Between advances and challenges:

a comparative study of accessibility at Ponta Negra Beach (RN)

Abstract

Tourism has consolidated itself as one of the most profitable sectors globally, acting as a driving force for development and social inclusion. Faced with this, debates on accessible tourism seek to guarantee autonomy and democratize access for people with disabilities (PWD) or reduced mobility to destinations. This article presents a qualitative and exploratory study that comparatively analyzes the accessibility reports of Ponta Negra Beach (RN) developed by the Observatório Potiguar de Inovação do Turismo (OPOTUR) in the years 2024 and 2025. The 2024 survey included 100 respondents (exclusively PWD or people with reduced mobility), while the 2025 study expanded to 304 participants (including people without disabilities). The results indicate a subtle improvement in the general positive perception of local accessibility, which increased from 20.4% to 35.2%. However, the majority of interviewees in both years (79.6% in 2024 and 64.8% in 2025) still consider the beach not accessible. Evaluation through the Likert scale revealed a persistent concentration of "Regular" ratings in vital structural aspects such as urban mobility, access to the beach, hotels, and restaurants, although tourist equipment showed significant progress in 2025. It is concluded that severe urban barriers still persist at the site, reinforcing the urgent need for infrastructure interventions and public policies aimed at social inclusion and strengthening the development of regional tourism.