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This paper explores the use of biographical research methods in the study of tourism behaviour among older adults in Freising, Germany. A qualitative biographical participatory research approach is argued to provide an emic perspective on seniors' tourism behaviour over their life course. A variety of techniques for the collection and analysis of biographical data are developed and applied including approaches to the graphical presentation of summaries of biographical data, life history guides, ecomaps and the use of vacation photos and travel records. This study suggests that researching individual biographies in depth can provide a contextualized understanding of tourism behaviour changes in old age. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This paper explores the relationships between life course transitions and seniors'tourism behaviour with a focus on social-psychological factors. The study employs a qualitative research approach and applied biographical interviews with 23 participants (older than 60 years) from Germany. Five themes are identified and presented in this paper: "role transitions," "the loss of partners," "stressful situations and illness," "travel saturation," and "perception of age." A model is developed that integrates the impact of life course transitions, the collections of travel experiences, and the perception of age on tourism behaviour. Research findings are discussed in light of existing literature and theories on human development and ageing.

This article utilizes the context of senior tourism to conceptualize life events and their impacts on tourism behaviour. Life events are markers in the individual life course that can be used to explain the formation of travel patterns. This study adopts a qualitative biographical research methodology to explore the life trajectories and related tourism behaviours of 23 senior citizens in Freising, Germany, to gain an in-depth understanding of how and why tourism behaviour changes across the individual life course. Life events can have a strong impact on tourism behaviour; they can interrupt existing travel patterns or prompt new ones. Life events and their theoretical underpinnings form a largely untouched field in the domain of tourism and represent an area worthy of more extensive research. A better understanding of life events as they relate to tourism behaviours presents opportunities for the tourism industry to develop and design custom-tailored products and services.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of how local residents in tourism destinations perceive their role in the creation of tourist experiences. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research was conducted with 16 local residents in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a tourism hotspot in Germany. The study used thematic analysis combined with qualitative content analysis to identify various themes associated with host–guest-based tourist experience creation. Findings Findings demonstrate how diverse local residents contribute to tourist experiences. A model was developed that suggests a distinction between active and passive contribution to tourist experiences. Only little evidence was found that the concept of co-creation plays a role in host–guest relationships, which contradicts other literature. Research limitations/implications The chosen qualitative research approach does not allow for generalisation of the research findings. The examination of perceptions raises epistemological questions. Practical implications This paper includes implications for improved internal marketing strategies and the involvement of local residents in tourism destination development. Originality/value This study contributes to knowledge by conceptualizing the role of local residents in tourist experience creation. The paper closes research gaps by using a qualitative study design in Germany to explore the underlying conditions that affect host–guest encounters to the discussion of tourist experience creation. Research findings may be adapted to other geographical or cultural settings with similar levels of tourism development.