ISTO - International Social Tourism Organisation

International Social Tourism Organisation

What is the ISTO mission?

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ISTO stands for promoting access to leisure, holidays and tourism for the greatest number of people Accessible holidays, especially for youngsters, elderly, families and disabled people

 ISTO wants to achieve this goals in collaboration with the support of different stakeholders and partners  Core values of ISTO are defined in the “Montreal Declaration — Towards a humanist and social vision of tourism”

What are the ISTO actions?

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Raise awareness among governments and international institutions Distribute information Organise conferences and events • World congress and European & Americas Forum every two years Participate in projects and research

 ISTO wants to be a platform for exchanges and create a network for the social tourism industry to exchange their experiences

Who are the ISTO members?

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Private/public organisations engaged in social tourism States, local and regional authorities NGO’s—associations—trade unions—cooperatives— educational institutions— agencies and operators — etc.

 ISTO has 150 members in more than 35 countries

Alliance on Training and research in Social and Fair Tourism •

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Provide a platform for researchers active in the field of Tourism for All Promote scientific collaboration and exchange between researchers

Publication (2013): “Social Tourism: International Perspectives, The Contribution of Research”

Main challenges for the social tourism sector

POLICY – inclusion of social tourism policies within public policies DEVELOPMENT - Promoting social tourism as a driving force for the development of domestic tourism REAL ACCESS TO HOLIDAYS - How to give real access to travel and holidays to more people, without damaging the environment (impact of travel by plane, water consumption, etc‌) and the heritage and without disturbing the destinations?

ISTO Americas • • • •

Created in 1994 Based in Montreal, Canada More than 30 members in 9 countries More than 12 ISTO Americas Friends in 6 others countries

• Main actions: • Establishing strategy • Supporting members initiatives • Meeting with Americas members • Organising the Americas Social Tourism Forum every 2 years

ISTO Americas Activities: • Training and coaching in Social Tourism

Seminars Tijuana, Cancun & São Paulo

ISTO Americas • Participation in Congresses and seminars

Seminar on Accessible Tourism, Hermosillo

CQL Forum, Montreal

ISTO Americas • (Co-) organisation of congresses and seminars

XII Meeting of the National Network of Tourism for All, Morelos

ISTO Americas Activities: • Supporting initiatives of accessible tourism Public policy development Accessible tourism awareness seminars Addressed to local authorities and tourism operators

Signature of partnership agreement with CONADIS

ISTO Europe • Main actions: • Establishing strategy • Participating in EC initiatives • Meeting with European members • Organising the European Social Tourism Forum every 2 years

Meeting with Italian members in Rome, 2014

Meeting with French members in Paris, 2014

ISTO Europe STRATEGY: 4 priorities  Memorandum “A tourism for all: a European challenge” Mailing to all Members of the European Parliament

 A vision on Tourism for All for Europe Choose for Tourism for All  Social Tourism Transnational contacts Lobbying = ISTO key factor Increase awareness Tourism for All & develop research

ISTO Europe STRATEGY: 4 priorities  Preparation of an action plan - KNOWLEDGE CENTER EUROPE (best practices, accessibility,…)

- PASSPORT TOURISM FOR ALL EUROPE (what is the importance of Tourism for All in Europe?)

- INNOVATION LAB EUROPE Mini labs with 3-5 countries - Exploitation, efficiency, quality of life - Virtual communication

 Structure of the Coordination Committee

ISTO Europe SENTour Connect Project the European Senior Travel Experience Main Objectives: • Study and develop mechanisms supporting transnational stakeholder cooperation • Improve tourism seasonality patterns across Europe • Create innovative and sustainable transnational tourism packages for seniors • Strengthen public-private partnerships  Facilitate transnational tourism exchanges for seniors in the low season within Europe domestic market

ISTO Europe

eCalypso platform • A web-based platform to facilitate transnational tourism in Europe • Linking the supply and demand for accommodation and tourism services • A platform for professionals (B2B) and social oriented entities • Focus on the low season

ISTO Africa • Active since 2004 • Office in Bamako, Mali • Development of social and solidarity tourism, where possible with benefits for local populations • Establishment of 2 African Newsletters • 2012: World Congress in Essaouira, Morocco (for the first time on the African Continent) • 15 African ISTO members

ISTO Africa “Study on the Concepts and Realities of Social and Solidarity Tourism in Africa”

• ISTO conducted this study in 2007 together with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) • Purpose: explore the forms, motivations and the impacts of social and solidarity tourism in Africa and measures that could be taken • This report deals with: • Concepts of social and solidarity tourism • The role and activities of public authorities • Examples of successful experiences in solidarity tourism

ISTO Africa

Bassirou Diarra, Coordinator ISTO Africa, answering questions on the press conference in Bamako, August 21, 2014

Sory Ibrahima Wa誰galo, Mission Responsible ISTO Africa, together with the ISTO staff in Brussels June 4, 2014

International Social Tourism Organisation