Love Boat Generation Sets Sail

More and more retirees are using their after-work years to travel.  The generation that watched the Love Boat is now setting sail, visiting their wish list destinations and staying healthy and active while doing so.  Travelling retirees are as common as the mobile phone they talk on.  They’re walking the Great Wall of China, visiting the pyramids of Egypt, and soaking up the sun on the beaches of St. Barths.

 The 50 plus travel crowd is a $192 billion dollar industry.  This year, 23 million older, “mature” travelers are expected to leave home and go global.  These folks, along with the 53 million baby boomers who are traveling, comprise a mega group of travelers worthy of attention. 

So, where they going and what are are they doing?

Travel experts say they are taking different vacations than their parents did.  Forget those bus tours, cruises and trips to the local beach.  This generation of disposable income travelers mix off-the-beaten-path destinations like Kauai and Sayulita with more glamorous ones like Carmel, Belize, Prague, Paris and St. Marteen.

What do these destinations tell us? 

That retired travelers want adventure, excitement and elegance in their travelling itineraries.  They want to go to places their parents only read about in the newspaper.  They want to hike, bike, snorkel, surf, ski and swim-and go out for a five-star dinner after.  Thus, they want places such as Anguilla, Oahu, Telluride, Whistler, Santa Fe and Costa Rica.

So, if you’re a young man or woman on vacation in Park City and out for a leisurely ski on the mountain, don’t be surprised to see a retired traveler twice your age blowing past you!

Viscape CFO, Tore Steen hitting the slopes in Park City

Event note:  Viscape University to host Travel Writer meet-up next Wednesday, September 3^rd at 9 PM EST.  Just RSVP to lnathan@viscape.com to attend.