Profiling the segments of senior tourists throughout motivation and travel characteristics

Abstract

Interest in tourism market segmentation of seniors has been increasing in recent years as the tourism industry has begun to be aware of their importance for the sector. This is a very heterogeneous group, with greater purchasing power and lifestyle-oriented entertainment and enjoyment of leisure time by performing travel than previous generations. This study strives to contribute towards the hitherto scarce research on segmentation in senior tourism. Specifically, this work aims to determine the existence of various profiles of senior tourism by means of using socio-demographic variables, motivation and characteristics of travel of seniors. For this, two complementary analysis techniques, the nonlinear canonical correlation (OVERALS) and a two-stage cluster analysis, were used. Five market segments were identified according to the behavioural variables analysed that allow marketers to target this group in the most convenient manner and to exploit new market opportunities.

Keywords:

• senior
• tourism
• motivation
• travel characteristics
• VFR
• social tourism

Acknowledgement

This paper is a research line included as a Working Paper of the Cátedra Fundación Ramón Areces de Distribución Comercial (http://catedrafundacionarecesdc.uniovi.es).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.