The President of ISTO, Isabel Novoa, talks about tourism for all on Radio Canarias of Spain.

Last month, Isabel Novoa - President of ISTO - was interviewed by the program "Una más Uno" of Radio Canarias in Spain. The instance served to raise awareness of the role that ISTO has in tourism for all.

At the end of December the President of ISTO, Isabel Novoa participated in an interview on the public radio of the Canary Islands in Spain. The interview was part of the program "Una más Uno" and allowed our President to talk about the role that ISTO plays in tourism for all and about the global contingency of Covid-19.

This is how the journalist from Radio Canarias began by reflecting on the effects of the pandemic on Spanish social tourism, as tourists have been negatively affected by the restrictions that seek to curb the spread of the virus. In addition, Isabel Novoa added that the socioeconomic effects of the health crisis also reach workers. In this sense, she explained that ISTO seeks to protect people, both tourists and workers in the sector.

Kiko Barroso from Radio Canarias and Isabel Novoa, President of ISTO

The President of ISTO highlighted the role played by public policies that have the potential to generate and maintain employment, serving as a support to maintain economic activity. Some examples she highlights in this regard are the policies that have been developed and implemented in Peru with its "Viajar es Vivir" campaign that seeks to make tourism visible in the country, while in Chile regulations have been developed that seek to generate more confidence in tourists.

The interview served to highlight the benefits of tourism for the health and wellbeing of the people who take part in it. In particular, the benefits it brings to senior citizens in terms of socializing and having an active life. Isabel Novoa explains that the positive effects of tourism directly affect people's mental and emotional health and translate into benefits for their physical health. On the other hand, she highlights the economic benefits of social tourism. In particular, it is a type of tourism that makes it possible to break the seasonality of tourist destinations.

Analyzing the effects of the pandemic on social tourism at a global level, Isabel Novoa recognizes that it has been affected in the same way as commercial tourism because of the health crisis. It should be noted that tourism has been one of the sectors hardest hit by Covid-19. Isabel Novoa calls on governments to seek strategies to protect tourists and those who make a living from tourism.

If you want to listen to the complete program in which Isabel Novoa participated, click here (in Spanish).