Marketing travel services to senior consumers

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the profiles of current senior travelers using accurate segmentation criteria based on ageing and behavioral tourism variables, shown to be useful in gerontology, marketing and tourism marketing literature.Design/methodology/approachA self‐complete questionnaire was administered to a work status‐based quota sample of 300 senior consumers (retired people aged 50‐76). Using behavioral variables, cluster analysis was performed. The clusters were then profiled using a discriminant analysis, involving demographic, ageing, and also some behavioral variables not included in the initial analysis. Finally, the current tourism offers were studied, considering the segments characteristics revealed.FindingsFour distinct segments have been identified. Each segment differs considerably from one another on a set of variables, including consumer behaviors variables.Research implicationsThis paper fills a research gap, outlined by several previous researchers in the senior consumer field, by identifying the current travel motivations of seniors and the role of subjective ages in the consumption of tourism.Practical implicationsThe paper provides dedicated tools to better understand the senior market. It also provides practical guidance for tourism companies to improve their current offer, better target and better satisfy each senior segment.Originality/valueThis research provides the first known tourism French senior market segmentation. It also reveals an interesting (discriminant) segmentation variable for the senior market: the discrepancy age, which has until now been neglected in senior studies. Finally, it addresses an issue linked to one of the major current opportunity markets, i.e. the senior market, for one of the most important service industries, i.e. the tourism industry.

The spiritual benefits of travel for senior tourists

“…Senior tourists represent a third of the world tourism industry today, and their number is due to rise in the context of the world population's growth and aging. The aging population in developed countries and the resulting sizable number of senior travelers lead tourism industry professionals to recognize the senior segment as a strong opportunity for future industry growth (World Tourism Organization, ; Le Serre and Chevalier, ). Retired seniors make up a dominant proportion of this segment, and the number of retired individuals is increasing at its fastest rate ever and is expected to triple by 2050 (United Nations, ).…”

The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary Heritage Research

“…Perhaps the most obvious example would be the senior citizen segment, because of their relationship to the past (Le Serre and Chevalier, 2012). In addition to employing a retro-marketing approach, companies can also use the knowledge of consumer characteristics of this segment in order to design products that can address their specific motivations.…”

Consumer behavior of the Russians aged 50+: Pilot study

“…Соответственно, они становятся все более значимым сегментом для компаний, действующих на мировом потребительском рынке, где в настоящее время имеется широкий ассортимент продуктов и услуг, которые созданы специально для этой целевой аудитории [Szmigin, Carrigan, 2001;Stroud, Walker, 2013]. Компании адаптируют свои маркетинговые стратегии к потребностям клиентов старшего возраста, которых принято называть «серебряными потребителями» (silver consumers) или «старшими потребителями» (senior consumers) [Wong, 2007;Le Serre, Chevalier, 2012].…”