By Lola Augustine Brown
Boomers are “racking up passport stamps like never before,” according to the World Economic Forum’s just released 2017 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report.
While the world economy is in a downturn and some destinations are being hit hard, senior travel is keeping things afloat; the report describes older travellers as a “critical demographic for the global tourism industry.”
One reasons the report cites for the increase in boomer travel is that the Internet has made it easier to plan trips and research far-flung destinations from the comfort of home, which increases consumer confidence. And Internet-savvy boomers are increasingly spending more money when they travel.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Fotolia/Poles.
Not all seniors travel globally, of course, but according to the report, those who have always travelled—and who have the finances to do so—continue to travel well into their 70s. The report recommends that destinations, resorts, and everyone else in the tourism industry look for ways to cater to this growing segment of the population, as it may well be the most lucrative of all.
The report also lists the safest travel destinations in the world. Topping the list are Finland, the United Arab Emirates, and Iceland.
