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ABSTRACT
Our world is growing older at its fastest rate in history. This explosion in the ageing population has become increasingly attractive to the global tourism industry. Little attention has been paid to the impact of travel experiences on the health of senior tourists. This study explores the travel preferences of seniors and the health benefits that tourism can play. This study used a qualitative methodology interviewing 20 senior adults living in the UK aged between 55 and 80 years. The results identified two major themes relating to preferences in regard to time and travelling companions, and travelling for health purposes. Travel was found to have a positive influence on seniors and helped to contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Ian Patterson
Ian Patterson, Ph.D. is Visiting Professor and Head of Department at the Silk Road International University of Tourism in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. His research interests include senior tourism, social-psychology of tourism; tourism management; tourism development; therapeutic recreation; health psychology; and qualitative analysis. He has published work in a large number of journals including Journal of Population Ageing, Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Leisure Studies, Current Issues in Tourism, Tourism Analysis, Journal of Leisure Research, Event Management, Annals of Leisure Research, International Journal of Hospitality Management, Journal of Convention & Event Tourism, Leisure Sciences, and the Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing.
Adela Balderas-Cejudo
Adela Balderas-Cejudo, Ph.D., is a Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, UK. Professor at Deusto Business School and Director of a Master’s Programme and Bachelor’s Degree in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts at Basque Culinary Center, University of Mondragon, Spain. Her research interests include senior tourism, gastronomy tourism, tourism management and leadership. She has published work in journals including Journal of Population Ageing, Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management and International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science.
Shane Pegg
Shane Pegg, Ph.D. is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Business at the University of Queensland, Australia having retired from his full-time academic position at the end of 2020. He has a long-standing research interest in the co-production of accessible tourism and leisure service experiences. He has published in a wide range of journals including the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Current Issues in Tourism, Tourism Analysis, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, International Journal of Hospitality Management, Journal of Hospitality, Marketing and Management, Leisure Studies, Annals of Leisure Research, and the World Leisure Journal.