210 likes | 659 Views
Towards a pilot project for European social tourism: “Europe Senior Tourism” S hared between the Spanish government, the governments of the EU states, the regions and the European institutions. A commitment to the de-seasonalisation of tourist activity and to employment through active policies.
E N D
Towardsapilotprojectfor Europeansocialtourism:“Europe SeniorTourism”SharedbetweentheSpanishgovernment,thegovernmentsoftheEUstates,theregionsandtheEuropeaninstitutions Acommitmenttothede-seasonalisation of tourist activity and to employment through active policies
SUMMARY 1. CURRENT SITUATION 2. THE PROJECT 3. FUTURE
SEASONALITY PlayadePalma’sworstwinter:only18hotelsopen
THREATS • IncreasingseasonalityintheEuropeantouristindustry • Under-utilisation of human work resources • High costs of unemployment benefits in winter. • Tourist areas deserted. • Difficulties to maintain adequate price. • Limits to the number of places for tourist use.
OPPORTUNITIES • Gradualincreaseinthepercentageofnon-activecitizens. • 102 million people in the EU aged between 55 and 75. • The sustainable development of the tourist industry requires an increase in the added value of each tourist place throughout the year: • Increasing the average annual added value by increasing quality and diversifying products . • Increasing average annual occupation by extending the opening season. • Major changes in the infrastructure of tourist transport.
STATE OF THE PROJECT • Increasingawarenessbyseveralinstitutionsatverydiverselevelsandspheres,oftheneedtotakeaction. • Advanced state of several proposals in European institutions for the creation of a Europe-wide social tourism project. • Continuing rise in life expectancy and average age of European citizens, meaning increased leisure time. • High tendency to travel by all European citizens, and particularly by “senior” citizens. • Need by European institutions to advance towards the concept and reality of European citizenship. • Positive experiences of social tourism in several European countries and particularly in Spain, which has created a parallel market to that of the IMSERSO of one million more.
EUROPE SENIOR TOURISM A commitment in Spain and Europe for the de-seasonalization and to employment through active policies. The best social policy is employment.
OBJECTIVES • To stimulate economic activity in the tourist industry in the low season, thereby tackling the serious problem of seasonality affecting the tourist sector in Europe. • To boost employment by means of active policies which impact the labour market. • To contribute to building a European citizenship. • To contribute to an active ageing.
SUMMARYOFTHEPILOTPROJECTINSPAIN: • Aim: To create a system of organised group travel in the low tourist season with destination in hotels in Spain, partially subsided for European senior citizens, and in return, a system for travel by Spanish residents to other European countries. • Total investment in 2009: 10 million euros, 50% from the state and 50% from the autonomous regions.
BASIC PLAN FOR A NEW Europeansocialtourismproject • ArrangingtravelbyEuropeancitizensto other countries in low season, this year to Spain. • The EU member states which are receivers of Social Tourism will subsidise citizens from all over Europe who fulfil a series of requirements • This is a model of ASYMMETRICAL exchange of organised travel for senior tourists between the various countries and their citizens. • Company and trade union participation in the configuration and development of the product
SUMMARYOFTHE FIRST VERSION INSPAIN (I): • SEGITTUR manages the project, depending directly on the State Secretary of Tourism. • 5 destinations Andalucía: Costa del Sol – Costa de la Luz Balearic Islands: Mallorca-Menorca-Ibiza • 80.000 places. • From October 2009 to April 2010. • 15 countries. • A sales company TRAVEL SENIOR. • Thousands of sales points. • The main requirement is being at least 55 years old.
SUMMARYOFTHE FIRST VERSION INSPAIN (II): • Subsidy: • 150 euros for residents in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, • 100 euros for residents in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia. Final sales prices: 8 days 365 euros 15 days 524 euros 22 days 700 euros 29 days 855 euros • Included in price: • Round-trip airfare • 4 stars hotel. • Full board. • Transportation to and from the hotel. • Activities. • Travel insurance. Final sales prices: 8 days 365 euros 15 days 524 euros 22 days 700 euros 29 days 855 euros
PROMOTION: • Traditional: brochures, advertisement, contacts with organizations. • NEW: • WEB SITE: www.europeseniortourism.eu
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PILOT • ToachieveastrongstimulusbytheSpanishgovernmentforatrans-nationalprojectforEuropeansocialtourismaimedatseniorcitizensalloverEurope:“SeniorTourismEurope”,tobesharedbetweentheparticipatingstatesandregionsintheEuropeanUnion,andwithintheframeworkoftheEuropeaninstitutions. • To publicise the proposal among all the institutions, states and regions in Europe.
BENEFICIARIES • Users:whogoonholidaytoothercountriesatasubsidisedrate,inthelowseason. • Workers: who go from being unemployed to being employed • Employers throughout the whole tourist chain 100 million euros in direct and induced activity are generated with an investment of 10 million euros • Central Inland Revenue Service: recover 1,5 euro for every 1 euro invested. • European institutions: The notion of European citizenship is reinforced.
DEPLOYMENT OF THE PROJECT: • With other membercountriesoftheEU: Signature of agreements with other european countries. • Acting agents if they are willing and committed to subsidising citizens from other countries in the EU. • Spectator agents if they only accept subsidies for travel by their own citizens from other countries. • European institutions, the Parliament and the Commission: • Legitimise and give social value. • Promote the minimum standardisation of conditions. • Guarantee the transparency of the award process for the different procedures. • No budgetary contribution from the EU is necessary except the minimum funds for technical coordination and promotion in the EU states.