1St FICC World Congress, Lisbon, 2018

Was celebrated from 21 to 23 at the Ramada Hotel, Lisbon

At the same time, it was also held the celebration of the 85th anniversary of the FICC, founded in 1933,
See  a brief history of the FICC at the end of this article

Most of the presentations and speeches were delivered in English, with the exception of 2 or 3 speeches in French. The norm of the Congress was established for the official languages ​​of the FICC, English, French and German. Since Portugal was the host country, Portuguese was also spoken, especially in the opening ceremony.

Motorcaravanning
All the current topics of motorhome tourism were very present in the Congress. Experts from entities that have a large number of motorhome members attended, such as the NKC and the Camping and Caravanning club, United Kingdom.

The official opening of the Congress
It was officiated on November 22 by João Alves Pereira, president of the FICC; João Queiroz, president of the Portuguese Federation; Ana Mendes Secretary of Tourism, Portugal, and Jean Marc Mignon, World Tourism Organization.

The purpose of the Congress
The main reasons for this congress were based on the need for a new approach in the world panorama of itinerant tourism, camping and new technologies. There is a radical change in trends regarding the associative style of itinerant tourism and camping in general in many countries in the world.

For this reason, large associations such as the NKC from the Netherlands, the Camping Caravaning Club of the United Kingdom (a club with more than 100 years of history), the Motorcaravanners Club, United Kingdom, among other important European entities, also agree that the strategy can not be the same, is it has been applied in most clubs and federations; as a result, they could face either the loss of a large number of members or even their disappearance.

FICC World Congress Agenda 

On 22nd and 23rd were dedicated to the Congress (day 21 was the meeting of the FICC Council and commissions).
Presentations and speeches were divided into 4 parts by speakers who were well versed in the world of itinerant tourism (caravans, motorhomes, campervans, etc.), camping and technologies.
Find details of all participants below:

Part I - November 22 - "Another World", presented by Stan Stolwerk, general director of the NKC (Dutch motor motorhome club with more than 50,000 members).

• Erik Van Laar (The Netherlands), analyst of the NKC, "The Technological Revolution and Our World", environment, mobility and tourism: analysis of trends, "The Future Clients are already here".
• Eric Zeevalk (The Netherlands), markets of the NKC, "Analysis of New Generations in Tourism and Camping.
• Norbert van Noesel, (The Netherlands) Marketing Director of Thetford
• Maarten van Soest, (The Netherlands) executive director of  Tonke Van company, manufacturer of campervans. "Effects on the Industry and Small Manufacturers.

Part II, November 22 - "A New Industry", presented by Fabien Produit (ASC, Switzerland)

• Hermann Pfaff, (Germany) President of the CIVD (Association of Travelling Vehicle Manufacturers of Germany and Europe. "The Worldwide Leisure Vehicle Industry".
• François Feuillet, (France) President of the  ECF, European Caravan Federation. "The European Leisure Industry).
• Jost Kruger, (Germany) General Director of the ECF , "A New European Approach Towards Advocacy"

Part III, day 22 - "Changes in the Camping", presented by Beatriz Santos, Orbitur group (Portugal) and Thomas Mehlmauer, OCC, Austrian Camping Club (Austria)

• Linda Gedink, (Luxembourg) president of EFCO & HPA (European Federation of Camping and Associations of Holiday Parks Organizations). "The Camping and the Challenge of the Future Electric Vehicles"
• Bruno Lacroix (France), director of Editorials Pôle Tourisme. "A Reflection on the Modern Good Camping".
• Maja Dimmik "Glamping and the New Trends in Camping Architecture Now and in the Future" (Glamping (glamor + camping) is a formula that began a few years ago and offers a perfect combination between camping outdoors and enjoying the comforts of the best luxury hotel. Prices can range between 200 and 10,000 euros per day).
• José Iglesias González (España),  (Spain), honorary member of the FICC, ex-counselor and former chairman Motorcarvanning Commission, FICC. "Motorhome Sites, Stopovers and the Economic Impact on Tourism.
• Jean Marc Mignon (France), member of the World Tourism Committee, UNWTO , "Camping and Ethics".
• João Alves Pereira (Portugal), President of the FICC (Fédération International de Camping Caravaning et Autocaravaning). "Camping Card International, C.C.I."

Part IV - November 22. Clubs and associations: "Move, Share and Adapt", presented by João Alves Pereira (Portugal), President of the FICC.

• Stan Stolwerk (The Netherlands), NKC, "Clubs and Associations": how to stay relevant locally, nationally and internationally ".
• Robert Louden (United Kingdom), Director of the Camping and Caravaning Club (it has a lot motorhome members). "Proven Record of Adaptation", more than 100 years of history and relevance.
• Lin Chin-Chang (Taiwan), Asia-Pacific Commission . "How to Implement and Expand the Culture of Camping".
• Inés Ayala Sender (Spain), Member of the European Parliament. President of the OITS (International Tourism Organization). "Social Tourism and Camping".

Conclusions

The strategic importance of reinventing the approaches of the associations can not be underestimated. If it is not already on the agenda of each Board of Directors, it should be. As members or clients increase their expectations, the speed of adaptation also increases; therefore, exponentially, it will increase the need to develop capacities to administer and comply with these new rules of association.

The reality is incontestable, the member (client, etc.) no longer seeks, as in past times, an association, club ...; Now, these entities of itinerant tourism have to seduce them as if they were customers, with more services and information. Effectively, the member must be attracted; the interest disappears, if there is no convincing offer. The romanticism of past times, where there were many volunteers to collaborate, in those days members were proud to belong to a club, now this is beginning to be history. Currently, most members demand service as customers. Undoubtedly, associations require new formulas, far from those exercised so far.

Brief history of the FICC

June 4, 1933, is a very important date in the 85 year history of the FICC, since it was on that day when the FICC held its first General Assembly in 1933 in Hampton Court, United Kingdom.

In 2011 the word "Autocaravaning" was introduced in the statutes of the organization and the logo including the motorhome was modified and, at the beginning of 2012, the official title of the Federation changed to "Fédération Internationale de Camping, Caravaning et Autocaravaning" -in French language, since its headquarters are in Brussels-, but the acronym remains the same: FICC

Apart from the well known "Rally FICC", the international youth rallies are also a great success. These events are held annually since 1952, always during Easter time. This Youth Rally is very popular, it represents a great attraction for young people from all over the world.
At the moment, the FICC is present in many countries around the world, with more than 6 million members, despite difficult times.