We award a badge of recognition to companies that adhere to the ten elements of age-friendly travel, including anti-ageism, staff understanding of aging, sensory needs, inclusivity, and others. Ageless Tourism consults with tourism boards, hotels, and tour operators on what it means to be age-aware. Ageless Tourism has proven the significant economic and social opportunities created by mature travel and published a State of the Industry Report.

New Value Creation: The interconnectedness of the travel, health, and personal finance sectors offers strategic insights for creating new and powerful value for businesses. We are proud that our Podcast, The Ageless Traveler, won the Solo Travel JourneyWoman Award in 2024 and was nominated by the Silver European Eco Conference for thwarting loneliness through travel.

Here are just some of the personal benefits we derive from travel and the economic benefits that 60+ travel brings, as identified by both Ageless Tourism and the Global Coalition on Aging and the Transamerica Institute

Elements of Healthy Ageing Through Travel:

• Physical, Cognitive, and Social Enrichment for Older Adults:  Culturally enriching activities during travel, such as museum visits and exploring historical landmarks, have been linked to reduced mortality risk and a lower risk of Alzheimer's.
• Combating Loneliness and Social Isolation: Travel, especially group travel, is an effective way to address loneliness and social isolation, which are pressing challenges of aging. It fosters connection and shared experiences, improving overall vitality and well-being.
• Fostering Intergenerational Connections: Travel across generations creates meaningful opportunities for connection and understanding, strengthening family bonds, promoting emotional well-being, and creating lasting memories for all age groups.
• Building Communities and Strengthening Ties: Traveling with others, both within and across generations, builds community and offers social benefits that are particularly important as people age. Group tours, for instance, help older travelers build long-term relationships.
• Redefining Aging: Promoting travel for healthy aging helps redefine aging as a time of activity, health, and social and economic engagement rather than a state of disability and dependence.
• Promoting Purpose and Sense of Place: Purposeful travel, such as for environmental conservation or cultural immersion, can foster a sense of place and purpose, cornerstones of healthy aging.
• Mutual Cultural Exchange and Solidarity: Travel should encourage meaningful, intergenerational interaction, enabling older persons, both as travelers and as members of communities, to engage in mutual cultural exchange and solidarity, contributing to the well-being of both individuals and communities.

 Key Economic Opportunities:

• Untapped Market of Older Adults: The age 60+ demographic represents the fastest-growing segment of the global population. Luxury travel is driven by individuals aged sixty and older.
• Business Growth for the Travel Industry: By recognizing older adults as a target market, the travel sector (including airlines, hotels, resorts, etc.) can experience significant business growth. Tailoring offerings to this demographic and emphasizing the health benefits of travel can drive increased demand and improve bottom lines.
• Increased Spending and Economic Growth: As older adults seek travel experiences and recognize their health benefits; they are likely to spend more on these enriching activities.
• Health System Benefits: If travel and tourism can improve health status and prevent or delay costly medical interventions, it can contribute to more sustainable health systems and economies. Keeping people active and engaged across the life course through travel can have positive fiscal implications.
• Employee Benefits and Productivity: Incorporating travel-friendly policies into the workplace can lead to higher employee satisfaction, stronger team connections, and improved attraction and retention of top talent, boosting productivity.

CALL TO ACTION! What You Can Do to Promote Better Travel for 60+ Travelers

#1. When you write trip reviews on TripAdvisor or any other platform, praise age friendly services and call out ageism when you see it.

#2. Read about Ageless Tourism on its website and get an understanding of our mission and how it impacts you as a traveler!

#3. Ask hotels and tour operators if they are aware of the Ageless Tourism Recognition program. Send them to the website to discover how they can enroll in the program.

#4. Use the companies that have qualified for a Age Friendly Recognition badge. The badges are posted on their brochures, and other materials.