, or 12% of its total.
  • Barcelonès: five adapted beaches, or 14% of its total.

URV study identifies remaining barriers

A study led by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili's International Center for Lifelong Learning Tourism (ICLEAT) examined accessible tourism provision on the Costa Daurada between July and October of the previous year. The research team was coordinated by Marta Nel·lo, with Alba Font as principal researcher.

The study found progress at beaches and greater availability of information about accessible services, but said further work was needed for fully inclusive tourism. Its proposals include expanding assisted bathing and improving access to toilets, parking areas and ramps.

It also recommends updating signs with Braille and QR codes to help people with visual impairments move around independently. The study notes that coastal natural spaces, marine-related cultural resources, water activities and nautical sports could incorporate further accessibility measures.

Reported by Source Text Link, diaridigital.urv.cat, Pau Cambronero, Iván Alcalá Rubio, catalannews.com, accessibletourism.org, infopalamos.cat, Mundo Playa, Redacción, diaridetarragona.com, spain.info, DiariTots21, diarimes.com, Oriol Margalef, tarragonadigital.com, apdnoticies.com.