If your image of older people is that they cluster together in tour groups and dislike venturing off the beaten path, think again.
Wrong. Wrong.
Other myths are that they fear and loathe technology, says Claude Péloquin of UQÀM’s tourism department in a study published this year.
"The 50-year-old (and up) senior (traveler) is much more likely to be highly educated, completely independent, experiencing a sort of personal awakening, living a fast-paced lifestyle, able to enjoy life on their own terms, eager to make choices (and) excited to learn" he said.
For travel agents, hotels, tour operators, airlines, cruise lines, passenger train operators, even aircraft makers, the army of spry boomers expected to flood the travel and tourism industry in the next decade(s), it all means a huge opportunity, but also a challenge, suggests the Montreal Gazette.
The newspaper continues:
Many of the new "seniors" – who loathe that term – will want to do things differently than previous generations. The cliché about 60 being the new 50 – or 40, or whatever – has truth to it. This is, after all, the generation that proudly coined the phrase ‘this ain’t your grandfather’s (fill in the blank),’ denoting just how special and unique they are.
So what are travel and tourism players doing to cater to that segment?
There are new offerings such as cyclo-tourism in Quebec, a wine-touring trip in California – or Ontario – a whale-watching cruise in the Saguenay, a château or cheese-tasting tour in France, or "urban staycations" which take place in a travelers own backyard.
By David Wilkening
