530 more reasons to travel within Europe

Today, in Brussels, the European Union Federation of Youth Hostel Associations (EUFED) officially welcomed the ten new member states to the European Union.  At a reception held at Bruegel Youth Hostel, in the heart of the capital of Europe, guests heard about the scope and scale of the largest not-for-profit youth accommodation provider in the world.  

Taken together, the national Youth Hostel Associations of EUFED, account for about:

• 1, 800 Youth Hostels in 17 countries

• 2.8 million members (many of whom are young people)

• and 22 million overnight stays each year

As of 1st May 2004, young people will be able to travel more easily around Europe (as visa requirements between the former Central and Eastern bloc countries, and Malta and Cyprus, and the western European countries, are relaxed).

The national Youth Hostel Associations of the EU accession countries are some of the most dynamic in the world.  There is already an established network of 530 Youth Hostels (generating about two million overnight stays each year) covering nine out of the ten accession states.  These Youth Hostels offer value for money, warmth of welcome and traditional hospitality in outstanding locations (coast, countryside, mountains, historic cities).

The guest speakers at the EUFED reception today included: Edith Arnoult-Brill, 1st Vice President of the International Youth Hostel Federation and Secretary General of the French Youth Hostel Association; Goran Beus Richembergh, Central and Eastern Europe Regional Co-ordinator for the International Youth Hostel Federation; and Mathieu Hoeberigs, Principal Administrator at the Tourism Unit of the European Commission.

Mr Hoeberigs underlined the strategic importance of EUFED.  He cited EUFED as being one of the most important partners for the European Commission in the field of youth tourism.

Dr Peter Kaiser, EUFED President, thanked the European Commission for their continued support.  Dr Kaiser presented the European Union Institutions with a request to create a specific budget for the development and reconstruction of Youth Hostels within the European Union accession countries.

The EUFED President added "this would be a sure investment in the future of Europe, in terms of facilitating youth opportunity and mobility, and intercultural exchange."

From left to right: Dr Peter Kaiser (EUFED President), Edith Arnoult-Brill (1st Vice President of the International Youth Hostel Federation and Secretary General of the French Youth Hostel Association), Mathieu Hoeberigs (Principal Administrator at the Tourism Unit of the European Commission) and Goran Beus Richembergh (Central and Eastern Europe Regional Co-ordinator for the International Youth Hostel Federation)