Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:55:29.224Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Understanding tourist behaviour of senior citizens: lifecycle theory, continuity theory and a generational approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

ELISA ALÉN ,
NIEVES LOSADA  and
PABLO DE CARLOS
ELISA ALÉN*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Vigo, Ourense, Spain.
NIEVES LOSADA
Affiliation:
Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Vigo, Ourense, Spain.
PABLO DE CARLOS
Affiliation:
Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Vigo, Ourense, Spain.
*
Address for correspondence: Elisa Alén, Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism,University of Vigo, Campus Universitario, s/n, 32.004 Ourense, Spain E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Global demographic changes and the increasing participation of senior citizens in leisure tourism activities have prompted governments and tourism providers in many developed regions to identify seniors as a priority market. Yet the lack of theory related to senior tourism poses a major hurdle to continued research in this field, especially with regard to the application of evolving age theories. Few studies analyse the relevance or motivations of senior tourists. Therefore, this study investigates the tourism behaviour of Spanish senior travellers, including both their motivations and their tendency to travel. To develop a theoretical framework, this article relies on three theories to explicate the travel behaviour of senior citizens: lifecycle theory, continuity theory and generational theory.

Keywords

quality of lifedemographic changetourist behaviourlifecycle theorycontinuity theorygenerational theory
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 37 , Issue 7 , August 2017 , pp. 1338 - 1361
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agahi, N., Ahacic, K. and Parker, M. G. 2006. Continuity of leisure participation from middle age to old age. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 61, 6, 340–6.Google Scholar
Alén, M. E., Domínguez, T. and Fraiz, A. 2010. El turismo senior como segmento de mercado emergente. Cuadernos de Turismo, 26, 9–24.Google Scholar
Álvarez, A. 1994. El ocio turístico en las sociedades industriales avanzadas. Bosch, Barcelona.Google Scholar
Anken, A. K., Chaipoopirutana, S. and Combs, H. 2008. Psychographics and patronage behaviour of mature consumers in Thailand. International Review of Business Papers, 4, 1, 45–56.Google Scholar
Atchley, R. C. 1989. A continuity theory of normal ageing. The Gerontologist, 29, 2, 183–90.Google Scholar
Backer, E. 2012. VFR travel: it is underestimated. Tourism Management, 33, 1, 74–9.Google Scholar
Bai, B., Smith, W., Cai, L. A. and O'Leary, J. 1999. Senior sensitive segments: looking at travel behavior. In Chon, K. S. (ed.), The Practice of Graduate Research in Hospitality and Tourism. The Haworth Hospitality Press, New York, 75–89.Google Scholar
Baloglu, S. and Uysal, M. 1996. Market segments of push and pull motivations: a canonical correlation approach. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 8, 3, 32–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barak, B. and Schiffman, L. G. 1981. Cognitive age: a nonchronological age variable. In Monroe, K. B. (ed.), Advances in Consumer Research. Volume 8, Association for Consumer Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 602–6.Google Scholar
Berlemann, M., Oestmann, M. and Thum, M. 2014. Demographic change and bank profitability: empirical evidence from German savings banks. Applied Economics, 46, 1, 79–94.Google Scholar
Bernini, C. and Cracolici, M. F. 2015. Demographic change, tourism expenditure and life cycle behaviour. Tourism Management, 47, 191–205.Google Scholar
Blazey, M. A. 1992. Travel and retirement status. Annals of Tourism Research, 19, 4, 771–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bloom, D. and Canning, D. 2006. Booms, busts and echoes. Finance & Development, International Monetary Fund, 43, 3, 8–13.Google Scholar
Bloom, D., Canning, D. and Fink, G. 2010. The graying of global population and its macroeconomic consequences. Twenty-first Century Society: Journal of the Academy of Social Sciences, 5, 3, 233–42.Google Scholar
Bojanic, D. C. 1992. A look at a modernized family life cycle and overseas travel. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 1, 1, 61–79.Google Scholar
Bone, P. 1991. Identifying mature segments. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 8, 4, 19–32.Google Scholar
