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When the 2020 bathing season officially begins on the Portuguese beaches, the three promoters of the ‘Accessible Beach - Beach for All!’ programme – the National Institute for Rehabilitation (INR), the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and Category: Tourism in Portugal (TP) – welcome the surprising and commendable adherence of municipalities and concessionaires to this inclusive initiative, which is so relevant for citizens with disabilities or mobility limitations.

In the 2020 edition, and despite the economic constraints and the need to implement additional health rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 200 beaches were presented under this Programme. Thus, there will continue to be accessible beaches that will provide, in all regions of the mainland and in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, inclusive recreational spaces, although in a slightly lower number than in previous years.

Although it was forbidden to use most of the equipment for collective use on the beaches, care was taken to ensure that the equipment to support the bathing of people with impaired mobility would remain available, so that they could enjoy this great pleasure. However, proper hygiene of such amphibious equipment should be ensured by properly washing it with seawater or public water and then drying it in the sun so that it is ready for further use.

In this particular year, the ‘Accessible Beach - Beach for All!’ programme will thus continue to ensure that people with restricted mobility and those accompanying them have the right to enjoy these important leisure areas with safety, comfort, equity and autonomy.