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3.4.2 Mediterranean Club 
Club tourism is one of the aspects of tourism whose golden period of 
development is registered in the past three decades. Philosophy of this kind of 
traveling is based on comfortable accommodation in the tourist settlement of 
scattered type (bungalows and apartments scattered around the greenery without 
a large hotel complex). Another focal point is the insistence on relaxation and 
on creating an environment in which communication is inevitable: it is 
forbidden to wear suits and ties; the food is being served on the large tables; it is 
possible to get the fruit in unlimited amounts; plastic beads, which are worn as 
bracelets or necklaces, are used as the means of paying instead of money, and 
nowadays, optical and magnetic cards are already being present. All the sports 
activities are already included in the price and can be exercised as much as one 
desires with the help of teachers or independently. The great number of 
animators whose role is to launch a range of social, cultural and sporting events 
in which the guests are also participating, are with the guests (on 1000 guests up 
to 70 animators). And the atmosphere of a common, active holiday with the 
intensive communication between all participants, is being created. That 

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represents the main characteristic of the club tourism. The club "MED" 
(abbreviation of the word "Mediterranean") is a French organization, whose 
facilities are situated all around the world with a particular concentration on the 
Mediterranean basin and besides the summer destinations also possesses several 
attractive winter holiday destinations in Switzerland and France. The similar 
organization in Germany is called "Robinson Club" and it brings together a 
large number of tourists who prefer active forms of tourism. It is certainly true 
that this kind of travel arrangement is more expensive, but gives them the 
freedom to participate whenever and wherever they want, and for that reason, it 
provides much more than a conventional tourism, which, in the end, almost 
always costs more. "All-inclusive" philosophy is a great success on the tourism 
market as a part of the offers of the big agencies, and tourists gladly choose 
such kind of arrangements because they are liberated from small organizational 
problems at their new tourist destination. This applies to those kinds of tourists 
who always choose something new for a vacation, following the trends and 
experiencing the holiday as their own creation, unlike the people who, for 
years, go to relax and "recharge their batteries" to the same places and to the 
same hosts. Club Mediterranean has been working for 50 years, and today is 
worth 1.3 billion dollars. There are 98 villages in 40 countries on all five 
continents, within the club. All Club Med villages are placed on beautiful 
locations and offer to the tourists not only numerous activities, but also varied 
cuisines. This formula has proven to be one of the most successful offers in the 
international tourism. 
Example - Mediterranean Club - Club formula of how to use sport and 
recreation for tourism development. Club Med is one of the largest tour 
operators in the world, with 1.6 million clients on annual level. These clients are 
staying in one of the 98 Club Med villages, either in the cabin or in a luxury 
bungalow or a hotel, or they are situated in one of two luxury ships, owned by 
the Club. Concept of Club Med is different from the offer of other travel 
agencies. Club Med wants to provide a relaxing journey to people, away from 
life's everyday problems and stress. In these magical places, social differences 
disappear and people should feel completely free. The unlimited amount of 
different food and drinks are included in price paid by the customers. 
In 1950, Belgian, Gerard Blic, founded a small company - Mediterranean Club - 
to give people the opportunity to return to the nature. All the Club Med villages, 
at that time, were quite primitive and consisted of a tent or a cabin. During the 
following years a number of villages and ski resorts were built, and a firm 
became a French company. Since 1963 company was administered by 
Frenchman Gilbert Trigano, who dedicated his life to the club. Under his 
leadership the Club Med opened its villages around the world, which were 

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characterized by the luxury and a wide range of all types of social and 
recreational activities. In 1982, this diversity has led to the separation of 
commercial and administrative functions of the company (Europe, Africa, 
America, and Asian / Indian and Atlantic Ocean) by regions, and to a division 
into two legal structures (Club Med SA, and Club Med Inc.) which operate 
completely independently. In the meantime, a few smaller companies, which 
operated in the tourism market, were bought, so the Club Med's market share 
has increased. In order to satisfy the needs of different target groups, Club Med 
has made its offer even more diverse. Examples of these offers are the club 
hotels, City Club, as well as less expensive alternatives - such as "Aquarius 
Club". Recently, Club Med has also begun to organize expensive cruises on two 
luxury ships, Club Med I and II. 
Tasks, within the various villages around the world, are managed by the "Head 
of village" or village manager. This person has 120 animators and 300 other 
people of different nationalities under his control. Considering that the people 
who are on the lowest level of the organization are in direct contact with 
customers, their proper selection and training is very important. To increase the 
number of clients, Club Med is trying to improve the quality of offered services 
and to train animators and their supervisors, Heads of villages. Moreover, the 
market researches are being performed in order to identify the specific needs of 
the target groups from different countries. In the next twenty years the system of 
memory card will be fully developed. The client will choose from his home 
what kind of a trip he wants (for example, snow or sun), and the organization 
will select a destination for the client. The great advantage of this system is that 
the client does not have to carry luggage, because everything is available in the 
village. Club Med annually earns around 600 million dollars, with an annual 
profit of 30 million dollars. 
During the last years, 1.6 million clients have been using the services of Club 
Med, with a trend of increasement. This is a typical example of a holiday that 
consists of a number of sports activities. Apart from Club Med there are other 
famous companies of this type, for example, Central Park and the Robinson 
Club. The success of the Club Med, encouraged other clubs (such as Club 
Aldiana, Eskolet Club, Club Mark Werner, Club Valtur, Sunsail club and 
Robinson club, to follow this formula. The Saint Club on the Canary Island, is 
being advertised as the "World Sports Resort no. 1", offering what we would 
describe as world-class facilities for over 20 sports including volleyball, tennis, 
also stadium with facilities for all Olympic athletic sports, except hammer 
throw. These expensive clubs who are primarily made for adults, are an 
improved version of children's summer sports camps, which have been very 
popular in the U.S. for decades. Over the past few years, this club formula 

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suffered a renewal in Western Europe. Club holidays with sport activities are 
available during the whole year (they do not depend on weather conditions) at 
numerous locations across Europe.