Cea, M. A. 2002. Análisis multivariable: teoría y práctica en la investigación social. Síntesis, Madrid.Google Scholar
Chen, H. W. J. 2009. Baby boomers’ and seniors’ domestic travel motivations: an examination of citizens in Tainan, Taiwan. Master thesis, University of Waterloo. Canada.Google Scholar
Chen, K. H., Liu, H. H. and Chang, F. H. 2013. Essential customer service factors and the segmentation of older visitors within wellness tourism based on hot springs hotels. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 35, 122–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, S. C. and Shoemaker, S. 2014. Age and cohort effects: the American senior tourism market. Annals of Tourism Research, 48, 58–75.Google Scholar
Chen, S. C. and Wu, C. 2009. How motivations, constraints, and demographic factors predict seniors’ overseas travel propensity. Asia Pacific Management Review, 14, 3, 301–12.Google Scholar
Collins, D. and Tisdell, C. 2002 a. Age-related lifecycles: purpose variations. Annals of Tourism Research, 29, 3, 801–18.Google Scholar
Collins, D. and Tisdell, C. 2002 b. Gender and differences in travel life cycles. Journal of Travel Research, 41, 2, 133–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Connell, J. 2006. Medical tourism: sea, sun, sand and … surgery. Tourism Management, 27, 6, 1093–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, C., Fletcher, J., Fyall, A., Gilbert, D. and Wanhill, S. 2007. El turismo: teoría y práctica. Síntesis, Madrid.Google Scholar
Crompton, J. L. 1979. Motivations for pleasure vacation. Annals of Tourism Research, 6, 4, 408–24.Google Scholar
Cuenca, M. 1995. El tiempo libre y ocio en las personas mayores. In Seniors Españoles para la Cooperación técnica (ed.), Las actividades económicas de las personas mayores. Universidad de Deusto, Madrid, 83–98.Google Scholar
Dann, G. M. S. 1981. Tourism motivation: an appraisal. Annals of Tourism Research, 8, 2, 187–219.Google Scholar
Dann, G. M. S. 2001. Senior tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 28, 1, 235–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dann, G. M. S. 2002. Senior tourism and quality of life. Journal of Hospitality & Leisure Marketing, 9, 1/2, 5–19.Google Scholar
Dolnicar, S., Yanamandram, V. and Cliff, K. 2012. The contribution of vacations to quality of life. Annals of Tourism Research, 39, 1, 59–83.Google Scholar
European Commission 2006. The Impact of Ageing on Public Expenditure: Projections for the EU25 Member States on Pensions, Health Care, Longterm Care, Education and Unemployment Transfers (2004–2050). European Commission, Brussels.Google Scholar
Faranda, W. T. and Schmidt, S. L. 1999. Segmentation and the senior traveler: implications for today's and tomorrow's ageing consumer. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 8, 2, 3–27.Google Scholar
Fleischer, A. and Pizam, A. 2002. Tourism constraints among Israeli seniors. Annals of Tourism Research, 29, 1, 106–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fleischer, A. and Seiler, R. 2002. Determinants of vacation travel among Israeli seniors: theory and evidence. Applied Economics, 34, 4, 421–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fodness, D. 1994. Measuring tourist motivation. Annals of Tourism Research, 21, 3, 555–81.Google Scholar
Gibson, H. J. 2006. Leisure and later life: past, present and future. Leisure Studies, 25, 4, 397–401.Google Scholar
Gilleard, C. and Higgs, P. 2002. The third age: class, cohort or generation? Ageing & Society, 22, 3, 369–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glover, P. and Prideaux, B. 2009. Implications of population ageing for the development of tourism products and destinations. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 15, 1, 25–37.Google Scholar
González, A. M., Rodríguez, C., Miranda, M. R. and Cervantes, M. 2009. Cognitive age as a criterion explaining senior tourists’ motivations. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 3, 2, 148–64.Google Scholar
Grande, I. 1993. Marketing estratégico para la tercera edad: principios para atender a un segmento creciente. ESIC, Madrid.Google Scholar
Gunter, B. 1998. Understanding the Older Consumer: The Grey Market. Routledge, London.Google Scholar
Havighurst, R. J. 1963. Successful ageing. In Williams, R., Tibbitts, C. and Donahue, W. (eds), Process of Ageing. Atherton, New York, 299–320.Google Scholar
Higgins-Desbiolles, F. 2006. More than an ‘industry’: the forgotten power of tourism as a social force. Tourism Management, 27, 6, 1192–208.Google Scholar
