SOCIAL TOURISM INQUIRY

Transcription

1 SOCIAL TOURISM INQUIRY DEFINING SOCIAL TOURISM How do you understand the concept of social tourism and how does it relate to the work of your organisation? In1936, the International Labour Convention (ILO) agreed on the Holiday with Pay Convention (Convention nº52) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) also refers to the right to rest and leisure and periodic holydays with pay so, social tourism could be considered as an extension to the right to rest and holidays with pay. Social tourism as programmes, events, and activities that enable all population groups and particularly youth, families, retirees, individuals with modest incomes, and individuals with restricted physical capacity to enjoy tourism, while also attending to the quality of relations between visitors and host communities. (Louis Jolin University of Quebec). Social tourism also refers to measures taken by governments to encourage holiday travel for specifics groups with clear objectives. Tourism for people of a country or region with equal access to quality tourism. In Spain there are programmes aimed at different target groups, they are promoted by different institutions at national and regional level.(autonomous Communities) The Institute for Older Persons and Social Services (Imserso, in its Spanish abbreviation, an Institution depending on the Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality, is currently developing two social tourism programs,. one for people with physical disabilities and other for the elderly. The first one is partially funding by Imserso and implemented trough non profit organizations during all the year. In 2010 the number of beneficiaries was about The Holiday Programme for the Elderly is considered one of the most successfully programs of the institution. It is included in the active aging programmes run by Imserso. It began in 1985 and still continues with great demand from the elderly. This year we are celebrating the 25 anniversary, it is a well experienced programme, so the answer to this enquiry is related to it. It was created with the primary objective of combating loneliness by organising stays for elderly people in hotels during Christmas. Later, a more comprehensive vacation programme was designed for the elderly during the low season from October to June. It is funded partially by Imserso, which allows elderly people to enjoy holidays at a price that is very attractive and affordable for them.

2 The goals for this programme are: -To promote active aging and prevent situations of dependence. -To improve elderly people s quality of life -To boost elderly people s social integration and to prevent loneliness -To boost economic activities in various sectors -To support the creation and maintenance of employment in the tourism sector during low season Regarding the beneficiaries: The beneficiaries of this programme are people over 65, people receiving retirement pensions from the Public Pension System, and other pensioners and early retirees who are 60 or older. This includes people with Spanish nationality living in other countries. They can be accompanied by their spouse, and the spouse does not need to meet the age or pension requirements. They can also be accompanied by their disabled son or daughter who is handicapped to a degree of 45% or more. It offers variety in terms of trip types and lengths: -Holidays in coastal areas. Trips can last 15, 10 or 8 days. This includes holidays in Portugal that last 8 days in Portuguese towns. -Cultural tours, six-day routes. -Nature Tourism, 5 days. The number of applicants is much higher than the number of places offered. Selection is made by Imserso, using criteria that evaluate, first and foremost, the age of the applicants, their incomes and whether or not they have participated in previous years. As a result, a prioritized list with the first million of places is made, the rest go to a waiting list. Some applications are rejected because they do not abide with the requirements The beneficiaries of this programme have the following services available to them: -Round trip travel. -Full board and lodging in a double room, or in a single room with an additional charge. -A special diet, if needed. -Complementary healthcare in addition to Social Security healthcare -Leisure and free time activities. -Learning about new technologies. -Group insurance policy. The programme began during the season, with 16,000 places. In view of its success and the demand created, it continued growing until it reached 1,200,000 during the , season. Over the years, it has been modified on the basis of studies and surveys of its participants on quality criteria. Thus, the offer in terms of activities and in terms of types of trips and lengths of stays was broadened.

3 The following significant examples in terms of this programme s evolution and growth show its importance: the 19 hotels that participated in the programme in 1985 has increased to 307 today; the 100 travel agencies has increased to 9,300. The programme Holidays for the Elderly, has been growing in line with a philosophy of ecological and sustainable tourism, better distributing groups of people throughout the year, while respecting the culture of the destinations. It is a programme with great social and economic impact, with a growing demand and geographical extension. In Portugal, a similar programme has been implemented at a national level, and there is an exchange system between the two countries and with Andorra. This programme has been copied by some Autonomous Communities.It is implemented in their geographical context. Other institutions like the Directorate General of Tourism are currently developing other similar programme (Segittur) for older people from the European Community who want to come to Spain. BENEFITS OF SOCIAL TOURISM What improvements to an individual s or family s general welfare can be delivered by having access to a holiday? By having access to holiday, it is improved the quality of life for elderly people through participation in travel and tourism activities connecting with other environments and accessing to cultural property. What specific welfare issues (be they mental, physical, emotional, psychological, educational or other) could be more effectively tackled through social tourism? According to our experience, and as a result of our programme, the benefits are: -It increases physical activity -It improves quality of life and promotes their personal development. -It encourages participation in cultural activities and provides new knowledge. -It fosters self-determination and the establishment of new friendships. -It encourages personal hobbies and improves emotional well-being. -It promotes elderly people s image in society. -They have the perception of more healthy being This welfare issues could be also understood for all target groups of social tourism. How could social tourism be incorporated in welfare policy? Social tourism could be incorporated in welfare policy as a right through financial subsidies and guidance. In Spain, the Holiday Programme for the Elderly is incardinated in the area of social policy of the Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality and not in the scope of tourism in the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, because of its social side as fringe benefits to the Social Security benefits with the partial funding of travels by the

