Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-jwnkl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-08T13:02:51.707Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An exploration of the Innovation Theory of Successful Ageing among older tourists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2011

GALIT NIMROD  and
ARIE ROTEM
GALIT NIMROD*
Affiliation:
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
ARIE ROTEM
Affiliation:
Herzlia Interdisciplinary Center, Israel.
*
Address for correspondence:Galit Nimrod, The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Communication Studies, and The Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. E-mail: galit_n@zahav.net.il, gnimrod@bgu.ac.il
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article aims to examine patterns of innovation in older adults' tourism, and to explore whether innovation is associated with the benefits gained from the overall tourism experience. The study was based on a national mail survey of 298 retirees, who travelled abroad at least once in the year prior to the survey. Results indicated that participants' involvement in new experiences during their last travel abroad was quite high. Factor analysis of new experiences data identified two factors: ‘external innovation’, which included experiences that were associated with the external environment visited; and ‘internal innovation’, which consisted of experiences that were associated with some intrapersonal processes. Cluster analysis conducted on the new experiences' factors identified three groups of older tourists: non-innovators, external innovators and absolute innovators. These groups were differentiated in terms of travel patterns and destination activities. In addition, the absolute innovators reported a significantly higher level of agreement with various benefits statements than the other groups. Examining the findings through the lenses of the Innovation Theory of Successful Ageing helps to explain older adults' tourism experiences. Moreover, since the findings imply that experiencing ‘internal innovation’, rather than ‘external innovation’, amplified their overall tourism experience, this article suggests a new principle to the theory, which should be tested in future research.

Keywords

ageinginnovation theoryleisuretraveldestination activitiesbenefits gained
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 32 , Issue 3 , April 2012 , pp. 379 - 404
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahdut, L. and Gera, R. 2008. Work and retirement among people aged 50 and over in Israel. Bitahon Sociali [Social Security], 76, 43–72. Available online at http://www.btl.gov.il/Publications/Social_Security/Bitahon76/Documents/chap040.pdf [Accessed 7 January 2009]. (In Hebrew)Google Scholar
Atchley, R. 1993. Continuity theory and the evolution of activity in later adulthood. In Kelly, J. R. (ed), Activity and aging: Staying involved in later life. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA, 5–16.Google Scholar
Atchley, R. 1999. Continuity and Adaptation in Aging. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.Google Scholar
Bai, B., Jang, S., Cai, L. and O'Leary, J. 2001. Determinants of travel mode choice of senior travelers to the United States. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 83, 4, 147–68.Google Scholar
Baltes, M. M. and Carstensen, L. L. 1999. Social-psychological theories and their applications to aging: from individual to collective. In Bengston, V. L. and Schaie, K. W. (eds), Handbook of Theories of Aging. Springer, New York, 209–26.Google Scholar
Baltes, P. B. and Baltes, M. M. 1990. Successful Aging: Perspectives from the Behavioral Sciences. Cambridge University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Bello, D. C. and Etzel, M. J. 1985. The role of novelty in the pleasure travel experience. Journal of Travel Research, 24, 1, 20–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blazey, M. A. 1992. Travel and retirement status. Annals of Tourism Research, 19, 4, 771–83.Google Scholar
Bowe, F. 1988. Why seniors don't use technology. Technology Review, August/September, 35–40.Google Scholar
Brey, E. T. and Lehto, X. Y. 2007. The relationship between daily and vacation activities. Annals of Tourism Research, 34, 1, 160–80.Google Scholar
Burnett, J. and Bender Baker, H. 2001. Assessing the travel-related behaviors of the mobility-disabled consumer. Journal of Travel Research, 40, 1, 4–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carr, N. 2002. The tourism–leisure behavioral continuum. Annals of Tourism Research, 29, 4, 972–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, E. 1972. Toward a sociology of international tourism. Social Research, 39, 1, 164–89.Google Scholar
Cohen, E. 1979. A phenomenology of tourist types. Sociology, 13, 179–201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crompton, J. 1979. Motivations of pleasure vacations. Annals of Tourism Research, 6, 4, 408–24.Google Scholar
Dann, G. M. S. 1977. Anomie, ego-enhancement and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 4, 4, 184–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dann, G. M. S. 1981. Tourist motivation – an appraisal. Annals of Tourism Research, 8, 2, 187–219.Google Scholar
Dann, G. M. S. 2001. Senior tourism and quality of life. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 9, 1/2, 5–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duggleby, W., Bateman, J. and Singer, S. 2002. The aging experience of well elderly women: initial results. Nursing & Health Sciences, 4, 3, 10.Google Scholar