Hillman, W. 2013. Grey nomads travelling in Queensland, Australia: social and health needs. Ageing & Society, 33, 4, 579–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holbrook, M. B. and Schindler, R. M. 1996. Market segmentation based on age and attitude toward the past: concepts, methods and findings concerning nostalgic influences on customer tastes. Journal of Business Research, 37, 1, 27–39.Google Scholar
Hossain, A., Bailey, G. and Lubulwa, M. 2003. Characteristics and travel patterns of older Australians: impact of population ageing on tourism. Paper presented at the International Conference on Population Ageing and Health: Modeling Our Future, Bureau of Tourism Research Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Huang, L. and Tsai, H. 2003. The study of senior traveler behavior in Taiwan. Tourism Management, 24, 5, 561–74.Google Scholar
Hudson, S. 2010. Wooing zoomers: marketing to the mature traveler. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 28, 4, 444–61.Google Scholar
Huh, C. 2006. A study of changes in patterns of travel behavior over time: a cohort analysis approach. PhD thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.Google Scholar
Instituto de Estudios Turísticos 2010. Encuesta de los Movimientos Turísticos de los Españoles (Familitur). Available online at http://www.iet.tourspain.es/es-ES/estadisticas/familitur/Anuales/Informe%20anual%20de%20Familitur.%20A%C3%B1o%202010.pdf [Accessed 7 March 2012].Google Scholar
Iyer, R., Reisenwitz, T. H. and Eastman, J. K. 2008. The impact of cognitive age on seniors’ lifestyles. Marketing Management Journal, 18, 2, 106–18.Google Scholar
Jang, S. (Shawn) and Ham, S. 2009. A double-hurdle analysis of travel expenditure: baby boomers seniors versus older seniors. Tourism Management, 30, 3, 372–80.Google Scholar
Jang, S. (Shawn) and Wu, C. E. 2006. Seniors’ travel motivation and the influential factors: an examination of Taiwanese seniors. Tourism Management, 27, 2, 306–16.Google Scholar
Javalgi, R. G., Thomas, E. G. and Rao, S. R. 1992. Consumer behavior in the U.S. pleasure travel marketplace: an analysis of senior and nonsenior travelers. Journal of Travel Research, 31, 2, 14–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Katz, D. 1960. The functional approach to the study of attitudes. Public Opinion Quarterly, 24, 2, 163–204.Google Scholar
Kim, S. and Lee, C. 2002. Push and pull relationships. Annals of Tourism Research, 29, 1, 257–60.Google Scholar
Klenosky, D. B. 2002. The ‘pull’ of tourism destinations: a means-end investigation. Journal of Travel Research, 40, 4, 385–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kuo, H. I. and Lu, C. L. 2013. Expenditure-based segmentation: application of quantile regression to analyse the travel expenditures of baby boomer households. Tourism Economics, 19, 6, 1429–41.Google Scholar
Lawson, R. 1991. Patterns of tourist expenditure and types of vacation across the family life cycle. Journal of Travel Research, 29, 4, 12–18.Google Scholar
Le Serre, D. and Chevalier, C. 2012. Marketing travel services to senior consumers. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 29, 4, 262–70.Google Scholar
Lee, B. D. 2005. Motives, behaviors, and attachments: a comparative study between older travelers and younger travelers in a national scenic area. PhD thesis, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
Lee, S. H. and Tideswell, C. 2005. Understanding attitudes towards leisure travel and the constraints faced by senior Koreans. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 11, 3, 249–63.Google Scholar
Lehto, X. Y., Jang, S., Achana, F. T. and O'Leary, J. T. 2008. Exploring tourism experience sought: a cohort comparison of baby boomers and the silent generation. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 14, 3, 237–52.Google Scholar
Leventhal, R. C. 1997. Ageing consumers and their effects on the marketplace. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 14, 4, 276–81.Google Scholar
Lohmann, M. and Danielsson, J. 2001. Predicting travel patterns of senior citizens: how the past may provide a key to the future. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 7, 4, 357–66.Google Scholar
March, R. 2000. The Japanese travel life cycle. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 9, 1/2, 185–200.Google Scholar
McCabe, S. and Johnson, S. 2013. The happiness factor in tourism: subjective well-being and social tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 41, 42–65.Google Scholar
