The Ministry of Social Rights pronounces the “transforming” of the Imserso program to adapt it to the present needs of the aged Imserso has chosen to hold out a brand new tender, as an alternative of finishing up an extension, which should be resolved subsequent month of SeptemberThe hoteliers who had denounced the shortage of profitability of this system are glad with the choice
The Institute for the Elderly and Social Services (Imserso) will improve the variety of locations on journeys for the aged by 70,000 throughout the subsequent season to nearly attain 900,000 locations, and might be expanded to the 52 provincial capitals, with extra nature and cultural tourism though sustaining solar and seaside tourism, and prioritizing high quality over worth.
Sources from the Ministry of Social Rights have specified that the brand new contract for the 2023/2024 season will incorporate all of the provinces of Spain, going from 18 to 52 with tourism extra tailored to the needs of the aged at this time, with 10 new circuits cultural actions, 19 new nature routes (Sierra Nevada, the Cañón del Río Lobos, and so forth.) and a rise in locations with rooms for particular person use (which is able to go from 2% to 10%).
Thus, though 75% of the locations would be the conventional ones of the Levante and the Islands, that’s, what is called “solar and seaside tourism”, expertise tourism (cultural and nature) will improve to 25%, which earlier than it accounted for round 16% of the entire. Some journeys with particular themes similar to literary, musical or theater pageant itineraries will even be included on this season, on a pilot foundation.
According to the identical sources, this program wanted a “main transforming”, an “replace”, as a result of the aged who journey at this time “shouldn’t have the identical profile because the customers of 30 years in the past” — now they need extra independence, they like Go with your individual automobile or take shorter trips–. For this motive, the Imserso has opted for a brand new tender, as an alternative of an extension, to launch “new Imserso journeys” tailored to the aged at this time.
Among the enhancements, the class of motels, accessibility, diets, the better number of the supply or the consolation of transport might be included, for instance, that the aged can journey by AVE as an alternative of getting to make lengthy journeys by bus. In addition, audit processes might be included.
Also, though it was already being carried out, throughout the journeys, the aged will be capable to obtain, if they want, info tablets on the digital divide or on their rights as customers, to fight the monetary exclusion of the aged.
For this new tender, Imserso has a finances improve of as much as 72 million euros this yr consigned within the new General State Budget 2023. With an estimated worth of about 300 million euros for the 2023/2024 season (which implies a 14% improve over the earlier contract), the supply is prolonged to achieve 900,000 locations.
Eventual worth improve
As they recall, 78% of the journey is roofed by every beneficiary and 22% by the General State Administration. In any case, from the Imserso the contracting worth of the motels is rarely set, however fairly it establishes a young through which the tour operators compete, being they those who’ve to barter the costs.
According to the most recent Imserso consumer satisfaction examine, between 87% and 91% of customers price the Tourism program as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ and two out of three repeat customers.
In addition, they spotlight that the incorporation of the adjustments has been labored on and agreed with the advisory our bodies with which the Imserso works, such because the State Council for the Elderly. They additionally add that the Imserso has held working conferences with the tourism and resort sector to study their proposals and endorse the suitability of this new tender.
Satisfaction within the resort sector
Once the Council of Ministers authorizes the brand new tender, it will likely be printed in order that firms can current their gives to Imserso and these are valued, in order that it’s resolved in September and, in October, the aged can begin touring.
The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT) has expressed satisfaction with the choice of the Ministry of Social Rights to not prolong the IMSERSO contest and to launch the preparation of latest specs. The Spanish resort administration underlines that this program of social tourism for the aged has been, no doubt, the most effective trip program launched by public administrations and that it’s not just like some other at a European stage, because it fulfills the double goal of to offer organized holidays to the aged at an reasonably priced worth and to assist seasonal vacationer municipalities.
Hoteliers have been requesting for years the evaluate and modernization of this system with a view to present the service required by the aged. In this sense, the employer remembers that the final contest produced severe profitability issues for the service suppliers, forcing the resort businessmen who participated to take action with very low costs that brought on them important losses, however they have been pressured to take part attributable to their want to take care of everlasting jobs and never trigger huge layoffs.