4 organization of the Social Security, the Institute for the Elderly and Social Services, Imserso. What are broad economic benefits that could be obtained through social tourism? From our point of view two broad economic benefits could be pointed: -By improving the quality of life, it is reduced the medical and pharmacological assistance -The Holiday Programme for the elderly is an active measure of job creation that has no cost to government because by their economic and fiscal effects it is possible to recover the investment aimed to finance the programme According to the latest study conducted by Price Waterhouse Cooper, for every euro invested in the financing of Holidays for the Elderly Program is recovered 1.53 euros on the concepts of Social Security contributions, income taxes of Finance, savings in benefits and allowance unemployment, collection of the added tax value from other companies that occur with the generation of employment. The season impact on direct employment was 12,928 people. Total employment created during the months of the programme is estimated at 80,000 positions. During the season, total employment is at 105,000 employees. -In addition, it boosts the economic activity in the host places as well in other companies that are detailed in another question of this enquiry What would be the best approach to maximising any economic benefits? The best approach to maximise economic benefits has two sides: -Coordination and dialogue among public institutions and all stakeholders. -Collaboration between public and private field. Which industries, communities and organisations will benefit most from economic improvements delivered by social tourism? The Holiday Programme for the Elderly has become essential for many Spanish hotels to remain open throughout the year. Social tourism promoted by this programme has a positive effect in the following sectors of economic activity: -Hotel industry. -Transport enterprises. -Travel agencies -Insurance companies. -Health insurances -Other services as touristic guidance, socio cultural monitors and others

5 ACCESS TO SOCIAL TOURISM How aware are you of the social tourism environment in the UK or in your home country? In Spain, Holidays for the Elderly Programme is widespread in all social areas, popularly known as Vacaciones Imserso ( Imserso s Vacation ) It has been important the word of mouth and the information throughout organizations and elderly centers, travel agencies, and sometimes the competent minister has sent a letter to all registered pensioners. How do you believe this may change in the coming years? This programme is well established after 25 years of implementation and it is planned to continue incorporating quality improvements. What factors are affecting people s abilities to access a holiday in Britain? What can be done to encourage access. PROMOTING SOCIAL TOURISM How could we effectively measure the benefits and development of social tourism? -In general it is possible to measure the economic benefits through the relevant studies, stemming from the situation and needs of the concerned countries and sharing the best practices that work in other countries. -According to the Spanish experience and as a result of studies, internal surveys to users, as well as studies of complaints, it has been incorporated many improvements to update the programme in relation with places to go, trip types and lengths, quality of accommodation, and travels. How could an organised approach to social tourism be delivered at a local or national level? An organised approach could be through partial funding of tourism by the Government to authorize, manage or custody. This is an important factor to motivate and encourage citizen participation in social tourism programmes. What would the benefits of an organised approach or framework be? *The body that organizes the social tourism programmes should be governmental and the benefits would be double: -Wellbeing for citizenships. -Financial returns for the country. *From our experience, in order to ensure the success of the programme and achieve a series of strategic objectives, previously established, the Imserso manages the programme by acting on the different aspects that compose it

6 To this end, Imserso invites companies to tender for the execution of the specific tasks for each matter. These tasks are determined by the corresponding Imserso Technical Specifications Clauses and Contract Documents that make up the contents of the programme and are used for hiring services companies in the tourism sector In those clauses there is a description of the programme, determining which users can access, the number of people and their distribution, the participation of Imserso and users as well as setting the conditions for the marketing of places, transportation and accommodation, recreational activities to be carried out in the place of destination and the special training that the hotels staff has to have in relation to elderly people The programme has also a group policy insurance and complementary health care. The Imserso at the time opted for a centralized management. This decision has been revealed through the different seasons as the key to reach stability in the occupation of the tourist areas throughout the year. On the other hand, 25 years of experience have led to optimal use of transport and accommodation places, achieving high quality standards and reduced costs for Imserso and for participants What role should the Government play in the development of social tourism? In Spain, the programme for elderly and for maintaining the employment in tourist areas, has to be approved by the Administration each year, both in terms of programmes and in terms of investments The annual program is approved by the Council of Ministers, whose decision involves primarily the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality, Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade and the Ministry of Labour and Immigration. The approved programmes are developed for each season based on the coordination of different public and private actors involved in the provision of services. In view of Spanish experience, the Government can promote these programs and encourage their development, through grants or subsidies or other measures.