NET-StaR -Network for Social Tourism and Regeneration Seminar 1 Mapping the territory: social tourism in regeneration and social policy

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1 NET-StaR -Network for Social Tourism and Regeneration Seminar 1 Mapping the territory: social tourism in regeneration and social policy By Charles-Etienne Bélanger Director, International Social Tourism Organisation London, March 30th 2011

2 Holiday departures in Europe Social tourism initiatives and good practices European Union and Calypso The role of ISTO

3 Holiday departures in Europe Annual paid vacations range today from 20 to 30 days; the average is 23 days per year 10 countries have developed real policies in favour of social tourism (Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and France) 2/3 (67%) of the European citizens had travelled in % went on holidays (4 consecutive nights outside of their home) The reasons for not going on holidays may be quite different; financial reasons represent the main reason (41%) 65% of the so called tourist arrivals are domestic - strong seasonality, with holidays peaking in July and August

4 Social tourism initiatives and good practices Two types of initiatives can be identified: Building subsidies or how infrastructures have been built or renovated with public or social support Holiday support or how public and social bodies help individuals to go on holidays through specific programs or systems

5 Building subsidies: example of Holiday Villages for Families - VVF Offers the opportunity to go on holidays to a majority of families Offers the possibility to create infrastructures for tourists in small cities or villages stimulating local and regional economic growth operates 102 villages in 48 different departments and 19 regions with a capacity of 30,552 beds 435,000 persons with 2.3 million overnights 2,525 workers during the high season turnover of 76.5 million

6 Building subsidies: example of Youth hostel movement in Europe and worldwide (IYHF) Present in 81 countries with 4,200 Youth hostels operating worldwide 4 million members providing 35 million overnight stays public hosted has changed considerably and is quite diversified from backpackers to hostellers bringing his family by car, and to school groups

7 Building subsidies: other examples Floréal Club Holiday Centres (Belgium) INATEL Foundation (Portugal) Youth accommodations managed by the Centro Turistico Giovanile (Italy)

8 Holiday support: holiday voucher Holiday check or holiday voucher in Switzerland, France, Hungary, Italy and Romania In France, ANCV allowed 3.3 million employees and civil servants to have holiday vouchers in 2010 which represent, along with families, more than 7 million people. The total value of holiday vouchers emitted in 2010 amounted to 1.3 billion generating thus 5 billion of tourist expenses

9 Holiday support: Senior Holiday Programme (IMSERSO - Spain) Gives the opportunity to seniors, under certain criteria linked to the age and the income level, to travel during the off-season Improves the well-being of seniors and maintains employment level in tourist areas during the low season 1, people during the 2009/2010 season 300 hotels and 9,700 travel agencies take part in this programme return on investment is estimated at 1, 53 for each invested by the State Generates or maintains around 119,000 jobs (16,000 direct ones and 103,000 indirect ones)

10 Holiday support: Europe Senior Tourism (SEGITTUR - Spain) Offers an all-inclusive programme to European citizens over 55 who want to spend their holidays in Spain during the off season Part of the cost of the trip is subsidised by the Spanish Government and the Spanish regions involved in this programme

11 The European Union and Calypso Annual conferences on social tourism issues organized by the EU Commission in partnership with ISTO (2006, 2007 and 2008) Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Social Tourism in Europe (2006) Making Holidays available to All: one of the key challenges of the agenda for Sustainable and Competitive European Tourism ( 2007) Interest of some members of the European Parliament

12 The European Union and Calypso Preparatory action with a budget of 3.5 million for the period First European initiative on social tourism Aims to promote tourism in the low season thus combating seasonality whilst having social benefits and stimulating European citizenship through tourism exchanges

13 The European Union and Calypso Calypso study Calypso study includes useful country profiles The analysis shows that among the 4 target groups, the one with the highest market potential is the target seniors In many European countries, the concept of social tourism is new, with a limited organizational ability to engage in concrete actions Recommends, in a short term period, to focus on supporting Members States Develops the necessary structure to engage in Calypso Set up a platform as a marketplace for supply and demand exchanges

14 The European Union and Calypso A real debate emerged over the last months between ISTO and other stakeholders involved in social tourism and European Commission The Commission mostly aims at European exchanges and anti-seasonality actions We consider that the first issue should be to develop a real access to new populations, among the 4 target groups We also pledged for the establishment of a European programme at the end of the preparatory action, more or less like the successful Erasmus scheme for students

15 The role of ISTO General Assembly held in Rimini in September 2010: We adapted our structure to the new context and adopted new statutes Three categories of full members have been established: the operators, the national administrations and the local and regional authorities A task force of trade unions has been created Alliance for training and research in the field of social tourism Political lobbying towards international organisations and national, regional and local administrations Development of a platform for promotion, exchanges and services to our members

16 The role of ISTO Priorities Launch a permanent program on social tourism at the end of the Calypso preparatory action Develop with UNWTO a working plan on domestic tourism given its strong link to social tourism Put forward the social dimension in the sustainability issues within the new Global Partnership on Sustainable Tourism set up by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

17 The role of ISTO ISTO: 160 member organisations based in some 35 countries According to our Declaration Towards a humanist and social vision of tourism, social tourism is: Shaper of society Promoter of economic growth Tool for regional and local development Partner in global development programs Thank you for your attention!