Travel trends are changing and senior travellers are a growing and lucrative market segment. According to the recently published 'Future Travel Tribes 2020' report for the Air Travel Industry compiled by Henley Centre Headlight Vision in partnership with Amadeus, "there will be an unprecedented number of older people travelling" in the year ahead.
"By 2020, the world population aged 65 and above will have trebled from its present number to 700-million people; one in four Japanese, one in five German, French and British citizens, and one in six Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders will be aged 65 or over," claims the report.
Senior travel trends
These so called 'Active Seniors' are expected to have more disposable income and spend longer on their holidays than their younger counterparts. The report goes on to suggest "the physical needs of this group will undoubtedly provide a unique set of challenges for travel providers, as will their demand for a greater understanding of personal health needs by service providers."
Booking.com, a world leader in travel and research, has its finger on the pulse of global travel trends and its latest report also lists retirement travel as a top trend to watch out for in 2020.
Special visas for seniors
Indonesia's diversity and rich cultural heritage present enormous opportunities for both travellers and investors to tap into this growing market, which is why the country's travel industry is urging the government to establish a special visa regime allowing senior travelers extended stays beyond the current 30-day Visa on Arrival system, according to TTG Asia.
Hariyadi Sukamdani, Chairman of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) hopes such a move would provide the backbone for the development of retirement resorts within the country and Bali is high on the list of preferred destinations.
Quality vs. Quantity
Developing retirement destinations and resorts in Bali and across Indonesia is not a new idea. Hariyanna Ashadi, Managing Director of Marintur Indonesia and Head of the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies, believes this never gained real traction in the past because of the country's limiting visa free policy according to TTG Asia's reporting.
Senior tourists are generally considered to be 'premium travelers' and the initiative to offer them a special visa scheme is in tune with President Jokowi's recent calls to attract quality over quantity in developing the country's tourism industry.
Bali is an ideal retirement investment
On a related topic, Gapura Bali reported earlier this year the Bali Administration was taking positive steps towards upgrading and unlocking the potential of wellness and medical tourism in Bali, including opportunities in senior health care.
Andrzej Barski from Harcourts Seven Stones has been researching trends and opportunities around Bali's potential to develop a world-class retirement tourism sector for a number of years. "There are some wonderful investment opportunities here, especially in developing communities associated with professional healthcare facilities," he told WILLIAMS MEDIA. "Let's not forget there's also a growing market within Indonesia's own domestic seniors looking for places to enjoy their 'golden years'. A place like Bali has a great deal to offer for both domestic and overseas markets and opening up visa restrictions will certainly be a positive move forward."
Sources: TTG Asia, Henley Centre Headlight Vision and Amadeus, Gapura Bali, Booking.com
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