Skip to main content

Older tourists but with lower average expenditure



Over 1.2 billion nights were spent in vacation time all over the world in 2014 by older tourists aged 65 or older living in the European Union. This accounted for 20% of the tourism activity in 2015 by EU residents (Finchannel.com, 3 October 2016). Hence vacations still attract older tourists but with lower average expenditure.

Although they accounted for 20% of the tourism activity their share in tourism expenditure was lower at 16% of all tourism expenditure. On average a tourist aged 65 or older spent €52.60 per day in 2014, which is €12.70 less than the average tourist.

The proportion of people, aged 65 or older, in terms of tourism nights was highest for residents of Fance and Cyprus, who accounted for about 25% of all tourism nights in 2014, as well as the Czech Republic, Greece, and Sweden (all at 24%), followed by Ireland and Portugal (both 23%). The least proportion of tourism nights for people aged 65 or older were by residents of Malta (9% of all tourism nights), Bulgaria, Latvia and Slovenia (all 10%) and Estonia (11%).

In general, older tourists prefer domestic holidays, which accounted for about 66% of their tourism nights, which is more than all other tourists (at 59%). Those favouring domestic holidays most were residents of Spain (94%) and Greece (92%), followed by those in the Czech Republic and Romania (both 89%), and Italy and Portugal (both 88%). However, residents of Luxembourg (99%), Belgium (91%) and Malta (82%) went abroad in 2014.
In EU Member States, tourists aged 65 or older who spent the most were residents from Luxembourg (€120.80 per day) and Austria (€106.90 per day), followed by Malta (€93.70 per day), Belgium (€89.50 per day), Ireland (€88.00 per day) and Denmark (€85.10 per day). Residents of the Czech Republic spent less (at €13.70 per day), followed by Romania (€13.80, Greece (€18.00), Lithuania (€19.10) and Hungary (€19.20).
For all EU Member States, except Belgium, the average expenditure per night by people aged 65 or older was lower than the overall average of other age groups. However, tourist expenditure is dependant upon the duration of the holidays, and by the proportion of holidays spent in second homes or during off-peak seasons, hence the expenditure figures are only a guide.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...
Post a Comment
Read more

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...
1 comment
Read more

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...
2 comments
Read more