Some speak of the third age from the age of 55, other than the elderly! In reality not everyone agrees on the beginning of the so-called third age, some start it from the 60s, others move it up to the age of 65, in any case you can still be in good health, in physical form and inclined to tourism.
In Europe, the over 55 represent 25% of the population . Many people in this age group have good purchasing power, despite the crisis and, if they are retired, even a lot of free time; so why not invest it in travel and tourism ?
For some years, tour operators have been aware of this and even the European commission that promotes tourism initiatives for senior citizens, with the aim, among other things, to face the problem of seasonality, stimulate economic growth and encourage 'occupation.
But which elders?
It's vacation time for everyone and the tourist offer, especially in high season, focuses mainly on the needs of the twenty / thirties. The category indicated as "third age" is taken into consideration especially in the low season, a beautiful time to travel, but it is not certain that the entire population of over 55/65 loves to dedicate time to tourism during periods of lower influx.
Life expectancy and general health conditions have increased significantly in recent decades; moreover, the traveling elderly is often a population made up of people with a medium-high cultural level, who love comfort, want to have fun and want to eat well.
Segmenting the tourist offer based on age is not entirely correct ; in many respects, in fact, a sixty year old does not expect anything different from a traveler of fifty or forty years and, above all, does not like to be considered a category, that of the elderly, but an individuality.
Tourism and the third age, advice on natural treatments
Even after the age of 55/65 you can be very dynamic, but pay attention to some factors:
- Hot . It's not good for anyone, but there are some categories of people who suffer the most and, after a certain age, you have to be particularly careful, just like you do with children. If you are traveling in high season, therefore, be careful not to choose areas where temperatures could be excessive or, in any case, avoid going around in the central hours of the day that are notoriously the hottest. Sea yes, therefore, but better if it is early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
- Stress and physical tiredness . The energies are still there, but in old age it is necessary to dose them better. It is therefore advisable to favor comfortable travel solutions and easily accessible facilities.
- Good cooking and sanitary conditions . Eating well is always important and sometimes, when traveling, it's not that simple. Furthermore, it may be advisable to avoid destinations where hygienic-sanitary conditions may not be optimal, especially when there are health problems. In summary, as seniors we return a little children and the precautions to be taken are less the same.
- Socialization . Socializing is good for all ages. Traveling with friends or favoring solutions that include group activities is a way to make tourism more enjoyable.
