The hostels of the Inturjoven Network, dependent on the Andalusian Youth Institute (IAJ) – an entity attached to the Ministry of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality – have recorded a total of 423,975 overnight stays throughout the year 2024, compared to 395,378 in 2023, representing an increase of 6.7%, with 28,597 more stays. Once again, the youth hostel network of the Andalusian government has experienced a significant increase in overnight stays.
The packages and programs offered by Inturjoven in the entire hostel network continue to attract the interest of all audiences, with special emphasis on the summer vacation week, stays for university students, the ‘coliving’ program, summer camps for young people, trips and activities for students, and tourism offers for seniors.
The figures for overnight stays during off-peak seasons also indicate a clear trend of breaking seasonality, as the months of January, February, and March saw 9,093 more overnight stays than the previous year, while October, November, and December registered an increase of 5,761.
In terms of annual occupancy, the ranking of hostels is led by Seville, with 49,768 overnight stays, followed by Granada with 42,599; Almería with 35,560; Jerez de la Frontera with 35,080, and Málaga with 32,476. However, regarding the increase in stays in 2024, it is noteworthy that Torremolinos had 12,333 more overnight stays than in 2023; Jerez de la Frontera with an increase of 4,851; Chipiona with 2,638; Jaén with 2,307, and Marbella with 2,117.
The primary clientele of the hostels is of national origin (73%), under 25 years old, and mostly, 54.4%, female. It is also worth noting that 10% of users are between 56 and 65 years old, and 12% between 36 and 45, showing the interest of older individuals in these accommodations.
Commitment to Inclusion and Accessibility
For Inturjoven, it is essential to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their diversity, have the opportunity to enjoy their facilities and the possibilities offered by the surroundings. Therefore, they make a significant investment effort each year in terms of accessibility, making adaptations for people with reduced mobility in access and interior routes, elevators, receptions, rooms, pools, parking lots, and public toilets, which are also being adapted for ostomized individuals. For individuals with visual and hearing impairments, magnetic loops and evacuation plans in braille and relief, sirens, acoustic alarms, stroboscopic lights, and tactile evacuation routes have been installed.
During the past year, 5,189 overnight stays were made by individuals with functional, psychic, visual, and hearing disabilities, who visited 15 of the hostel network locations. A good example was the ONCE Group, which organized a camp for 136 young people at the Aguadulce hostel, or the Andalusian Federation of Associations for Down Syndrome, which brought together 99 young people for an event in Algeciras.