Accessibility Report 2026

1. Global figures

As of July 2026, the AquaFonte directory holds 185 spring and spa entries. Of these, 18 have verified accessibility data (9.7% of the total). Another 9 are pending verification.

2. Geographic distribution

Spain has the highest number of verified spas, reflecting both the density of its historic spa network and the accessibility regulatory framework established by Royal Decree 505/2007. Hungary and the United States complete the top three.

3. Water access mechanisms

Among the 18 verified spas, the pool ramp is the most common mechanism, followed by the aquatic wheelchair (staff-propelled). Electric hydraulic chairs and pool lifts are present but less frequent.

Note: Percentages are of total verified spas. A single spa may offer more than one mechanism.

4. Building accessibility

Step-free entrances and adapted restrooms are the most commonly present features among verified establishments. Braille signage remains the rarest feature, documented at just one establishment.

5. Gaps and limitations

The current directory coverage reflects limitations in publicly available information, not necessarily the real-world accessibility situation across the global thermal sector.

• Uneven geographic coverage: Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa have little or no verified accessibility coverage, despite hosting well-known spas.
• Operator opacity: many establishments do not publish accessibility information on their websites, or publish it inaccurately or without updates.
• Operational variability: mechanisms such as pool lifts may be out of service at specific times, without this being reflected in published information.
• No international standard: there is no global standard equivalent to WCAG for physical accessibility in thermal spas.
• Lack of user perspective: most current data comes from establishment websites, not from the direct experiences of travelers with reduced mobility.

6. Next steps (2026–2027)

AquaFonte will continue expanding verified accessibility coverage, with priority on the following objectives:

• Verify the 9 establishments currently in the verification queue (Germany, Austria, USA, Japan, Chile, Colombia).
• Incorporate traveler perspective: open a report channel for experiences shared by people with reduced mobility.
• Expand Asia-Pacific coverage: Japan (accessible onsen), Taiwan (Beitou), South Korea.
• Partner with specialist organizations (Equalitas Vitae, Accessible Japan, Global Wellness Institute) for cross-validation.
• Publish the 2027 Accessibility Report with updated figures.