Tourism and leisure needs of older adults.

Abstract

This chapter provides a general introduction to the growing older population throughout the western world and an examination of the importance of leisure, travel and tourism as emerging markets for this sector of the population. The concepts of leisure and tourism are defined and examined in terms of their similarities and differences. The different cohort groups that are included in the general category of older adults, particularly the silent generation, new-age elderly, baby boomers and the senior market, are also defined and characterized. In-depth discussions on the emerging baby boomer market, related to their tourism and leisure behaviour, are presented as well.

The characteristics and motivational decisions of outdoor adventure tourists: a review and analysis

“…Another complication is that the relatively few previous studies of adventure tourists (ATTA, 2010(ATTA, , 2013Muller & Cleaver, 2000;Muller & O'Cass, 2001;Patterson, 2006;Sung, 2004) have generally investigated together both 'package' adventure tourists, who use commercial adventure tourism organisations, and 'independent' adventure tourists, who independently organise and manage their own holidays. While there is a need to investigate both types of adventure tourist, it is valuable to study them separately because they may differ in their characteristics and motivational decisions.…”

Determinant factors of senior tourists’ length of stay

“…The second part is comprised of issues related to travel purpose (push factors)-holidays, visits to family and/or friends, health and work-and those about the destination (pull factors) based on the studies of Bai et al (1999), Baloglu and Uysal (1996), Blazey (1992), Chen (2009), Huang and Tsai (2003), Jang et al (2003), Jang and Wu (2006), Lawson (1991), Norman et al (2001), Sangpikul (2008), Wang (2005), Wang et al (2008) and Wu (2003). Finally, issues to do with the trip's characteristics-destination, type of accommodation used, mode (individual/group), type of trip, length of trip and activities carried out at the destination-are almost totally based on the studies by Bai et al (1999), Bai et al (2001), Batra (2009), Javalgi et al (1992, Lawson (1991), Patterson (2006, Wang et al (2008) and Wu (2003).…”

“…Travel types may be classified as organised trips, commonly known as 'package holidays', escorted or 'guided tours', and individual or 'fully independent travel' (Patterson, 2006). In the Spanish senior tourism market, the most popular are basically: independent travel, package holidays and the trips organised by a public organisation, basically the IMSERSO (Institute for the Elderly and Social Services).…”

“…Javalgi et al (1992) indicated that package holidays are the seniors' preferred modality as opposed to the non-seniors. According to Patterson (2006), this is due to questions of convenience and security, and they are an alternative to independent travel, especially for those elderly who are single, widowed or divorced. Bai et al (2001) established that a relationship exists between the travel type chosen by seniors and the length of their stay, with those who travel independently having a longer stay than those who choose a package holiday.…”

“…Spain will be one of the countries with the oldest population in Europe in the next few years, to the extent that by 2050, one in every two people in Spain will be 50 years old or over (United Nations, 2013). The UNWTO has estimated that, by 2050, the population above 60 years old will make up more than 2 thousand million international journeys, as opposed to 593 million in 1999 (Patterson, 2006). In 2012 in Spain, 62.1% of homes comprised of people between 51 and 65 years old made some sort of trip, with foreign visitors older than 64 being those who spent the most on tourism in Spain (IET, 2012a;IET, 2012b).…”