Cartagena inaugura dos cambiadores inclusivos y se afianza como destino turístico accesible

The mayor of Cartagena, Noelia Arroyo, attended on this Monday, March 24, the inauguration of two inclusive changing rooms, located in Balcones Azules Street and the Sports Palace. This milestone, framed within the ‘Inclusive Cartagena Plan’, consolidates the city as a reference in accessibility, recognized nationally and in Europe, as well as in tourism, and according to the mayor demonstrates the progress made «to fulfill the rights of people with disabilities and attend to them in dignified conditions».

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The new spaces, funded by Hidrogea with an investment of 150,000 euros through its Social Plan, respond to a demand from people with disabilities and their families. «Today we take a crucial step: Cartagena is now one of the few Spanish cities with two changing rooms of this type, in the case of Balcones Azules, it is the first inclusive changing room installed in the urban center of a city in Spain, and the one we have installed in the Sports Palace, is the largest in surface area and coverage,» highlighted Arroyo during the inauguration of the changing room located in the historic center.

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«We are not only improving quality of life, but we are guaranteeing basic rights such as intimate hygiene with dignity,» said Arroyo during the event attended by Andrés Martínez, manager of Hidrogea; Víctor Nestares, representative of Gaman (a Riojan company that manufactures the equipment); Mari Cruz Ballesta, from FAMDIF; and Joaquín Susmozas, a pediatrician and father of Julia, a girl with disabilities, who spearheaded the initiative. «These changing rooms offer us an added guarantee when being in the city, of being able to create that intimacy, that hygiene, in a way that safeguards all the dignity of the person with disabilities,» he said.

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While the Balcones Azules changing room follows the standard model, the one in the Sports Palace stands out for its unique design in Spain: separate spaces for a crane, toilet, and bathroom for ostomates, allowing simultaneous use with privacy. «It is a technical and ethical advancement. It prevents people from depending on the floor of a bathroom or the seat of a car,» highlighted the mayor.

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Both facilities have adjustable stretchers, cranes, adaptable sinks, and space for two assistants, ensuring safety and hygiene. Access to the Balcones Azules changing room will be managed by the Local Police through a system of cameras and video intercom, and the one at the Sports Palace will be managed by its staff.

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Noelia Arroyo emphasized the strategic value of the changing rooms in the tourism sector, «there are many people who decide on a destination to travel with their family based on whether the city meets the necessary requirements and conditions to come as a family and to enjoy a vacation and a well-deserved family rest time with those needs».

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Cartagena, which already has an Accessibility Office thanks to FAMDIF, thus adds a new achievement to its network of accessible pedestrian routes, adapted transport, and inclusive culture. With these changing rooms, the city not only meets a vital need for many people but also consolidates itself as a leading destination in inclusion, attracting families and reaffirming its commitment to people with disabilities.

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