Some 150 delegates from 20 countries gathered at the sixth European Social Tourism Forum in Malta last month.

Themed ‘Social Tourism in the EU: a new dynamic? Various stakeholders for active partnerships’, the event was organised by the International Social Tourism Organisation in collaboration with Maltese authorities.

On the first day, discussion centred on the role of different stakeholders in the social policies for tourism. Representatives of national tourism administrations, local and regional authorities, social organisations, trade unions and operators presented programmes and actions conducted in favour of a ‘Tourism for All’ concept.

They explained the implemented initiatives to maintain these programmes and to guarantee the supply of accessible accommodation which, in an economically tough context, meet the growing needs of different strata of society.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario de Marco emphasised the importance of developing social tourism, especially in times of crisis, given that the access to holidays, leisure and tourism is a real right of citizens and not a privilege.

The second day of the conference was dedicated to the future of social tourism in Europe and to the Calypso project which ends this year.

ISTO president Jean Marc Mignon reminded delegates that all positive aspects of the Calypso action that allowed the creation of a new dynamic for social tourism in Europe should be measured.

Several member states considered social tourism in their national or regional tourism policies and different pilot projects are being conducted. Even though seasonality represents an important challenge for the European tourism industry, social tourism should not be reduced to this sole dimension.

The ISTO president called for the Calypso project to be continued and asked all members and partners of the organisation to obtain a special budget dedicated to the development of social tourism within the framework of a tourism programme in the EU budget period of 2014-2020.

During the closing session, participants adopted a road map presenting the priority actions of ISTO in Europe for the coming months.

To coincide with the forum, ISTO and the Network of European Regions for a Sustainable and Competitive Tourism signed a cooperation agreement to encourage better synergy between member regions.