Duke, J., Leventhal, H., Brownlee, S. and Leventhal, E. A. 2002. Giving up and replacing activities in response to illness. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57B, 3, 367–76.Google Scholar
Farana, W. and Schmidt, S. 1999. Segmentation and the senior traveler: implications for today's and tomorrow's aging consumer. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 8, 1, 3–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fernandez-Ballesteros, R., Zamarron, M. and Ruiz, M. 2001. The contribution of socio-demographic and psychosocial factors to life satisfaction. Ageing & Society, 21, 1, 25–43.Google Scholar
Fleischer, A. and Pizam, A. 2002. Tourism constraints among Israeli seniors. Annals of Tourism Research, 29, 1, 106–23.Google Scholar
Freund, A. M. and Baltes, P. B. 2002. Life-management strategies of selection, optimization and compensation: measurement by self-report and construct validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 642–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Georggi, N. and Pendyala, R. 1999. Analysis of long-distance travel behavior of the elderly and low income. Paper presented at the Conference on Personal Travel, 28 June–1 July, Washington DC.Google Scholar
Gibson, H. 2002. Busy travelers: leisure-travel patterns and meanings in later life. World Leisure, 44, 2, 11–20.Google Scholar
Gibson, H. and Yiannakis, A. 2002. Tourist roles: needs and the life course. Annals of Tourism Research, 29, 2, 358–83.Google Scholar
Gilly, M. C. and Zeithaml, V. 1985. The elderly consumer and adoption of technologies. Journal of Consumer Research, 12, 4, 353–7.Google Scholar
Havighurst, R. J. 1963. Successful aging. In Williams, R., Tibbitts, C. and Donahue, W. (eds), Process of Aging. Atherton, New York, 299–320.Google Scholar
Hossain, A., Bailey, G. and Lubulwa, M. 2003. Characteristics and travel patterns of older Australians: impact of population ageing on tourism. Paper presented at the International Conference on Population Ageing and Health, 8–12 December, Canberra.Google Scholar
Iso-Ahola, S. E., Jackson, E. and Dunn, E. 1994. Starting, ceasing and replacing leisure activities over the life-span. Journal of Leisure Research, 26, 3, 227–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, E. 1993. Recognizing patterns of leisure constraints: results from alternative analyses. Journal of Leisure Research, 25, 2, 129–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Janke, M. A., Davey, A. and Kleiber, D. A. 2006. Modeling change in older adults' leisure activities. Leisure Sciences, 28, 3, 285–303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Janke, M. C., Nimrod, G. and Kleiber, D. A. 2008. Leisure activity and depressive symptoms of widowed and married women in later life. Journal of Leisure Research, 40, 2, 250–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelly, J. R. 1978. Leisure styles and choices in three environments. Pacific Sociological Review, 21, 2, 313–23.Google Scholar
Kelly, J. R. 1987. Peoria Winter, Styles and Resources in Later Life. Lexington Books, Lexington, Massachusetts.Google Scholar
Kelly, J. R. 1993. Activity and Aging: Staying Involved in Later Life. Sage, Newbury Park, California.Google Scholar
Kerstetter, D. and Pennington-Gray, L. 1999. Decision-making roles adopted by university-educated women who travel for pleasure. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 6, 3, 23–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kleiber, D. A. 1999. Leisure Experience and Human Development. Basic Books, New York.Google Scholar
Lash, S. and Urry, J. 1994. Economies of Signs and Spaces. Sage, London.Google Scholar
Lee, T. and Crompton, J. 1992. Measuring novelty seeking in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 19, 732–51.Google Scholar
Lefrancois, R., Leclerc, G. and Poulin, N. 1998. Predictors of activity involvement among older adults. Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 22, 1, 15–29.Google Scholar
Leventhal, R. C. 1997. Ageing consumers and their effects on the marketplace. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 14, 4, 276–81.Google Scholar
Liechty, T. and Yarnal, C. M. 2009. Leisure activity innovation: an exploration of innovation theory among retirement-aged women. Paper presented at the NRPA Leisure Research Symposium, 13–16 October, Salt Lake City, Utah.Google Scholar
Long, J. 1987. Continuity as a basis for change: leisure and male retirement. Leisure Studies, 6, 1, 55–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGuire, F. A. 1984. A factor analytic study of leisure constrains in advanced adulthood. Leisure Sciences, 6, 3, 313–26.Google Scholar
McKenna, K., Broome, K. and Liddle, J. 2007. What older people do: time use and exploring the link between role participation and life satisfaction in people aged 65 years and over. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 54, 4, 273–84.Google Scholar
Milman, A. 1998. The impact of tourism and travel experience on seniors' psychological well-being. Journal of Travel Research, 37, 2, 166–70.Google Scholar
Munt, I. 1994. The ‘other’ postmodern tourism: culture, travel and the new middle class. Theory, Culture and Society, 11, 101–23.Google Scholar
Nimrod, G. 2007 a. Retirees' leisure: activities, benefits, and their contribution to life satisfaction. Leisure Studies, 26, 1, 65–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nimrod, G. 2007 b. Expanding, reducing, concentrating and diffusing: post retirement leisure behavior and life satisfaction. Leisure Sciences, 29, 1, 91–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nimrod, G. 2008 a. In support of innovation theory: innovation in activity patterns and life satisfaction among recently retired individuals. Ageing & Society, 28, 831–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nimrod, G. 2008 b. Retirement and tourism: themes in retirees narratives. Annals of Tourism Research, 35, 4, 859–78.Google Scholar
