Chinese tourists won’t let old age get in the way of their travels

A REPORT in Forbes pointed out that a large number of elderly tourists have flooded the market, and age-appropriate services are necessary.

“The Chinese society has begun to get older,” Zhang said. “More leading travel service providers should be introducing tailored services for seniors.”

Wolfgang Georg Arlt, founder of The China Outbound Research Tourism Institute (COTRI), reported that the average life expectancy in China has risen to 76 from 43 in 1960, and the number of Chinese citizens aged 60 and above has surpassed the 200 million mark.

This demographic is now being targeted by Chinese tour operators and online travel agencies as a lucrative new market for outbound tourism.

The number of Chinese senior tourists has been growing in recent years by 50 percent and more per annum, and Chinese surveys report that 70 percent of over-60s regard tourism as an important way to improve and enrich their retirement.

The report added that cruises are a favored way of traveling for seniors since they allow participants to enjoy the atmosphere, scenery and food without the need to rush around and changing rooms frequently.

In fact, China is Asia’s largest share of the cruise market, making up almost half of the total passenger count, or 986,000 passengers.

In related news, two Chinese retirees recently made news for successfully embarking on an American road trip across a 19-day, 4,850-mile journey.

Despite communication breakdowns and adjustments to the American infrastructure, the couple soldiered on, proving that age was no barrier to a great adventure.

Chen Aiwu, 64, and her husband, Wang Dongsheng, 66, were hailed as hometown heroes upon their return.

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Source: travelwireasia.com