McCabe, S., Joldersma, T. and Li, C. 2010. Understanding the benefits of social tourism: linking participation to subjective well-being and quality of life. International Journal of Tourism Research, 12, 6, 761–73.Google Scholar
McGuire, F. A. 1984. A factor analytic study of leisure constraints in advanced adulthood. Leisure Sciences, 6, 3, 313–26.Google Scholar
McIntosh, A. J. and Thyne, M. A. 2005. Understanding tourist behavior using Means-end chain theory. Annals of Tourism Research, 32, 1, 259–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Means, R. and Evans, S. 2012. Communities of place and communities of interest? An exploration of their changing role in later life. Ageing & Society, 32, 8, 1300–18.Google Scholar
Metz, D. and Underwood, M. 2005. Older, Richer, Fitter: Identifying the Customer Needs of Britain's Ageing Population. Age Concern England, London.Google Scholar
Minnaert, L., Maitland, R. and Miller, G. 2009. Tourism and social policy: the value of social tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 36, 2, 316–34.Google Scholar
Moffat, S., Higgs, P., Rummery, K. and Jones, I. R. 2012. Choice, consumerism and devolution: growing old in the welfare state(s) of Scotland, Wales and England. Ageing & Society, 32, 5, 725–46.Google Scholar
Moschis, G. P. 1992. Marketing to Older Consumers: A Handbook of Information for Strategy Development. Quorum Books, Westport, Connecticut.Google Scholar
Moschis, G. P. 1996. Life stages of the mature market. American Demographics, 18, 9, 44–51.Google Scholar
Nimrod, G. and Rotem, A. 2012. An exploration of the innovation theory of successful ageing among older tourists. Ageing & Society, 32, 3, 379–404.Google Scholar
Norman, W. C., Daniels, M. J., Mcguire, F. and Norman, C. A. 2001. Wither the mature market: an empirical examination of the travel motivations of neo-mature and veteran-mature markets. Journal of Hospitality & Leisure Marketing, 8, 3/4, 113–30.Google Scholar
Nyaupane, G. P., McCabe, J. T. and Andereck, K. L. 2008. Seniors’ travel constraints: stepwise logistic regression analysis. Tourism Analysis, 13, 4, 341–54.Google Scholar
Oates, B., Shufeldt, L. and Vaught, B. 1996. A psychographic study of the elderly and retail store attributes. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 13, 6, 14–27.Google Scholar
Oh, H. C., Uysal, M. and Weaver, P. A. 1995. Product bundles and market segments based on travel motivations: a canonical correlation approach. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 14, 2, 123–37.Google Scholar
Oppermann, M. 1995. Travel life cycle. Annals of Tourism Research, 22, 3, 535–52.Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005. Economic consequences of ageing populations. In Financial Market Trends: Ageing and Pension System Reform: Implications for Financial Markets and Economics Policies. Volume 1, OECD Publishing, Paris, 17–28.Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2014. Tourism, Trends and Policies. Available online at http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/industry-and-services/oecd-tourism-trends-and-policies-2014_tour-2014-en [Accessed 10 March 2014].Google Scholar
Paci, E. 1994. The major international VFR markets. Travel and Tourism Analyst, 6, 36–50.Google Scholar
Patterson, I. 2006. Growing Older. Tourism and Leisure Behaviour of Older Adults. CABI, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Pearce, P. L. and Moscardo, G. 2006. Domestic and visiting friends and relatives tourism. In Buhalis, D. and Costa, C. (eds), Tourism Business Frontiers: Consumers, Products and Industry. Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford. 48–55.Google Scholar
Pendergast, D. 2010. Getting to know the Y generation. In Benckendorff, P., Moscardo, G. and Pendergast, D. (eds), Tourism and Generation Y. CABI, Wallingford, UK, 1–15.Google Scholar
Pennington-Gray, L., Fridgen, J. D. and Stynes, D. 2003. Cohort segmentation: an application to tourism. Leisure Science, 25, 4, 341–61.Google Scholar
Plog, S. C. 2005. Targeting segments: more important than ever in the travel industry. In Theobald, W. F. (ed.), Global Tourism. Third edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, 271–93.Google Scholar
Prideaux, B., Wei, S. and Ruys, H. 2001. The senior drive tour market in Australia. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 7, 3, 209–19.Google Scholar
Pyo, S., Mihalik, B. J. and Uysal, M. 1989. Attraction attributes and motivations: a canonical correlation analysis. Annals of Tourism Research, 16, 2, 277–82.Google Scholar
