The shelters of the InturJoven Network, under the Institute of Youth of Andalusia (IAJ) – organs attached to the Ministry of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality, have recorded throughout 2024 a total of 423,975 overnight stays compared to 395,378 in 2023, representing an increase of 6.7%, with 28,597 more stays. Therefore, for another year, the network of youth hostels of the Andalusian Junta has recorded a significant increase in overnight stays.
The packages and programs offered throughout the network of shelters continue to grow in interest from the general public, but with a special relevance, the Summer Vacation Week, the rooms for university students, the «Collating» program, summer camps for young people, trips, and activities for the elderly.
The figures for the smallest occupancy seasons also indicate a clear trend towards breaking seasonality, with January, February, and March recording 9,093 overnight stays, and an increase of 5,761 from October, November, and December.
For the annual occupancy, the shelter ranking is led by Seville, with 49,768 overnight stays, followed by Granada with 42,599; Almería with 35,560; Izz de Frontra with 35,080, and Málaga with 32,476. However, regarding the increase in stays in 2024, we must highlight the Torremolinos shelter, with 12,333 more overnight stays than in 2023; Izz de Frontra, with an increase of 4,851; Chipiona, with 2,638; Jaén, with 2,307, and Marbella, with 2,117.
The main clientele of the shelters is nationally sourced (73%), under 25 years old, and predominantly 54.4% female. Additionally, it is noteworthy that 10% of users are between 56 and 65 years old, and 12% are between 36 and 45, showing the interest of the elderly in these accommodation spaces.
Commitment to inclusion and accessibility
For IntarJoven, it is essential to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their diversity, have the opportunity to enjoy the facilities and opportunities offered by the hostels. Therefore, every year, there is a significant investment effort in accessibility with adaptations for people with reduced mobility in interior and itinerary access, elevators, receptions, rooms, pools, parking, and public bathrooms, all tailored to accommodate individuals. For those with visual and hearing impairments, magnetic loops and escape plans in Braille and Relief, sirens, acoustic alarms, strobe lights, and ornamental escape routes have been installed.
In the last year, 5,189 overnight stays were made by individuals with functional, mental, visual, and hearing disabilities, who chose 15 destinations within the shelter network. A prime example was Group Eleven, which organized a camp for 136 young people from the Aguadulce shelter or the Andalusian Federation of Down Syndrome Associations, who brought together 99 young people in Algeciras.