Skål is the only international group uniting all branches of the Travel and Tourism industry. Skål International is a professional organisation of Tourism leaders around the world, promoting global Tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and Tourism industry. Its members, the industry's managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional
and international levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest. Young Skål is the category of Skål International organization, focused on worldwide young professionals and students in the Tourism industry. Young Skål aims to attract students in tourism to the organization and to turn them into active Skål International members, once they reach the necessary qualifications, or directed to young professionals holding a full-time managerial position in the tourism industry. The first club was founded in 1932 in Paris by travel managers, following an educational tour of Scandinavia. The idea of international goodwill and friendship grew and, in 1934, the “Association Internationale des Skål Clubs” was formed with Florimond Volckaert as its first President, who is considered the “Father of Skål”. Skål International today has almost 13,000 members in more than 300 clubs throughout 86 nations. Most activities occur at local level, moving up through National Committees, under the umbrella of Skål International, headquartered at the General Secretariat in Málaga, Spain. Skål International is governed by an Executive Board of 14 Directors, elected by delegates to an annual General Assembly, held during the World Congress, hosted by a different country each year. This allows members first-hand observation of the travel and tourism potential around the world.
