Spain subsidises stays for seniors in off season

HOLIDAY DISCOUNTS:THE SPANISH government has launched a new subsidised off-peak holiday programme for the over-55s, with all-in stays in four-star hotels costing €365 for one week.

Demand for the Travel Senior package from Irish holidaymakers is said to be among the heaviest in the EU, according to the Spanish Tourist Board in Dublin.

Under the programme, which was designed to fill the country's hotels in the winter off-peak period, the Spanish government is providing a €50 subsidy for each holiday, with regional governments matching this with their own €50 subsidy.

In addition, all those involved in putting together the packages, from airlines to hoteliers, have made considerable efforts to offer their lowest prices, according to José Manuel de Juan González, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in Dublin, who puts the overall saving on a one-week stay at about 30 per cent.

The resulting packages, which include flights, four-star accommodation, meal and beverages, and transfers to and from the airport, cost €524 for two weeks, €700 for three weeks and €855 for four weeks. Some 80,000 holidaymakers from 17 countries will be subsidised under the scheme. De Juan says no specific allocation has been given to Ireland.

The programme is available only in two regions of Spain during its pilot phase - Andalusia and the Balearic Islands - but may be extended to the entire country if deemed a success.

De Juan says the Spanish authorities hope the idea will be adopted by the entire EU, including Ireland, as a way to boost off-season tourism within Europe. At present the programme is entirely funded by the Spanish taxpayer, but it's likely that Spain will use its presidency of the EU, starting next January, to press for the union to take over funding.

So far, seven Irish travel agents have signed up to provide packages under the Travel Senior programme: King Travel, Killiney Travel, Roscrea Travel, Rathgar Travel, Shandon Travel, John Galligan Travel and Titan Tours.

"This is a fabulous idea by the Spanish government to encourage tourism to Spain in their off season, and they have put their money where their mouth is," said John Galligan.

Malaga is likely to be the most popular destination for Irish tourists, he says. All hotels are on full-board basis, and the programme runs from now until the end of April, excluding Christmas.