Spain subsidizes vacations for pensioners and wants to expand the program

The Spanish government is offering pensioners a special bonus: heavily subsidized vacations with stays in hotels and guesthouses on the coast and in the mountains, but also in cities and the Balearic Islands.

The program has become increasingly popular since travel resumed after the pandemic. In 2023, over 800,000 people took part. The initiative is an offer from the state institute for older people and social services, Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales, or Imserso for short, and is intended to enable seniors to enjoy an affordable vacation in Spain.

According to the government, such support could improve the health and quality of life of seniors and thereby also have a positive impact on social budgets. The program is also believed to benefit the economy and the tourism industry, particularly during the low season from October to June.

Vacations in Spain, but also Portugal are possible

Loud “Euronews” This program is not only available to Spanish citizens, but also to many expats who have paid into the Spanish social security system. Those eligible to apply are pensioners and recipients of a Spanish statutory pension, people aged 55 and over who receive a widow’s or widower’s pension, and people aged 60 or older who receive unemployment benefits or allowances. However, the selection of participants prioritizes older people, people with lower incomes, people with disabilities and large families.

The type of holidays on offer varies, with most taking place within Spain and some crossing the border into Portugal. Depending on the duration, the trips cost between 115 and 455 euros and include transport, accommodation and meals. For people with particularly low incomes, the costs can be even lower.

Spanish holiday program for pensioners a model for other countries?

Spanish authorities are also considering expanding the program across Europe. Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdés, argues that millions of European pensioners could benefit from a similar scheme and is encouraging other countries to implement it.

According to “Euronews”, Spain is currently continuing to expand its own program. The Hydrotherapy Imserso program aims to give pensioners access to spas across the country.

Criticism of the quality of the holiday

In recent years there has also been criticism, especially about the quality of accommodation and food. The allocation of travel places to travel agencies is also controversial.

Some retirees don’t just plan temporary vacations in retirement, but also want to shift the focus of their lives entirely to vacation regions. Like Anita and Gottfried F., who bought a house on the Croatian Adriatic island of Ugljan – but then encountered significant obstacles on site.