Mayte Sáncho, general director of the Institute for Elderly and Social Services (Imserso), announced this Tuesday that the travel tourism program will be subject to a new tender for the next season, in which “some changes” should be introduced with a price review. For months, Imserso trips have been in conflict, and some destinations were even on hold due to the impossibility of reaching an agreement with hoteliers. The reason is that many hoteliers were demanding that the price paid by Imserso per person, set at 14 euros, be increased, as this would mean losses for businessmen.
Finally, many hoteliers have not reached an agreement with Imserso and have not participated in this season, which has put some mythical destinations such as Benidorm at risk. Another cause could be the recent initiative of the Valencian Community which has launched its “Voyage +65” program, also aimed at seniors and offering better prices to hoteliers, although it can only be enjoyed by people registered in the Valencian Community.
Imserso Price Review
Thus, given the complaints of hoteliers and the low participation this year of hotels from several communities, Imserso has decided to review its rates for next year. This was stated by Sáncho, in an interview on the occasion of the launch of this year’s Imserso contest, whose first places sold, between yesterday and today, will be for trips to Andalusia, Aragon, Cantabria, Castile and León, Valencian Community, Extremadura, Madrid, Melilla and Murcia.
Regarding complaints from hotels that prices do not cover costs, Sancho said it is difficult for him to think that “there are companies that are still working at a losswhich is a contradiction in itself.
“To keep these prices so tight, the prices are not high. And obviously, next year will be revisedbut of course we will all benefit, otherwise we would not have a program,” he explained during the interview.
Regarding the preference of travelers, the general manager of Imserso stressed that some of them prefer the sidealthough getaways and domestic travel also interest many people. “In fact, almost 24% do this type of tourism, or about 215,000 people,” Sancho added.
In his speech, he also explained how the process works, adding that the requirements are to be retired and to have passed the age of 65 years oldwhile “people with the highest score have priority, as do those with less income and more needs.”
Finally, Sancho recalled that “this program was initially designed between 1985 and 1986 with a dual objective: to maintain employment and promote coastal tourism.”
