Abstract
The travel planning process comprises all the steps that occur from the perception of a travel need to the post-consumption phase. During this process, older tourists take several decisions which are interrelated and evolve over time. Core travel decisions are usually planned in advance and concern elements such as destination choice, length of the trip, type of travel organization, and travel companions. This chapter explores older tourists’ travel planning behavior by investigating some crucial determinants of core travel decisions. Specifically, internal determinants include travel needs and motivations, and travel constraints, while external determinants include information sources and pull attributes of the destination.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Thalassotherapy is a type of thermal tourism and consists in the use of the special features of the marine environment for protective and treatment purposes.
- 2.
Accommodation choices, which are included among core decisions, are not presented in this chapter because they will be addressed in detail in Chap. 5.
References
Alén E, Nicolau JL, Losada N, Domínguez T (2014) Determinant factors of senior tourists’ length of stay. Ann Tour Res 49:19–32. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2014.08.002
Alén E, Losada N, de Carlos P (2015) Profiling the segments of senior tourists throughout motivation and travel characteristics. Curr Issues Tour. doi:10.1080/13683500.2015.1007927
Alén E, Losada N, Domínguez T (2016) The impact of ageing on the tourism industry: an approach to the senior tourist profile. Soc Indic Res 127:303–322. doi:10.1007/s11205-015-0966-x
Anderson BB, Langmeyer L (1982) The under-50 and over-50 travelers: a profile of similarities and differences. J Travel Res 20:20–24. doi:10.1177/004728758202000405
Bai B, Smith W, Cai LA et al (1999) Senior sensitive segments: looking at travel behavior. Pract Grad Res Hosp Tour 75–89
Batra A (2009) Senior pleasure tourists: examination of their demography, travel experience, and travel behavior upon visiting the Bangkok metropolis. Int J Hosp Tour Adm 10:197–212. doi:10.1080/15256480903088105
Blazey MA (1992) Travel and retirement status. Ann Tour Res 19:771–783. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(92)90066-X
Boksberger P, Laesser C (2008) Segmenting the senior travel market by means of travel motivation—insights from a mature market—Switzerland. CAUTHE Council of Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education. Griffith University, Gold Coast, pp 1–13
Boksberger PE, Laesser C (2009) Segmentation of the senior travel market by the means of travel motivations. J Vacat Mark 15:311–322. doi:10.1177/1356766709335829
Brunetti F, Testa F, Ugolini M (2005) Il cliente nell’agenzia viaggi. Sinergie Ital J Manag 66:181–211
Capella LM, Greco AJ (1987) Information sources of elderly for vacation decisions. Ann Tour Res 14:148–151. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(87)90058-2
Chen SC, Shoemaker S (2014) Age and cohort effects: the American senior tourism market. Ann Tour Res 48:58–75. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2014.05.007
Choi S, Lehto XY, Morrison AM, Jang S (2012) Structure of travel planning processes and information use patterns. J Travel Res 51(1):26–40. doi:10.1177/0047287510394191
Cleaver M, Muller TE, Ruys HFM, Wei S (1999) Tourism product development for the senior market, based on travel motive research. Tour Recreat Res 24(1):5–11. doi:10.1080/02508281.1999.11014852
Crompton JL (1979) Motivations for pleasure vacation. Ann Tour Res 6:408–424. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(79)90004-5
Dann GMS (1981) Tourist motivation an appraisal. Ann Tour Res 8:187–219. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(81)90082-7
Erfurt-Cooper P, Cooper M (2009) Health and wellness tourism: spas and hot springs. Channel View Publications, Bristol
Fesenmaier DR, Jeng JM (2000) Assessing structure in the pleasure trip planning process. Tour Anal 5(1):13–27
Fleischer A, Pizam A (2002) Tourism constraints among Israeli seniors. Ann Tour Res 29:106–123. doi:10.1016/S0160-7383(01)00026-3
Fodness D (1994) Measuring tourist motivation. Ann Tour Res 21:555–581. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(94)90120-1
Freire NA (2013) How to manage French thermalism specificities? Int Bus Res 6:29–39
Gao J, Kerstetter DL (2016) Using an intersectionality perspective to uncover older Chinese female’s perceived travel constraints and negotiation strategies. Tour Manag 57:128–138. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2016.06.001
Gladwell N, Bedini LA (2004) In search of lost leisure: the impact of caregiving on leisure travel. Tour Manag 25:685–693. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2003.09.003
