Comprehensive Assessment of Museum Visitors’ Accessibility: The Case Study of the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) in Bucharest

Against the background of increasing public interest in contemporary art in museums, both in major European cities and worldwide, this study aims to analyze the tourist accessibility of the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) in Bucharest (Romania). Although the MNAC is a relatively new cultural institution, it is still little known by the local public, but of great importance for visitors interested in contemporary art. This study highlights the crucial role of accessibility for tourists, especially when inadequate infrastructure, inefficient dissemination of information, and poorly defined public policies significantly limit tourist participation, thus affecting social inclusion and the sustainable development potential of cultural attractions. This research aims to assess the tourist accessibility of the MNAC using complementary methodologies based on the direct observations of relevant elements of physical and digital access and on an assessment of visitor perceptions using a survey, in light of well-defined products perceived in a limited period. The main results show that the MNAC offers good levels of physical and digital accessibility through adequate facilities and a well-managed, active online presence. The museum sets the standard for intellectual and cognitive accessibility, demonstrating that true inclusion goes beyond physical infrastructure and embodies a human-centered, empathetic, and diversity-focused approach. The study highlights several areas where significant improvements can be made: limited national visibility, difficulties with physical access, inadequate signage, insufficient exhibition information, lack of flexible tour options, and low visitor engagement, which could be tackled by future inclusive cultural product development policies.