2023-06-27 08:47:36
Senior travelers today represent a essential source of growth for the tourism industry. This is due to several reasons. First of all, the number of elderly people is increasing sharply in the context of an aging world population.
In addition, the current generation of seniors particularly enjoys tourism and, between the ages of 60 and 75, the length of stay is longer only for younger people. Seniors also travel more during the “shoulder season”, ie the period between high and low season, which helps to lengthen the tourist season.
However, access to these various benefits is only possible if retirees are able to travel when they wish. Understanding what may prevent them from traveling therefore remains essential to enable them to access tourism experiences.
The performance of a qualitative study conducted with 15 seniors aged 60 to 85, presented last May at theAcademy of Marketing Science Annual Conferenceallowed us to identify several types of obstacles to travel.
“I would have liked to speak English”
Leisure constraints, which vary with age, can be classified into three categoriesas explained by American researchers Duane W. Crawford, Edgar L. Jackson and Geoffrey Godbey: intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural constraints.
Intrapersonal stresses, which refer to internal and psychological stresses such as past experience, guilt, lack of self-confidence of an individual, are the most powerful. They naturally influence leisure preferences. On this level, our interviewees first mention the decline in physical abilities, energy or even the difficulty in adapting to a new environment.
The difficulties of adapting to a new environment, an obstacle to travel – Pedro Ribeiro Simões / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
These constraints relate in particular to the psychological impact of aging: the difficulty of leaving home is thus often mentioned by our respondents. Finally, the lack of communication resources is mentioned, the interviewees referring to their limited ability to speak a language other than French. Jeanne, 63, regrets her shortcomings:
I would have liked to speak English because it is an international language. The few words I know are not enough to exchange. It slows me down a bit, for example, to go to the United States.
Interpersonal, social and cultural constraints are linked to association with other individuals. They include, for example, not having a partner to practice the activity with. Our elderly respondents often underline the absence of a travel companion following widowhood or divorce. Liliane, 76, also evokes a partner who does not share the same desires:
My husband and I have opposite tastes when it comes to travel: he wants to go in the sun, under the coconut trees. I don’t like the heat. I would prefer to go to colder countries!
Finally, structural constraints are external to the individual and contextual in nature. They reflect the resources needed to engage in the leisure activity under consideration and include, for example, not having enough money. On this subject, our respondents sometimes highlight insufficient resources or the difficulty of parting with a pet. Claudine, 74, explains as follows:
I have to put my dog in a kennel when I leave. I have no other solution, so I do it, but the inconvenience then takes precedence over the pleasure of going on a trip.
Similarly, our interviewees cite their lack of availability (notably because of voluntary work or family support), the fear of leaving their home unattended, but also a travel offer that they consider inadequate. Gilles, 66, regrets, for example, the lack of flexibility offered by organized trips:
I really like nature, so I like to take my time and stop where I want to admire the landscapes. On a group trip, I would like to stop somewhere, but I can’t because we have to be somewhere else at a specific time.
Enjoy life
Seniors constitute an undeniable economic potential for tourism professionals, but their consumption of travel is decreasing until it comes to a complete halt due to these numerous constraints.
However, as we explained in another research work, travel generates positive emotions and spiritual benefits that contribute to the well-being of seniors: giving meaning to one’s life, revealing oneself or better understanding others and their relationship with nature. In addition, at an age when seniors are aware of their own mortality, travel allows them to enjoy life and create memories.
Travel, a source of positive emotions in older people – Pxfuel.com, CC BY-SA 4.0
Understanding these barriers to travel therefore seems necessary in order to help tourism professionals adapt their services and offers in the context of an aging population.
Several recommendations can be made here for these professionals, such as offering trips taking into account the advancing age of these tourists. These stays can be calibrated to avoid excessively long journey times and excessively tiring transport, with support from home. The cruise line Costa Cruises has even developed a offer reserved for over 65s.
It will also be necessary to ensure the supervision of the home during the absence of the senior as well as the care of their pet. So many recommendations that will remove the obstacles to travel for seniors and help them to provide them with physical and psychological well-being.
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This article is produced by The Conversation and hosted by 20 Minutes.
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