González AM, Rodríguez C, Miranda MR, Cervantes M (2009) Cognitive age as a criterion explaining senior tourists’ motivations. Int J Cult Tour Hosp Res 3:148–164. doi:10.1108/17506180910962159
Guinn R (1980) Elderly recreational vehicle tourists: motivations for leisure. J Travel Res 19:9–12. doi:10.1177/004728758001900102
Gursoy D, McCleary KW (2004) An integrative model of tourists’ information search behavior. Ann Tour Res 31:353–373. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2003.12.004
Gursoy D, Umbreit WT (2004) Tourist information search behavior: cross-cultural comparison of European union member states. Int J Hosp Manag 23:55–70
Hall CM, Lew AA (2009) Understanding and managing tourism impacts: an integrated approach. Routledge, London
Horneman L, Carter RW, Wei S, Ruys H (2002) Profiling the senior traveler: an Australian perspective. J Travel Res 41:23–37. doi:10.1177/004728750204100104
Horner S, Swarbrooke J (1996) Marketing tourism, hospitality and leisure in Europe. International Thomson Business Press, London
Horner S, Swarbrooke J (2016) Consumer behaviour in tourism. Routledge, London
Hsu CHC, Cai LA, Wong KKF (2007) A model of senior tourism motivations-Anecdotes from Beijing and Shanghai. Tour Manag 28:1262–1273. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2006.09.015
Huang L, Tsai HT (2003) The study of senior traveler behavior in Taiwan. Tour Manag 24:561–574. doi:10.1016/S0261-5177(03)00008-6
Hung K, Bai X, Lu J (2015) Understanding travel constraints among the elderly in Hong Kong: a comparative study of the elderly living in private and in public housing. J Travel Tour Mark 33:1051–1070. doi:10.1080/10548408.2015.1084975
Hunter-Jones P, Blackburn A (2007) Understanding the relationship between holiday taking and self-assessed health: an exploratory study of senior tourism. Int J Consum Stud 31:190–195. doi:10.1111/j.1470-6431.2009.00842.x
Hyde KF (2008) Information processing and touring planning theory. Ann Tour Res 35:712–731. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2008.05.001
Jang S, Cai LA (2002) Travel motivations and destination choice: a study of British outbound market. J Travel Tour Mark 13:111–133. doi: 10.1080/10548400209511570
Jang S, Wu CME (2006) Seniors’ travel motivation and the influential factors: an examination of Taiwanese seniors. Tour Manag 27:306–316. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2004.11.006
Jang S, Bai B, Hu C, Wu C-ME (2009) Affect, travel motivation, and travel intention: a senior market. J Hosp Tour Res 33:51–73. doi:10.1177/1096348008329666
Javalgi RG, Thomas EG, Rao SR (1992) Consumer behavior in the U.S. pleasure travel marketplace: an analysis of senior and nonsenior travelers. J Travel Res 31:14–19. doi:10.1177/004728759203100203
Jeng J, Fesenmaier DR (2002) Conceptualizing the travel decision-making hierarchy: a review of recent developments. Tour Anal 7:15–32. doi:10.3727/108354202108749925
Johann M, Padma P (2016) Benchmarking holiday experience: the case of senior tourists. Benchmarking An Int J 23:1860–1875. doi: 10.1108/BIJ-04-2015-0038
Kazeminia A, Del Chiappa G, Jafari J (2015) Seniors’ travel constraints and their coping strategies. J Travel Res 54:80–93. doi:10.1177/0047287513506290
Kim J, Wei S, Ruys H (2003) Segmenting the market of West Australian senior tourists using an artificial neural network. Tour Manag 24:25–34. doi:10.1016/S0261-5177(02)00050-X
Kurtulmuşoğlu FB, Esiyok B (2016) Motivations and destination selection of mature international thalassotherapy tourists. Curr Issues Tour 1–19. doi:10.1080/13683500.2016.1170109
Le Serre D, Chevalier C (2012) Marketing travel services to senior consumers. J Consum Mark 29(4):262–270. doi:10.1108/07363761211237335
Lee C-F, King B (2016) Determinants of attractiveness for a seniors-friendly destination: a hierarchical approach. Curr Issues Tour 1–20. doi:10.1080/13683500.2016.1250725
Lee SH, Tideswell C (2005) Understanding attitudes towards leisure travel and the constraints faced by senior Koreans. J Vacat Mark 11:249–263. doi:10.1177/1356766705055716
Lindqvist LJ, Björk P (2000) Perceived safety as an important quality dimension among senior tourists. In: Tourism economics. pp 151–158
Littrell MA, Paige RC, Song K (2004) Senior travellers: tourism activities and shopping behaviours. J Vacat Mark 10:348–362. doi:10.1177/135676670401000406
Losada N, Alén E, Domínguez T, Nicolau JL (2016) Travel frequency of seniors tourists. Tour Manag 53:88–95. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2015.09.013
