The Government extends Imserso trips: flat rate of 50 euros and spots for pets

Almudena Nogués

Málaga

A few days ago, the Council of Ministers authorized new spending commitments amounting to 137 million euros for the fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029 to allow the Imserso to contract, extend, and process the travel programs for social tourism and thermalism for seniors.

For the 2026/2027 season, this agreement, valued at nearly 60 million euros, will maintain the 879,213 spots from the previous tender intact. The management of the program will be handled by the same companies: UTE Social Tourism will manage lots 1 and 3 of the peninsular coast and getaway tourism (with about 651,000 spots) and Mundicolor will focus on lot 2 of the trips to the islands (with about 228,142 spots). In addition, two of the main innovations implemented last year will be maintained. The first would be a flat rate of about 50 euros for pensioners with low incomes, with 7,447 spots reserved for individuals receiving a benefit equal to or less than the amount of non-contributory disability or retirement pensions from Social Security. These 50 euros paid by the user would cover hotel, meals, insurance, and transport, with the rest covered by Imserso.

The second of these measures is the possibility of traveling with pets on certain coastal trips, both peninsular and insular. Only small animals, up to 10 kilograms including the carrier, following established rules, may be brought.

Imserso has highlighted that the Ministry's goal is "to continue expanding the right to active aging through these trips, ensuring that those with lower incomes are not excluded and highlighting the benefits that companion animals bring to the health and well-being of older adults."

The extended contract maintains the conditions set in the original tender, among which include the obligation of the awarded companies to distribute 36% of the spots of each lot proportionally during each month of the campaign, in order to contribute to the deseasonalization of the tourism sector and the maintenance of employment during the months of lower influx. It also maintains the supplements of 100 euros for second and subsequent trips as well as for trips made in high season.

Participating hotels must have a minimum of three stars, offer leisure activities, and distribute informational material about active aging and the prevention of elder abuse, under the threat of enhanced penalties in case of non-compliance.

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