Calypso study on social

tourism

Spain

Generality

The tourism sector is

considered to be the

most important

economic sector in Spain.

Tourism represents 10, 8

% of the gdp.

Tourism employed 2,7

million people in 2005,

which is 12,4 % of the

total working population

Competitiveness and

strengths

The proximity to the

main European markets.

Favourable weather

conditions.

Several consolidated

tourist destinations.

Large variety of cultural

resources distributed

across the territory.

Weaknesses

it’s characterised by a

strong seasonal

component.

Lack of identity in

tourism proposal for

traditional destinations.

Excessive geographical

concentration of tourist

and residential

accommodation offer

Spain is one of the countries with a

stronger tradition in social tourism.

In Spain, the main actors involved with social

tourism are of an institutional nature.

The most important are:

IMSERSO is a management Organisation of the

Social Security, belonging to the ministry of

health and social policy

SEGITUR is a public company created by the

ministry of Industry and tourism.

COCEMFE is the Spanish Confederation of

Persons with Physical and Organics Disabilities.

The UGT, union general de trabadores, also

arranges it’s members requests for seats to

enjoy their holidays.

II The target groups of social

tourism in Spain

The segmentation profile: Senior citizens

The population over the age of 65 in Spain is

more of 7 million.

The economic problems derived from the fact

that participants depend on a retirement

pension.

Accommodation is usually in hotels.

The seniors like mostly

cultural visits to cities,

museum, sun and beach

tourism, gastronomy routes

(the food component is

increasingly important).

This group can travel during

the low season, as they are

not usually engaged in

employment.

Young people

Between 15 and 35 five years old, there is

more than 12 million people in Spain

• Constraints:

The economic difficulties: young people with

low income

Geographic obstacles: young persons living in a

rural or remote area.

They prefer European

destinations.

The accommodation will

depend on the nature of

travel, but for them it’s easy

to find.

The demand of activities is

wide.

They are very sensitive to the

price.

The period as many of them

are students, is summer or

other school holidays.

Families facing difficult circumstances

There is a lack of legal and institutional

definition of this group, the limits of which are

blurred.

•Constraints:

Tourism of families with difficulties is not

developed in Spain. Marketwise doesn’t exist.

Adults with disabilities

The sector represents between 9% and 10 % of

Spanish population.

Who are they: between 18 and 60 years old,

with a disability of more than 33%

•Constraints :

Economic problems because most of them

depend on a non-contributing pension.

Problems derived from

their own disability.

Difficulties derived from

living in a rural or poorly

communicated area.

According NGOs, 84% of

all like travelling. Demand

largely exceeds the

existing supply subsided.

The accommodation

usually takes place in

hotels.

III The IMSERSO program

(Instituto de mayores y servicios

sociales)

Generality

The program

IMSERSO was created in

1985, it starting offering

16000 seats and until now it

has offered 1,2 million seats.

The target group is seniors

from the age of 65.

Since it started, more than 10

million persons have taken

part in this program.

The objectives

It’s a social program with a

double dimension:

To improve the quality of

life and wellbeing of

seniors.

To favour the creation an

maintenance of

employment and economic

activity during the period

of low activity.

Requirements, modalities and duration:

Aged 65 and over.

Pensioners of the Public Pension System.

This is an intra-regional social tourism program.

There are no exchanges.

Cultural trip: 6 day routes, full board.

Nature tourism: 5 days full board, in

recreational and contemplative areas.

Description of

support

mechanisms

Partial financing from

the IMSERSO, equal

for all persons.

Reservation facilities:

more than 9300 travel

agencies offer the

programme.

Funding mechanisms and results

• Description of funding

mechanisms

the total amount of

direct resources

allocated to be 300

million euros.

The following economic

impact is estimated: 1,53

euros are recovered by

the state for every euro

invested.

The result on the Spanish economy

13000 direct jobs and 85000 indirect jobs in the

low season are created every year.

The employment generated has a direct

repercussion on the public administration

income.

Not only sun and Beach destinations: Inland are

included. ( more than 82000 persons in 2007-

2008).

Wealth and employment are generated in all

regions.