Canarian Weekly newspaper - distributed across Tenerife to 1000's of residents & tourists every week

Social Tourism Campaign - 02.05.2008
Over 1,900 on a low income to travel thanks to the Campaña de Turismo Social (Social Tourism Campaign) This year’s Campaña de Turismo Social, which aims to promote leisure through travel for particularly disadvantaged persons, will benefit over 1,932 people. The aim of the campaign is to promote and foster all kinds of activities, services and resources to improve quality of life for local citizens, on a basis of equality, in addition to increasing and maintaining social welfare. These activities made their appearance in 1984 and largely benefit elderly people, who will cover the 1,700 places available. There will be 82 places for the mentally disabled and 150 for children aged between 12 and 14. Along these lines of action, the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife (Tenerife Island Council), through its Área de Bienestar Social (Social Welfare Department) recently signed collaboration agreements with 25 town councils in Tenerife. This year’s Campaña de Turismo Social has a budget of over 1.3 million euros and the most popular travel destinations chosen are Valencia and Madrid. Besides, the number of places available this year is 1,932, considerably more than last year's 1,500. The elderly will all travel to the Autonomous Community of Valencia, as will the schoolchildren benefitting from the campaign, where they will visit Tierra Mítica (theme park) and Parque Natural de Hoces de Cabriel (nature park). The mentally disabled will travel to Madrid in two groups, each group accompanied by two nurses. The schoolchildren will travel in five groups and will be accompanied at all times by tutors and nurses, in the event of any health problems or mishaps. For further information, please contact the Instituto Insular de Atención Social y Sociosanitaria (IASS), c/ Valentín Sanz, nº 25, telephone: 922 843 200, or the Servicios Sociales (social services departments) of your town council if the latter is part of the collaboration agreement.