Minutes Annual Meeting ISTO Europe 21 October 2015, INATEL Foundation, Albufeira

Transcription

1 Minutes Annual Meeting ISTO Europe 21 October 2015, INATEL Foundation, Albufeira Adoption of the agenda P. Brault opens the meeting and welcomes everyone, also mentioning that F. Pozzoli is excused. He presents the agenda. Agenda is adopted. Adoption minutes of the meeting on 8 October 2014 in Sao Paulo P. Brault asks if there were any remarks on the minutes of the last meeting in Sao Paulo. Minutes are adopted. L. Gobin says that this is the 2 nd annual meeting of ISTO Europe. An overview will be given of the actions and activities that have been done. He clarifies that the ISTO Europe section is the section of all the European members. Strategy ISTO Europe: Results and future actions L. Gobin presents the strategy of He stresses the fact that we need to look at other countries in Europe as well, such as Northern, Central and Eastern European countries. The ISTO needs to be a centre of expertise (= passport Europe). Furthermore, it s important to look in an innovative way to tourism, which can broaden our perspectives. Representation European Commission and Parliament Next to this, the representation at the European Commission stays very important. Next to the DG Growth (department of tourism) we are also present in other DG s such as the DG Health: they also look at innovation. Social Tourism isn t present here, but their actions remain important, also for ISTO. European Parliament. Regarding the tourism budget of Europe, some Parliamentarians asked us our comments; so we are involved here as well. Next to this, we also promised to have meetings with European parliamentarians but we see that this is difficult to do: we need another way of approaching this (Italian members can speak with their own parliamentarians for example).

2 Relations with Europe Furthermore, there is also a specific Transport and Tourism Commission (TRAN Commission) of the European Parliament; it is a sort of sub-commission where the tourism items are being looked at. Next to this, the ISTO is also member of EULSTIB (European Union Low Season Tourism Initiative Board), of which some ISTO members are also represented. The main task of the EULSTIB is to ensure the transversal guidance, coordination and monitoring of the activities undertaken at EU level within the framework of the Senior Tourism initiative between December 2014 and December L. Gobin explains what has been done for the development on Youth Tourism; there was already a discussion with the stakeholders. Within the external promotion of Europe in other countries, there should also be a focus on youth tourism: youth on the spot. In 2014, ISTO already organised an innovation lab on youth tourism: it was about positive communication, active marketing of youth business. It was also about the fact that youth tourism needs a strong sustainable business model that keeps in mind the social values. ISTO can help with the exchange of best practices. Travel is essential for youth: European citizenship. We will go on with a network on youth tourism within ISTO. Erasmus++ is an example of a European project in development. Innovation L. Gobin also clarifies the innovation lab. The idea behind it is that 3 to 5 members of different countries are together concerned over the same problem. They can make some sort of lab where they work together on these issues. If anyone has suggestions or problems, please let us know. At the European Forum here in Albufeira, we already tried to insert some different formats of meetings. idrops is related to this as it is a system where ideas can be developed: different persons working on some ideas. SENTour SENTour: a project on senior tourism in low season. First, we developed a database on senior tourism in Europe: what stakeholders do we have? Further, we also looked at the criteria for senior holidays: what do seniors need on holiday and how to adapt packages for them? Different project partners worked on specialised packages for seniors, and now we need to do the pilot exchanges to test these pacakges that have been carefully developed. The SENTour project is linked to ecalypso which has had some issues but these will be solved. Other projects in development Interreg 2 mers PROFIT (4 years): how to improve he profits of SME s through innovation? ISTO represents tourism for all sector in Belgian Coast and also France. Interreg 2 mers SITE: Reduce social exclusion: holidays for vulnerable groups in the 2 seas region.

