Chapter 11: Tourism and Aging 11 Tourism and Aging Ian Patterson and Shane Pegg C H A P T E R

Tourism and Aging: Key Points Emerging market of older adults Sociodemographic variables and travel behavior of older adults Travel motives of older adults (continued)

Tourism and Aging: Key Points (continued) Modes of transport used by older adults Adventure tourism Educational travel

Tourism and Aging Senior travelers will increasingly account for a larger share of all vacation spending. They are less constrained by work and family responsibilities. Today’s older travelers are wealthier, better educated, and more independent than the previous generation.

Older people who are still working might be more motivated to travel for relaxation and escape.

Older Travelers Interested in cultural and educational experiences Women different than men More buying power than in middle years

Red Hat Society A leisure and travel-related social organization for women aged 50 years and older Group tour provided a playful, supportive context for women to have fun, to be self- expressive, and to develop social relationships

Meaning of Tourism New perspective on what they had at home Changed sense of self Disrupted assumptions caused by new experiences Deeper sense of understanding of the problems associated with a particular country

Motivations to Travel Push factors—internal social psychological motivators that establish the desire to travel Pull factors—external motives that pull a person toward a particular destination once the decision to travel has been made

Adventure tourism is often appealing to younger, wealthier retirees.

Categories of Older Travelers Families and retirees—prefer to return to the same destinations each year. Active resters or escape and learn—like to visit new places and experience new things. Older set and active storytellers—like to escape routine and to meet and socialize with new people.

Constraints to Travel Constraints to travel—limitations that stop people from traveling (e.g., age, income, life stage) Main categories of constraints –Personal problems –Travel-product providers’ responsibilities

Personal Constraints Decline in income with retirement Deterioration of health Sense of safety Travel-product providers’ responsibilities –Lack of information –Price

Modes and Types of Travel Recreational vehicles (RVs) Care-A-Vanners Snowbirds Boondocking Grey nomads

Campgrounds and RV parks often have high levels of social interaction, resulting in friendship with other travelers.

Recreational Vehicle A motorized wheeled vehicle such as a camper or motor home Used for traveling and recreational activities

Care-A-Vanners A volunteer program run by Habitat for Humanity Seeks to eradicate substandard housing by building simple, decent houses for low- income earners in the United States

Snowbirds Older people who are mobile and travel in their RVs Generally go from the northern areas of the United States and Canada during the winter months to localities in the southern United States and Mexico

Boondocking The camping of RVs in an area with limited or no facilities Often encourages the establishment of temporary communities

Grey Nomads Older adults who independently travel around Australia over an extended period of time Often retired and have time at their disposal to travel at their own leisurely pace

Adventure Tourism Defined by state of mind, not list of activities. Increasingly popular among older adults. Soft adventure can be incorporated into educational, social, or cultural activities. Provides excitement, challenge, and escape from boredom and stress.

Educational Tourism Can take place in the community, on a college or university campus, or throughout the world. More popular among women than men. Motivated by desire to better the self and by intellectual stimulation rather than escape.