The focus of research was to analyse the main benefits social tourism brings for older people in Slovenia, as perceived by the stakeholders involved in social tourism for seniors. The paper presents the preliminary results project Identification, classification and potential of development of social tourism products in Slovenia, with an emphasis on programs for seniors. The result of qualitative research among different actors dealing with social tourism for elderly in Slovenia are presented. The benefits of holidays for the elderly as recognised by the stakeholders are various and can be generally grouped in three clusters: 1) sociability and social inclusion; 2) health and 3) education and horizon broadening. Nevertheless, these benefits are interconnected and difficult to separate one from another.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1539066052
The aim of this research is to present the social tourism funding system, more specifically to define the main funding mechanisms/channels and existing types, scope, and trends in the funding of children’s summer holiday programs. The paper presents explanatory findings and qualitative research based on documents obtained and interviews conducted with a representative of the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (afy), which deals with the organization and implementation of social tourism programs. The results of the research highlight that fundraising is becoming the central task undertaken by the organization. The system of funding is very complex and comprised of six different channels: parent’s contribution, Foundation for the Funding of Invalid Humanitarian Organizations (fiho) funds, The Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (hiis) funds, community contributions, charity funds and the organization’s own funds. The findings of the study show that both infrastructure-oriented funding and beneficiary-oriented funding (co)exist in the organization. The research indicates that the trend is moving towards beneficiary-oriented funding and secondly, from parents and public funding to charity funding where the organization is developing long-term public-private partnerships
COBISS.SI-ID: 1539065540
The paper presents the preliminary results project Identification, classification and potential of development of social tourism products in Slovenia The findings of the study indicate that diverse social tourism products for senior exist in Slovenia and they could be classified according to existing models of social tourism – inclusion model, participation model, adaptation model and stimulation model. Importantly, these models are interconnected and difficult to separate one form another. The research has highlighted also the importance of the adjustments of the different social tourism products to suit specific circumstances of the beneficiaries such as; (1) affordability of the product in terms of price - cost-effective social tourism product - such us cheap domestic day trips or discounted annual (week to two-week) holidays with favorable payment terms organized in low season; (2) accessibility of the products in terms of (co)funding of the social tourism products through humanitarian programs, follow up/social rehabilitation programs and pensioners association programs; (3) accessibility of the products in terms of special services adjustments to reduce levels of uncertainty such us traveling companion, bus-transportation adjustment and program adjustments and (4) accessibility of the product in terms of specially adjusted infrastructure at the destination as well as adjustet accomotation capacities.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1539366084