SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 3 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands government has introduced ‘Canarias se mueve +55’ this Tuesday, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at providing a diverse range of benefits for individuals over 55 years of age residing in the Canary Islands, focusing on mobility, travel, cultural activities, and various services and products.
To launch the initial initiative of this programme, the regional government has partnered with Binter Canarias to advocate for senior mobility.
The Department of Social Welfare, along with the airline, has unveiled a bundle of specially-priced trips targeted at those over 55, covering destinations such as Madrid, Asturias, and Andalusia.
These holiday packages will be available starting Thursday at travel agencies across the Canary Islands and will feature cultural activities, transfers, and 24-hour support for older participants, designed to enhance the overall experience for seniors who choose them.
This initiative forms part of numerous actions being implemented by the regional Executive, through the General Directorate of Seniors and Active Participation, aimed at offering holistic support to the older population, promoting actions that enhance their quality of life, and tackling unwanted loneliness.
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, highlighted that this is a “ground-breaking” programme intended to reach a specific demographic by fostering “well-being, quality of life, and overall health for those over 55 years of age” in the region.
Regional minister Candelaria Delgado indicated that “this initiative is part of a support and care programme for individuals over 55 years of age in the Canary Islands, aligning with the commitment made by the Executive to this demographic.”
He elaborated that the aim is to “influence prevention policies that enhance their quality of life and assist them in embracing active and healthy ageing, whilst simultaneously emphasising the promotion of territorial cohesion and bolstering the local economy.”
Verónica Meseguer, the Director General of Senior Citizens and Active Participation, explained that this programme aspires to grant those over 55 access to a plethora of resources and activities that will augment their well-being from various perspectives.
Binter President Rodolfo Núñez remarked that such initiatives and programmes illustrate the company’s dedication to ensuring that this demographic enjoys maximum convenience when travelling to the extensive array of destinations serviced by the airline.
“This is yet another illustration of Binter’s commitment to the Canary Islands and a preliminary step towards expanding this programme in the near future with more seats and additional destinations,” he stated.
The first planned activities will include four trips to the Peninsula, which encompass, in addition to air travel, excursions, accommodation, and meal options on either a half-board or full-board basis.
One of the destinations will be Madrid, with a scheduled departure from Tenerife between 20 and 23 November, including extra seats from La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. An additional departure will be introduced from 11 to 14 December from Gran Canaria, with extra seating from Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
Another journey will be to Asturias, from 14 to 17 December, departing from Tenerife, with connections from Gran Canaria, La Palma, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura.
CÁDIZ, FINAL DESTINATION
The programme also includes a trip to Cádiz from 16 to 19 December from Gran Canaria, with connections from Tenerife, La Palma, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura.
Moreover, regular journeys and excursions between the islands of the Canary Islands are expected to be organised in the near future, via both air and sea.
Besides mobility, the Canary Islands government is pursuing other actions to enhance the participation of individuals over 55 in cultural and social activities with special benefits, promoting inclusion and access to the cultural offerings within the region.
Another focus is on collaboration with socially responsible businesses to manage discounts and incentives on a wide array of products and services for this group.
The initiative will also include the establishment of an inter-island leisure and social tourism programme, compatible with Imserso programmes, aimed at connecting the residents of the Canary Islands with the experiences of the other islands while fostering territorial cohesion.
