The Real Question
If:
- 70% of older adults are planning travel,
- they already drive the majority of travel spending,
- disability rates increase significantly with age,
- and 20% of our population is about to be over the age of 65…
Is your destination, business, or strategy ready for 2030?
When one older adult needs accessibility, it rarely affects one booking. It affects grandparents, kids, siblings, cousins — entire reunion itineraries.
2030 isn’t coming quietly: it’s arriving with three generations in tow.
Learn more about this important demographic below in the Accessibility Playbook Excerpt.
Accessibility Playbook Excerpt: Ageing into Disability
More than half of U.S. spending on travel comes from the 50-plus community, yet many destinations are unsure on how to meet their evolving needs. In 2023, the annual leisure travel spend among adults over 50 was $236 billion.
The average 50+ traveler anticipates spending about $6,847 in 2025. Source: AARP Research.
As of 2020, 55.8 million individuals in the United States were ages 65 and older; close to 17 percent of the U.S. population. This age group is projected to grow to over 20 percent by 2030. (U.S. Census).
Many older Americans have a disability and many more will acquire disabilities in the future as they age. Among adults 50-plus, 25 percent indicate having a disability. For adults aged 65 and older, this percentage increases to 35 percent. While many adults over the age of 50 need accommodations for a disability or health condition, aging travelers often don’t identify as disabled. Half of adults 50-plus say their difficulty began within the last 5 years, so these challenges are not something they have gotten used to. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many may be traveling for
Behavioral Shifts Among Aging
55% Say their conditions have resulted in making changes to the way they travel, such as:
- Travel more by car (48%)
- Take shorter trips (49%)
- Travel to a single location/destination (39%)
- Limited mobility accommodations (10%)
- 45% say their conditions have resulted in less travel
- Book activities before arrival (26%)
- 2 in 3 (66%) have made changes to the destinations they choose to go to
- Less walking (19%)
- Closer destinations (13%)
- Choosing more often to stay with friends or family (38%) or in hotels (43%).
Aging Travelers Want to Travel More
Older adults are increasingly motivated to travel to reconnect with loved ones, relax, and recharge. If accessibility accommodations were put into place, half of non-travelers say they would be interested in future travel. Among non-travelers, the most difficult aspects of travel are activities at the destination (46%) and transportation to and from the destination (39%).
- 95% believe travel is good for mental health
- 85% believe travel is a benefit for physical health
“Yes, our knees hurt from hiking, we get pains here and there, but we have also enjoyed massages in many different countries, along with red light therapy, reiki and more. We don’t believe that old age equates with poor health.” – Jack and Elaine from Seniors with Latitude.
Travel Trends
- Top Domestic Destinations: The South (38%) and West (31%) remain the most visited regions, with hotspots including Florida, California, and Las Vegas.
- Top International Destinations: Europe (42%) and Latin America/ Caribbean (33%) lead in popularity, especially Italy, Great Britain, and Mexico.
- Health as a Travel Driver: Many aging travelers are motivated by the mental and physical health benefits of travel. Destinations can position travel as a form of wellness, not just a luxury.
- Biggest Barrier: Cost is the leading obstacle to travel—more so than personal health concerns or the health of a loved one.
Check back next month for tips on welcoming the aging traveler! To learn more about the Accessibility Playbook, visit https://travelability.net/accessibility-playbook/.
Learn more about TravelAbility’s Vision 2030 here.
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