Imserso trips, the subsidized holiday program for seniors, went on sale this week, with 844,471 places from October to May 2023.
Prices have been the subject of controversy this year due to the decision of the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 to freeze tariffs, which caused unrest in the tourism sector. The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, even urged Ione Belarra to sit down with the sector to review the program.
Imserso sources deny that there is a runaway of hotels from the travel program. However, the president of the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV), Carlos Garrido, assures that “there are reductions in places in popular destinations such as Lloret de Mar or the Balearic Islands”. According to Hosteltour, Garrido assures that the resignation of the program is a consequence of the cost increases that the hotels are having due to the economic storm caused by the war in Ukraine, an inflationary escalation that not only affects the establishments, but all the sectors that participate in the program, details.
This season, only five hotels in Lloret are participating in the ministry’s holiday program. They are Garbí Park (4 stars), Gran Garbí (4 stars), HTOP Royal Star & Spa (4 stars), Samba (3 stars) and Surf-Mar (4 stars). In previous seasons, establishments in Platja d’Aro and Tossa de Mar had offered places in the Imserso, but this year none are taking part. Yes, a hotel from the city of Girona has joined, the CMC (4 stars), which opened its doors a few months ago after buying it from the Melià chain.
According to data from Hosteltur, this year there are 40% fewer coastal hotels than in the previous edition of Imserso. On the contrary, the offer in inland tourist destinations (there are none in Girona) has increased.
From the Confederation of Travel Agencies remember that this program is a generator of wealth: for every euro that the State invests in Imserso trips it has a return of 1.7 euros, so, according to its president, “it would make sense to improve the benefits and ensure that all of us who participate in it receive a fair and balanced remuneration”. This point is one of the most criticized by hoteliers, who barely receive 22 euros for each reservation.
Aid to the sector in Valencia
Faced with the ministry’s refusal to revise the rates upwards, there have been local administrations that have decided to give additional aid to the sector to help extend the tourist season. Thus, the Valencian government closed an agreement with the tourist board Hosbec to subsidize with 6 euros per room for the hotels that remained within this program. A decision that explains that the Valencian Community – especially the Benidorm area – concentrates most of the offer.
Eight days on the Costa Brava with full board for around 200 euros
According to the price forecast offered by Imserso for the 2022-2023 season, the different plans can range from 115.98 euros to visit provincial capitals in 4 days and 3 nights; and a maximum of 405.53 euros in the case of stays of 10 days and 9 nights in the Canary Islands with transport included, which is an extra service that can increase the price of the trip.
The cheapest stays are on the peninsular coast, for example those in Lloret de Mar hotels listed in the program. A trip of eight days (and seven nights) will cost around 235.95 euros with the transport service; without it, according to the price forecast, it will be 196.02 euros.