From Assessment to Action
The first step was to identify accessibility needs. An accessibility assessment conducted by Ablebook at 31 key locations along the Larnaca Cultural Walk highlighted existing barriers and proposed practical solutions. The findings were presented to the relevant authorities, providing a foundation for targeted improvements.
As part of the same effort, Ablebook designed an accessible tourism route along the Finikoudes seafront, documenting obstacles that need to be removed. The proposed route is already being incorporated into the planning of future accessibility projects.
Museums for Everyone
The Livadia Basketry Heritage Museum is expected to become the first fully accessible museum in the Larnaca district. In collaboration with the Saint Barnabas School for the Blind, the Livadia-Oroklini Blind Welfare Association, the School for the Deaf, and the Phoebos Stavrides Larnaca Archives, a range of initiatives has been introduced for visitors with visual and hearing impairments.
Sign language videos, Braille maps, and specially designed QR code signage provide information in accessible formats, supporting independent exploration of the museum.
In another innovative initiative, the Pierides Museum has installed a tactile station that allows visitors to interactively explore the stages involved in creating an ancient ceramic vessel. The station has been specifically designed to accommodate wheelchair users and people with visual impairments.
Accessible Seating Initiative
A small yet meaningful intervention is the introduction of an accessible bench designed to accommodate wheelchair users. The bench has been piloted at the Kamares Monument and will soon also be installed along the Finikoudes promenade.
The Finikoudes bench will feature Braille information, an audio welcome message about Larnaca, and sign language content. This initiative is regarded as highly innovative within the Cypriot context, as it combines accessibility features for people with mobility, visual, and hearing impairments within a single installation.
Accessible Hotel Menus
In partnership with the organisation ‘Ena Emeis’ and the Saint Barnabas School for the Blind, several four- and five-star hotels in Larnaca, including Golden Bay, Sandy Beach, Lordos Beach, Radisson Blu, E-Hotel, and Robinson, have adapted their restaurant menus into Braille, large-print, and digital formats accessible via QR codes.
These improvements enhance independence for guests with visual impairments. In addition, specialised training workshops have been delivered to tourism industry staff on providing services to visitors with visual disabilities.
‘Sensory City Tour’ Route
Accessibility is also being enhanced through experiential tourism experiences. A pilot ‘Sensory City Tour’ was developed specifically for people with visual impairments.
The programme included visits to the Pierides Museum and the Kyriazis Medical Museum, together with a guided experience along Finikoudes using the audio features of the Larnaka Storytelling Statues application.
European Expertise and Knowledge Sharing
Larnaca Tourism Board’s participation in three European projects focused on accessible tourism has contributed to the development of practical guides and educational materials, while also strengthening the skills and expertise of tourism professionals.
Through steady and purposeful action, Larnaca continues to demonstrate that inclusion can, and should, be a fundamental pillar of modern tourism development.
