Motion for a resolution | Doc. 11817 | 28 January 2009

Tourism for elderly people

Signatories: Ms Elvira CORTAJARENA ITURRIOZ, Spain ; Mr Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Lithuania ; Ms Doris BARNETT, Germany, SOC ; Mr Vidar BJØRNSTAD, Norway ; Mr Márton BRAUN, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Mr Bronisław KORFANTY, Poland, EDG ; Ms Anna LILLIEHÖÖK, Sweden ; Mr Maximiano MARTINS, Portugal ; Ms Mirosława NYKIEL, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Gabino PUCHE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Adoración QUESADA BRAVO, Spain, SOC ; Ms Carmen QUINTANILLA, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Paul WILLE, Belgium

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Among the population of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, we may find children, young people, adults and elderly people.

In recent decades, especially in the more developed nations, life expectancy has steadily increased. While this is to be welcomed, the consequences of this phenomenon, such as the increasing demand for intensive medical treatment, the cost of medicines or the effect on individuals’ mental health need to be recognised.

People over the age of sixty-five have never had the same opportunities to study as those which young people enjoy today, because they needed to work harder for their children to give them the opportunities they had never enjoyed. They did not even have time for fun because of the lack of a sensible work-life balance.

Nowadays, elderly people enjoy a better standard of living and increased leisure. It is time for us to offer them social inclusion through the opportunities to see new cultures and enjoy new experiences.

Through the equitable sharing of our resources, especially in the field of tourism with specific touristic programmes for elderly people, we may achieve our ultimate goal of allowing our elderly citizens to enjoy a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement.

The parliamentarians below propose that these considerations be taken into account in a report to be prepared on this important issue for debate in the Assembly.