Nimrod, G. and Hutchinson, S. 2010. Innovation in leisure among older adults with chronic health conditions. Journal of Leisure Research, 41, 1, 1–24.Google Scholar
Nimrod, G. and Kleiber, D. A. 2007. Reconsidering change and continuity in later life: toward an innovation theory of successful aging. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 65, 1, 1–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Norris, J. and Wall, G. 1994. Gender and tourism. Progress in tourism, recreation, and hospitality management. Annals of Tourism Research, 6, 1, 57–78.Google Scholar
Parnes, H. S., Crowley, J. E., Haurin, R. J., Less, L. J., Morgan, W. R., Mott, F. L. and Nestel, G. 1985. Retirement Among American Men. Lexington Books, Lexington, Massachusetts.Google Scholar
Patterson, I. 2006. Growing Older: Tourism and Leisure Behaviour of Older Adults. CABI, Wallingford, UK and Cambridge, Massachusetts.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pennington-Gray, L. and Lane, C. 2001. Profiling the silent generation. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 9, 1/2, 73–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peterson, M. 2007. Effects of income, assets and age on the vacationing behavior of US consumers. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 13, 1, 29–43.Google Scholar
Roberson, D. 2001. The impact of travel on older adults: an exploratory investigation. Tourism, 49, 2, 99–108.Google Scholar
Rosenkoetter, M. M., Garris, J. M. and Engdahl, R. A. 2001. Postretirement use of time: implications for pre-retirement planning and postretirement management. Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 25, 3/4, 1–18.Google Scholar
Ryan, C. 1994. Leisure and tourism: the application of leisure concepts to tourist behavior – a proposed model. In Seaton, A. (ed.), Tourism, the State of Art. Wiley, Chichester, UK, 294–307.Google Scholar
Schiffman, L. G. and Sherman, E. 1991. Value orientation of new-age elderly: the coming of an ageless market. Journal of Business Research, 22, 2, 187–94.Google Scholar
Schröder, A. and Widmann, T. 2007. Demographic change and its impact on the travel industry: oldies – nothing but goldies? In Conrady, R. and Buck, M. (eds), Trends and Issues in Global Tourism 2007. Springer, Berlin, 3–17.Google Scholar
Sellick, M. 2004. Discovery, connection, nostalgia: key travel motives within the senior market. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 17, 1, 55–71.Google Scholar
Shaw, G. and Williams, A. M. 1994. Critical Issues in Tourism: A Geographical Perspective. Blackwell, Oxford.Google Scholar
Shoemaker, S. 2000. Segmenting the mature market: 10 years later. Journal of Travel Research, 39, 1, 11–26.Google Scholar
Silverstein, M. and Parker, M. G. 2002. Leisure activities and quality of life among the oldest old in Sweden. Research on Aging, 24, 5, 528–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snepenger, D. J. 1987. Segmenting the vacation market by novelty-seeking role. Journal of Travel Research, 26, 2, 8–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Son, J. S., Kerstetter, D. L. and Mowen, A. J. 2007. The influence of age, gender and constraint negotiation factors on leisure-time physical activity in later life: It may depend on the outcomes. Paper presented at the Leisure Research Symposium, National Recreation and Park Association, September, Indianapolis, IN.Google Scholar
Stanley, D. and Freysinger, V. J. 1995. The impact of age, health, and sex on the frequency of older adults' leisure activity participation: A longitudinal study. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 19, 3, 31–42.Google Scholar
Strain, L. A., Grabusic, C. C., Searle, M. S. and Dunn, N. J. 2002. Continuing and ceasing leisure activities in later life: a longitudinal study. Gerontologist, 42, 2, 217–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Szmigin, I. and Carrigan, M. 2001. Leisure and tourism services and the older innovator. The Service Industrial Journal, 21, 3, 113–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, D. and Butts, F. 1998. Assessing leisure motivations and satisfaction of international Elderhostel participants. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 7, 1, 31–8.Google Scholar
Thornton, P. 1995. Tourist behavior in holiday: a time-space approach. PhD dissertation, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.Google Scholar
Utz, R. L., Carr, D., Neese, R. and Wortman, C. B. 2002. The effect of widowhood on older adults' social participation: an evaluation of activity, disengagement, and continuity theories. The Gerontologist, 42, 4, 522–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weiss, R. 2005. The Experience of Retirement. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.Google Scholar
White, N. and White, P. 2004. Travel as transition: identity and place. Annals of Tourism Research, 29, 2, 358–83.Google Scholar
You, X. and O'Leary, J. 2000. Age and cohort effects: an examination of older Japanese travelers. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 9, 1/2, 21–42.Google Scholar
Zimmer, Z., Brayley, R. and Searle, M. 1995. Whether to go and where to go: identification of important influences on seniors' decisions to travel. Journal of Travel Research, 33, 3, 3–10.Google Scholar