Lu J, Hung K, Wang L, Schuett M, Hu L (2016) Do perceptions of time affect outbound-travel motivations and intention? An investigation among Chinese seniors. Tour Manag 53:1–12. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2015.09.003
Mannell RC, Iso-Ahola SE (1987) Psychological nature of leisure and tourism experience. Ann Tour Res 14:314–331. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(87)90105-8
Mathieson A, Wall G (1982) Tourism, economic, physical and social impacts. Longman, London
McGuire FA (1984) A factor analytic study of leisure constraints in advanced adulthood. doi:10.1080/01490408409513038
McGuire FA, Uysal M, McDonald C (1988) Attracting the older traveller. Tour Manag 9:161–164. doi:10.1016/0261-5177(88)90027-1
Moal-Ulvoas G, Taylor VA (2014) The spiritual benefits of travel for senior tourists. J Consum Behav 13:453–462. doi:10.1002/cb.1495
Moutinho L (1987) Consumer-behavior in tourism. Eur J Mark 21:1–44. doi:10.1108/EUM0000000004718
Musa G, Sim OF (2010) Travel behaviour: a study of older Malaysians. Curr Issues Tour 13:177–192. doi:10.1080/13683500902854104
Norman WC, Daniels MJ, McGuire F, Norman CA (2001) Whither the mature market. J Hosp Leis Mark 8:113–130. doi:10.1300/J150v08n03_08
Nyaupane GP, McCabe JT, Andereck KL (2008) Seniors’ travel constraints: stepwise logistic regression analysis. Tour Anal 13:341–354
Patterson I (2006) Growing older: tourism and leisure behaviour of older adults. Cabi, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK—Cambridge, MA
Patterson I (2007) Information sources used by older adults for decision making about tourist and travel destinations. Int J Consum Stud 31:528–533. doi:10.1111/j.1470-6431.2007.00609.x
Prayag G (2012) Senior travelers’ motivations and future behavioral intentions: the case of nice. J Travel Tour Mark 29:665–681. doi:10.1080/10548408.2012.720153
Romsa G, Blenman M (1989) Vacation patterns of the elderly German. Ann Tour Res 16:178–188. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(89)90066-2
Ross GF (2005) Senior tourists sociability and travel preparation. Tour Rev 60:6–15. doi:10.1108/eb058451
Sangpikul A (2008a) A factor-cluster analysis of tourist motivations: a case of US senior travelers. Tourism 56:23–40
Sangpikul A (2008b) Travel motivations of Japanese senior travellers to Thailand. Int J Tour Res 10:81–94. doi:10.1002/jtr.643
Scheibe S, Carstensen LL (2010) Emotional aging: recent findings and future trends. J Gerontol Psychol Sci 65B:135–144. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbp132
Sellick MC (2004) Discovery, connection, nostalgia. J Travel Tour Mark 17:55–71. doi:10.1300/J073v17n01_04
Shoemaker S (1989) Segmentation of the senior pleasure travel market. J Travel Res 27:14–21
Shoemaker S (2000) Segmenting the mature market: 10 years later. J Travel Res 39:11–26. doi:10.1177/004728750003900103
Sie L, Patterson I, Pegg S (2015) Towards an understanding of older adult educational tourism through the development of a three-phase integrated framework. Curr Issues Tour 3500:1–37. doi:10.1080/13683500.2015.1021303
Smith M, Puczkó L (2014) Health, tourism and hospitality: wellness, spas and medical travel. Routledge, London
Sund KJ, Boksberger PE (2007) Senior and non-senior traveller behaviour: some exploratory evidence from the holiday rental sector in Switzerland. Tour Rev 62:21–26. doi:10.1108/16605370780000317
Tiago MTPMB, de Almeida Couto JP, Tiago FGB, Dias Faria SMC (2016) Baby boomers turning grey: European profiles. Tour Manag 54:13–22. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2015.10.017
Tung VWS, Ritchie JRB (2011) Investigating the memorable experiences of the senior travel market: an examination of the reminiscence bump. J Travel Tour Mark 28:331–343. doi: 10.1080/10548408.2011.563168
Um S, Crompton JL (1990) Attitude determinants in tourism destination choice. Ann Tour Res 17:432–448
Wang KC, Ma AP, Hsu MT et al (2013) Seniors’ perceptions of service features on outbound group package tours. J Bus Res 66:1021–1027. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.12.026
Ward A (2014) Segmenting the senior tourism market in Ireland based on travel motivations. J Vacat Mark 20:1356766714525775. doi:10.1177/1356766714525775
You X, O’Leary JT (1999) Destination behaviour of older UK travellers. Tour Recreat Res 24:23–34. doi:10.1080/02508281.1999.11014854
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Vigolo, V. (2017). Older Tourists’ Travel Planning Behavior. In: Older Tourist Behavior and Marketing Tools. Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47735-0_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47735-0_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47734-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47735-0
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)