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Social tourism

Recommendation 503 (1967)

Author(s):
Parliamentary Assembly
Origin
Assembly debate on 28th September 1967 (13th Sitting) (see Doc. 2267, report of the Social Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28th September 1967 (13th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Recalling its Recommendation 392 (1964) on the general problem of leisure ;
2. Having regard to the development of social tourism, i.e. travel undertaken by people with a modest income, made possible by progress in social legislation, for instance as regards working hours and longer paid holidays, and by increased travel facilities ;
3. Considering that the recognised purpose of social tourism is not only relaxation and rest but also enrichment of the personality through a more intimate knowledge of the regions and countries visited and a better understanding of their inhabitants and civilisation, and that the problem is thus acquiring a definite European aspect ;
4. Regretting that social tourism is now suffering from the excessive concentration of travellers in time and space and is largely commercialised ;
5. In view of the work concerning tourism done by the Council for Cultural Co-operation and by its own Cultural Committee ;
6. In view of the report of its Social Committee (Doc. 2267),
7. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers include in the Intergovernmental Work Programme of the Council of Europe, under the general heading of the problem of leisure, consideration of the following aspects of social tourism :
a Preparation of future tourists by including courses on the language, civilisation, culture and institutions of foreign countries both within the school and in out-of-school and further education curricula, and of the development of their knowledge ;
b An increased effort to develop reception arrangements for social tourism, in particular well-equipped holiday centres where families can make the most of their stay, and assistance in setting up such centres in the most popular tourist areas ;
c The channelling of grants and other forms of State aid to associations and organisations which, in addition to providing material arrangements for tourists, make a serious attempt to ensure the cultural and human enrichment of their members by psychological and intellectual preparation for the journey and by the inclusion in their programmes or cultural, artistic and other activities and visits, preference being given always to non-profit-making bodies ;
d Harmonisation of national rules and legislation concerning camping grounds ;
e Co-operation in the social tourism policies of local and regional authorities, in particular by assisting with exchanges between population groups, the setting up of non-commercial information and reception centres, the planning of decentralised and well-equipped camping sites, the preservation and enhancement of natural, cultural and artistic features, publicity and tourist signs ;
f Preparation of international rules for tourist signs, particularly those indicating cultural monuments ;
g Improvement of frontier formalities by simplification and relaxation of police and customs controls and by simplification of the papers required for travellers and vehicles.