In Italy, approximately 3 million people with mobility disabilities take part in tourism. Many prefer camping precisely because of the nature and space it offers. An accessible campsite is not only a legal obligation: it is a market often overlooked by competitors.
What the regulations say
DM 236/1989 and DPR 503/1996 establish the technical accessibility requirements. For campsites, Ministerial Circular No. 14 of 1993 requires:
- At least 5% of pitches (minimum 1) accessible to wheelchair users.
- Barrier-free routes from parking areas to accessible pitches.
- Accessible sanitary facilities: shower cubicle with a fixed or removable seat, toilet with 80 cm of lateral clearance, washbasin 80 cm above the ground.
- Ground surface: compact and non-deformable (e.g., stabilized surface, asphalt) in transit areas.
- Signage: international accessibility symbol visible from the entrance.
Tax incentives for adaptations
Works to remove architectural barriers qualify for a 75% IRPEF tax deduction (2022 Budget Law), which can be combined with other building incentives. Accommodation facilities may also access funding from regional PSRs.
Certify your accessibility with the AccessiWay form or similar tools: improve your positioning on Booking.com (the 'accessible properties' filter) and on Google with schema.org markup.