Charter isto network

Charter of the Network of Local and Regional Authorities for Social Tourism

The Network of Local and Regional Authorities for Social Tourism, created on the 1st of December 2006 at Brussels, approved the following amended Charter: 1. The creation of the Network is in accordance with article 5 of the articles of association of the ISTO which stipulates the subdivision of active members in three boards, including the Board of Local and Regional Authorities, which may take the form of a Network within the Organisation, under the conditions established by the Internal Regulations of the ISTO. 2. Article 6 of the Internal Regulations stipulates that, having regard for its nature, the Board of Local and Regional Authorities of the ISTO is authorized to acquire a name, to set up a coordination committee and to appoint a spokesperson who is invited to participate – or to be represented – at the meetings of the Executive Committee of the ISTO. The Board of Local and Regional Authorities may draw up a business plan and a budget, which will be the subject of an agreement of the Administrative Board that will be followed up by the Executive Committee of the ISTO. 3. The members of the Network are represented in the Administrative Board of the ISTO, consisting of a third of the administrators representing the Board of States and Local and Regional Authorities.

4. The representative of the Network is a member as of right of the Executive Committee.

5. The goal of the Network is to mobilize the regions and local authorities by promoting best practice of social, sustainable and solidarity tourism, which plays an often underestimated role in job creation, social cohesion and economic growth.

6. Reference documents of the Network: 

The ISTO Articles of Association

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The Montreal Declaration « “Towards a Humanist and Social Vision on Tourism”

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The Addendum of Aubagne “Towards Development and Solidarity Tourism”

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The Appeal “For Social Tourism Policies”

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7. Only active members of the ISTO representing local and regional authorities that have paid their contributions can be members of the Network.

8. Aim and goals of the Network: The Network defends the values of social, sustainable and solidarity tourism and is a platform for proposals and actions, focusing on the following goals: Goals – Social Tourism: 

Promoting the right to tourism and the right to access to holidays for all.

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Bringing new ideas and development projects to the sector.

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Promoting exchange and partnerships between different authorities for the access to holidays of their respective inhabitants.

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Establishing solid collaborations for the access to holidays for the largest possible audience between member authorities of the Network.

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Creating examples of best practice of social, sustainable and solidarity tourism.

Goal – Solidarity Tourism: 

Establishing solid partnerships with developing countries in the framework of equitable solidarity tourism which respects the environment of the concerned populations, and this by means of training, advice and aid covering different forms.

Goals – Ethical and Sustainable Tourism 

Answering to the needs of tourists and tourist destinations, while also protecting the environment and developing future opportunities.

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Stimulating viable long-term economic activity offering all involved parties evenly distributed socioeconomic advantages.

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Encouraging quality job creation, mainly having regard for seasonal employment issues.

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Contributing to the active participation of local populations in the process of tourism development.

9. The Network is managed by a Coordination Committee with a term of two years, which gathers elected members of the Board of Directors but also other representatives and which is in turn managed by a local member authority of the Network. The task of the Coordination Committee is to develop and expand the Network as well as partnerships and exchanges between local authorities.

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10. The President of the ISTO is a member as of right on the Coordination Committee of the Network. The Secretary-General and the Director may also participate in its activities.

11. The Network has privileged relations in particular with: 

The Committee of the Regions

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Assembly of European Regions

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United Cities and Local Governments

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NECSTOUR

12. The Coordination Committee should meet at least twice a year or more according to management needs.

13. Once a year, the Network will organize a plenary meeting, bringing together all of its members and largely open to other non-member local authorities and to operators of social tourism that are members of the ISTO. 14. The Network will actively participate in the World Conference for Social Tourism and the European Forum for Social Tourism.

15. The Coordinator of the Network may accept, in agreement with the President of the ISTO, any invitation to intervene or to appoint a member of the Coordination Committee at colloquiums, conferences or seminars on tourism and/or the Network’s experience in social, sustainable and solidarity tourism.

16. The present Charter can be modified upon request from the members or according to the needs of the Network.

Approved at Östersund, the 26th of May 2011

OITS/ISTO aisbl : Rue Haute, 26-28 1000 Bruxelles/ Belgique Tél : + 32 2 274 15 41/42 Fax : + 32 2 514 16 91 info@oits-isto.org - www.oits-isto.org