Tourism for Inclusive Cities

The event Tourism for Inclusive Cities will take place in the municipality of Iguatu, in the state of Ceará, as part of the official program of the UN-Habitat Urban Circuit 2025, under the theme “Facing Urban Challenges: Paths to Just and Sustainable Cities.” Positioned within the thematic line of reducing urban inequalities, the event aims to discuss how the local community can develop sustainable actions and mechanisms to welcome tourists with disabilities, promoting accessibility in urban spaces and inclusion as a core principle of territorial planning. The initiative recognizes that tourism can be a force for urban justice when guided by values of equity, participation, and sustainability. Rather than being a vector of exclusion or gentrification, tourism can contribute to valuing local identities, strengthening community economies, and democratizing access to the city. To achieve this, public spaces, cultural facilities, and tourist routes must be prepared to accommodate people with physical, visual, auditory, or intellectual disabilities, ensuring mobility, autonomy, and a sense of belonging. The event will take the form of a panel discussion, bringing together specialists in accessible urbanism, representatives from civil society organizations, public managers, and residents. The program will include technical presentations, experience-sharing sessions, and spaces for dialogue with the public, encouraging active listening and the co-creation of solutions. The methodological approach is grounded in social participation, the valorization of local knowledge, and the search for viable and replicable alternatives for similar urban contexts. The proposal aligns directly with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), contributing to the global debate on the right to the city and the role of tourism in building more just territories. By emphasizing accessibility as a condition for full citizenship, the event also promotes human rights, productive inclusion, and urban sustainability. In this way, Tourism for Inclusive Cities seeks not only to raise awareness but also to engage the community of Iguatu in building a city model that welcomes all its residents and visitors, regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive conditions. By concretely addressing the urban challenges posed by inequality, the city affirms its commitment to territorial justice and the principles of sustainable development.