The campsites of Girona have presented the Fundació Càmpings de Girona, a completely new initiative for the campsite sector in Catalonia and Spain. The Foundation is created to promote social, educational, environmental and regenerative tourism projects aimed at improving people’s quality of life and generating a positive impact on the territory.
The presentation took place at the Castle of the Trinity in Roses and brought together 150 institutional representatives, business leaders, tourism professionals and representatives from the third sector. Among them was Miquel Gotanegra, President of the Girona Campsites Association and Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, who stated: “The success of a sector should not be measured only by what it generates, but also by what it gives back. Through the Fundació Càmpings de Girona we want to demonstrate that tourism can also be a driver of social transformation”.
He also added: “The time has come to go beyond sustainable tourism. We want to promote regenerative tourism that improves people’s lives and leaves destinations in a better condition than we found them”.
The main areas in which the Foundation will operate include support for children with serious illnesses and their families, assistance to vulnerable groups, collaboration in paediatric medical research and healthcare projects, as well as the promotion of education and equal opportunities. To this end, a scholarship programme will be established to enable talented students with limited resources to access the Master in Sustainable Outdoor Hospitality Management (CampMaster).
A solidarity path that began in 2017
The process that led to the creation of the Foundation began in 2017, when the Girona Campsites Association launched solidarity initiatives involving campsites, staff and visitors. The results of these nine years of commitment are significant: through various initiatives, the sector has raised €158,010, mainly allocated to research into childhood cancer, multiple sclerosis, the humanisation of healthcare facilities, hospital support and projects for vulnerable people.
This commitment has made the association a benchmark in responsible tourism and earned it the Responsible Tourism Award from the Government of Catalonia. With the creation of the Foundation, these initiatives will now have a permanent structure ensuring their continuity and expansion.
“Campings with Heart”: the Foundation’s brand
During the presentation, the “Campings with Heart” brand was also introduced, the umbrella label that will bring together all the Foundation’s solidarity initiatives. Within this programme, “We Care on Tour” was launched, a travelling initiative that will visit member campsites to engage guests, families and staff in solidarity activities, micro-donations, round-up contributions and other participatory actions, turning every holiday into an opportunity for social support.
The aim is to build a strong community of campsites, employees, visitors and beneficiary organisations, demonstrating that tourism can generate a direct and tangible social impact.
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