Romsa, G. and Blenman, M. 1989. Vacation patterns of the elderly German. Annals of Tourism Research, 16, 2, 178–88.Google Scholar
Saiprasert, W. 2011. An examination of the medical tourists’ motivational behavior and perception: a structural model. PhD thesis, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Oklahoma.Google Scholar
Sakai, M., Brown, J. and Mak, J. 2000. Population ageing and Japanese international travel in the 21st century. Journal of Travel Research, 38, 3, 212–20.Google Scholar
Sangpikul, A. 2008. Travel motivations of Japanese senior travellers to Thailand. International Journal of Tourism Research, 10, 1, 81–94.Google Scholar
Scherger, S., Nazroo, J. and Higgs, P. 2011. Leisure activities and retirement: do structures of inequality change in old age? Ageing & Society, 31, 1, 146–72.Google Scholar
Schröder, A. and Widmann, T. 2007. Demographic change and its impact on the travel industry: oldies – nothing but goldies? In Conrady, R. and Buck, M. (eds), Trends and Issues in Global Tourism. Springer, Berlin, 3–17.Google Scholar
Shoemaker, S. 1989. Segmentation of the senior pleasure travel market. Journal of Travel Research, 27, 3, 14–21.Google Scholar
Shoemaker, S. 2000. Segmenting the mature market: 10 years later. Journal of Travel Research, 39, 1, 1–26.Google Scholar
Silvers, C. 1997. Smashing old stereotypes of 50-plus America. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 14, 4, 303–9.Google Scholar
Stroud, D. 2008. The 50 Plus Market: Why the Future is Age Neutral When it Comes to Marketing & Branding Strategies. Kogan Page, London.Google Scholar
Szmigin, I. and Carrigan, M. 2001. Time, consumption, and the older consumer: an interpretive study of the cognitively young. Psychology & Marketing, 18, 10, 1091–116.Google Scholar
Tréguer, J. P. and Segati, J. M. 2005. Les nouveaux marketings: marketing générationnel, gay marketing, marketing ethnique. Dunod, París.Google Scholar
United Nations 2013. World Population Ageing. Available online at http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/WorldPopulationAgeingReport2013.pdf [Accessed 15 January 2014].Google Scholar
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 2010. Demographic Change and Tourism. UNWTO, Madrid.Google Scholar
Uysal, M. and Jurowski, C. 1994. Testing the push and pull factors. Annals of Tourism Research, 21, 4, 844–6.Google Scholar
Uysal, M., Perdue, R. and Sirgy, M. J. (eds) 2012. Handbook of Tourism and Quality-of-life Research: Enhancing the Life of Tourists and Residents of Host Communities. Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin.Google Scholar
Walker, M. C. 2004. Marketing to Seniors. Books Library, Bloomington, Indiana.Google Scholar
Wallace, P. 2000. El seísmo demográfico. Siglo XXI de España, Madrid.Google Scholar
Wang, Y. 2005. An exploratory study of travel constructs in mature tourism. PhD thesis, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina.Google Scholar
Waterhouse, Mundo Social, Aeca, Zontur, Anet, Emer-Gfk and IMSERSO 1997. Incidencia socioeconómica de los programas de vacaciones para mayores y termalismo social del IMSERSO. Instituto de Migraciones y Servicios Sociales, Madrid.Google Scholar
Wilcock, A. 2007. Active ageing: dream or reality? New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54, 1, 15–20.Google Scholar
Wooldridge, J. M. 2006. Introducción a la econometría: un enfoque moderno. Second edition, Thomson Learning, Madrid.Google Scholar
Wu, C. M. E. 2003. An exploratory study of Taiwanese seniors’ travel motivations and travel behavior. PhD thesis, Kansas State University, Manhattan Kansas.Google Scholar
Wu, Y. H. 2010. Acculturation and travel motivation for Chinese-American seniors. Masters thesis, San José State University, San José California.Google Scholar
You, X. and O'Leary, J. T. 1999. Destination behavior of older UK travelers. Tourism Recreation Research, 24, 1, 23–34.Google Scholar
You, X. and O'Leary, J. T. 2000. Age and cohort effects: an examination of older Japanese travelers. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 9, 1/2, 21–42.Google Scholar
Yun, J. 2009. An investigation of the US family reunion travel market: motivations and activities. Masters thesis, Purdue University, West Lafayette Indiana.Google Scholar
Zimmer, Z., Brayley, R. E. and Searle, M. S. 1995. Whether to go and where to go: identification of important influences on seniors’ decisions to travel. Journal of Travel Research, 33, 3, 3–10.Google Scholar