So old but so fresh

Goran Beus Richembergh is one of HI’s five Regional Development Co-ordinators. His region includes Central and Eastern Europe. Here he blogs about a recent event in the region to celebrate the 100th anniversary of hostelling.

So old but so fresh. This is the kind of description I come up with when I think about the 100th anniversary of hostelling. About 40 of us from 9 countries of the Central and East European Region met this month in Youth Hostel Feri in Igman, near Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in celebration of this important anniversary. Professionals were in the minority, there were more young and enthusiastic volunteers or hostel staff who have experienced hostelling practices and activities recently. It was a great oportunity to meet and discuss with them how attractive hostelling is now, and ask them if we understand their needs and expectations.

The event in Youth Hostel Feri was hosted by the Croatian and Bosnian YH Associations. The hostel is situated in the mountains of Igman, 30 minutes drive from Sarajevo, the venue of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. Why there? Well, the area has a strong symbolic meaning. We wanted to celebrate the opening of the very first youth hostel in Altena Castle 100 years ago, in the newest hostel in the region.            
 
YH Feri was opened in December 2008, as a very modern and functional ski hostel with 130 beds, having all necessary facilities for winter holidays or for relaxing in the area famous for the richest concentration of ozone in Europe. The old hostel situated in the same place was smaller (about 50 beds) and was totally destroyed during the war in Bosnia in 1992–1995. Bosnian YHA decided in 2003 to rebuild it as an symbol of reconciliation and international peace.

Meeting this month in Igman, we built a bridge through history - from Altena as the oldest to Feri as the newest hostel - sending a message that Hostelling International has a strong tradition but an even stronger future. To underline this and considering the nature of hostelling in our region today, the participants from nine countries on 8 August adopted a Declaration, in which we said:

HI Hostels today provide affordable services of high quality. That is very important int he time when we live through the global recession. They create a real difference in the Youth Tourism market, being much more than accommodation units but also the meeting places of young people from different societies, developing the culture of tolerance and understanding, learning and appreciation.

Some of the national governments and Tourism authorities in the CEE Region do not recognize and understand enough of the strengh of     
Youth Tourism and hostelling itself. We call on them to be aware of the fact that 20% of all income in the tourism industry is provided by young travellers. Successful and popular tourist destinations invest a lot in order to meet the expectations of young travelers who are trendsetters in tourism. They know that without young tourists they can not be competitive.

Remembering the 100th anniversary of the hostelling we call media in Central and Eastern Europe to support and promote messages and values of the hostelling mission, bringing them closer and more understandable to youth across the borders, national tourism authorities and tourism professionals. We strongly hope that the hostelling idea could help all of us to learn more and understand better, to travel easily and safely, to meet people and keep peace.

We have sent this message to 600 newspapers, magazines, web-portals, TV and Radio stations in the region. As far as we know, until now, about 100 short notices, articles, reports and photos have been published. And more are still appearing.

So old but so fresh!

Goran Beus Richembergh