On July 9, 2026, a presentation of an initiative aimed at developing inclusive tourism took place at the Government of the Novosibirsk Region. The project was presented by Tatyana Kulakova — the official representative of the Regional Public Organization “International Women’s Union” in the Kingdom of Thailand. Earlier, the initiative had been submitted to the platform “Strong Ideas for a New Time,” passed the regional selection, and received support at the regional level.
From theory to practice
The essence of the project is to establish full-fledged working groups in each region for practical testing and piloting of inclusive tourist routes. As Tatyana Kulakova noted, despite the existence of international and national standards, including ISO 21902:2021, there remains a huge gap between formal compliance and real accessibility. A facility may be declared accessible on its website, have a ramp and a special room in a hotel, but that does not guarantee that a person with a disability can independently complete the entire route, safely use public transport, or encounter trained staff.
Regional expansion and support
Following the presentation at the Government of the Novosibirsk Region, the project was forwarded to the federal level — to the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. Representatives of the Novosibirsk city administration expressed their readiness to discuss possible support measures for the initiative. At the current stage, working groups are being formed from several regions of the Russian Federation. Each regional group is to include:
- persons with disabilities;
- representatives of relevant ministries and agencies;
- representatives of public organizations;
- representatives of the tourism industry.
Pilot trip to the Kingdom of Thailand
A pilot trip of the working group to the Kingdom of Thailand is scheduled for November 10–16, 2026. This stage is aimed at studying international experience in organizing an accessible tourist environment and testing approaches to developing inclusive routes. During the trip, participants will hold working meetings with partners, assess the accessibility of accommodation facilities, transport, excursion and cultural venues, and identify which solutions could be applied when developing pilot routes in Russian regions.
Scaling and prospects
After the trip, each regional working group will be able to start piloting an inclusive route in its region. This stage will serve as the basis for subsequent scaling of the initiative to the federal level in 2027–2030. The project is aligned with the state program “Accessible Environment” and reflects Russia’s strategic role in promoting social agenda as a value, as well as its positioning as a responsible participant in global development. Inclusive tourism is not charity — it is a cost-effective solution that creates new jobs, opens up tourist resources to millions of people, and strengthens social cohesion.
Partners of the initiative
The project is implemented through international partnership, bringing together government, business, non‑profit organizations and the BRICS community to create an accessible tourism environment. The cooperation involves:
- ANO Quality Center “OKNO” (BRICS Charity project)
- Asia‑Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD)
- Regional Public Organization “International Women’s Union” in the Kingdom of Thailand
On behalf of the Regional Public Organization “International Women’s Union”, the project is curated by the organization’s official representative in the Kingdom of Thailand — Tatyana Kulakova. Thanks to her efforts, the initiative has gained international dimension and practical support at the regional level.