2 Things Senior Travelers Want

As 70-year-old San Francisco-based Homer prepares for his yearly trip to Manila to meet Philippine-based family members and devour his favorite kare-kare, he joins over 137 million 60 plus travelers worldwide, many of whom journey each year to reconnect with loved ones and rediscover the comforts of home. With seniors now accounting for a significant share of long-haul travel driven by more time, disposable income, and a deep desire to reconnect, senior visiting friends and relatives (VFR) voyagers are now redefining its landscape. According to the latest data from Trevolution Group, the share of VFR travel has surged significantly in recent years, particularly among senior travelers. Since early 2020, the demand has been growing steadily, with a major increase in the 65+ age group, while from 2021 to 2023, this momentum showed over double the increase. Although they usually don’t engage in typical tourist activities and most likely remain in a single location within the destination country, VFR travelers can still be a significant boost to their hometown economy. This type of travel, often labelled as “leisure”, is the most resilient and accounts for up to 48% of global tourists, and the numbers are only growing; only this segment has been underappreciated, and the industry often falls short of meeting the needs of mature globetrotters.  Some call the VFR “a sleeping giant” of the travel industry. For Homer, booking his trips starts with a phone call because, as he says, “things are easier this way.” “I don’t trust screens,” Homer explains. “Back in the day, we didn’t talk to computers — we talked to people. And I insist on keeping it that way.” This pretty much sums up the expectations of 65+ travelers: the simpler, the better. Continue reading here.