3 Questions Marie-Odile Beau: The ministry of France follows the projects on youth, but also the Interreg projects at the coast. They really appreciate the efforts of Luc and the ISTO Europe section. Villages de vacances soleil : would like to add that we have to be careful and think about the future. The seniors of tomorrow won t be the same seniors as today, they will not have the same means etc. As for youth, we really need to work together on a bigger, European scale with different countries. L. Gobin thanks the appreciation of Marie-Odile Beau. He confirms that the international dimension is important for everyone. For example, ISTO and UNAT did a visit together to different centres at the coast. They were happy to have the interreg program on the coast as at the end, it is about the same coastline. As for youth, we see that the youth centres are well developed, not everywhere but it is evolving. We have to keep promoting the youth centres, not only from a commercial angel but also educational: we have to valorise our own values. Piu bella d italia : Important to promote the small villages in Italy, they have to survive. We need cultural tourism, no big city hotels etc. We would like to work together with ISTO on this: tourism in small European villages. Not only at the coast, but anywhere. Keeping in mind the quality of services. Clément Simmoneau of EKITOUR : They are doing a project on collaborative tourism. How can we work together with ISTO on this? L. Gobin: for the moment, ISTO doesn t really have a strategy on this but during the coming Forum we can absolutely discuss this and provide some ideas for collaborative tourism. Exchange of projects of members 1. Rhône-Alpes: Youngsters and Mountains Muriel Antoniotti explains that the Rhône-Alpes Region is working on a project for youngsters. They want to construct a mechanism to let the youth go on holiday. It is a big challenge to develop this, certainly for the Auvergne region in Rhône-Alpes. Holidays have been decreasing with 10 percent in Europe, and this mechanism would help youngsters to go on holiday. It is a project in collaboration with ANCV. In 2016, we want to go a bit further: 10 european partners that would be involved. We will not focus on major tourism spots but more parks etc. in the Ardeche. In the beginning of 2016, we will set up a working group that will first be open for members of ISTO Europe, after for others too. If interested, please let Muriel know. 2. EFFAT: Social and Solidarity tourism for the implementation and professionalism of youngsters Christian Juyaux presents the European Federation of Trade Unions in the Food, Agriculture and Tourism Sectors (EFFAT) ; they represent more than 120 national trade unions in 35 European

4 countries and they defend their interests toward different European institutions. Every season, Social Tourism recruits thousands of mostly young employees to accommodate the tourists. The EFFAT is working on a project together with ISTO Europe, to get some funds from the European Commission. He explains that 1 on 4 youngsters in the European Union don t have a job and almost 6 million youngsters are looking for their first job. How can we mobilize the actors in social tourism to allow the insertion of youngsters during the tourist seasons and to do skill training in the low seasons? Holiday centers in Europe need to train youngsters during the low season. Questions: Marc Pili of Vacances Ouvertes would like to know how to mobilize youngsters to do this? Christian says they need to be stimulated indeed, but to learn a new language for example is a big plus. Convince them this way. Jean François of Ethic Etape would like to know if there exists a European program? Christian says that this exist, like Erasmus+ but they need to be guided for the whole process and on international level. 3. Gîtes d étape: Visibility and recognition for youth tourism. Event on 3 March 2016 around Europe Benoit César talks about the visibility of youth tourism : there is not a lot of visibility and often the perception of social tourism is negative. What can we do about it? Promotion but this is really expensive, we don t have the means for this. Individual interactions but this takes a lot of time. Actions in the media for a target group: this is what we will do. Characteristic of the CBTJ? Act on the Social Tourism policy in the Walloon region: a political discourse that can influence the public. The CBTJ can act, give education to youngsters for different dimensions, see what youth and tourist actors think of it. We will organise a public event: not a formal conference, but more an encounter of people. At this event, we have to profit from the media! Ethic Etapes is already interested to participate and we invite everyone to join us. We don t need to do this at 1 place but at different places around Europe to have more impact. Discussion about youth tourism, is it a vector of development? On what level? Our proposal is that different actors use the same date March 3, but not the same subjects. When? 3 March Who wants to join and set up an event as well? On what subjects? 4. Hungarian National Foundation for Recreation: project idea Viktória Szipka explains what the HNFR does. Since 2012, more than 3000 children went on holiday with their program or international programs. There was for example a German-Hungarian youth exchange camp in September 2015 where youngsters had the chance to debate on social issues. They are also working with International youth helpers at the Erzsébet camps: they learned English to the children. For children who have a difficult background, learning English is great. Initiative of the HNFR: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage: what are the European possibilities? They aim at strengthening values like active citizenship, volunteering and intercultural diversity. The HNFR wants to call on the ISTO network to do concrete actions and projects. Innovation labs would be great.

5 5. AICS: Solidarity with International protection seekers Valeria Gherardini informs the public about a new project that started since September 15: Social Tourism efforts for responding to current global emergencies and human needs. Up until now, there have been arrivals in Italy by sea and 48% of those arrivals come from the top 10 refugees countries. These people need recognition and international protection. What can we do to welcome these refugees? They can be our citizens in the future AiCS established a partnership with aig; the Italian association for youth hostels. These kind of partnerships are relevant for Social Tourism issues: accommodation of immigrants in youth hostels a national and international tourism context. The AiCS is an association that deals with culture and sport, so we have a big network of members and hereby we provide activities for them to create social cohesion between the communities, namely our welcoming community and the immigrants. We need to provide services for them. The Home Affairs Ministry provides professionals to give advice on law questions and protection. There will be 7 local projects in 7 Italian cities. As activities are carried out with collaboration of Italian volunteers, it is a common good for the community. Valeria would like to know if other partners are also working on projects to help integrate refugees, to exchange ideas.