€1m boost to make youth hostels more appealing and accessible

The hostels are intended to provide accommodation for youth groups, rather than to be open to the wider public. The investment will allow the facilities to be modernised.

“With this financing, operators can invest in comfort, accessibility, fire safety and family-friendly facilities in their infrastructure,” Ben Weyts said. The investments will mainly concern sustainability projects, renovations, adapting premises for people with disabilities and in some cases a thorough rebuilding.

Special attention will be paid to accessibility, Weyts said, as this is lacking in many cases. At De Brink in Herentals, Antwerp province (pictured), a subsidy of around €40,000 will be spent on making buildings and sanitary facilities accessible to wheelchair users. At Hoge Duin in Oostduinkerke at the coast, €100,000 will go towards creating family rooms and making accommodation accessible to wheelchairs.

Toerisme Vlaanderen will cover up to 40% of the costs of renovations. The new funding brings the amount of money Flanders has invested in youth hostels in recent years to €32 million.

Photo: Hopper.be