With senior-friendly packages on offer and an empty nest syndrome to beat, Indian boomer travellers or ‘seenagers’ are making the most of their free time and disposable income. Here are some of the biggest boomer travel trends:
Senior-friendly group travel is a hit
Travel companies are introducing curated group packages that keep health and dietary concerns in mind. “We do all the leg work for them, be it visa or other documentation. We also organise meet-ups prior to the trip to ensure that they get along well,” says Shefali Jain Mishra, who runs a travel agency in Gurugram.
“When my wife and I started travelling, we thought we may not get along with our fellow travellers. But to our surprise not only did we get along but we also get together once every month now,” said Sanjiv Chatrath, a former MNC employee from Noida.
“There is no age to travel but it is important that you have somebody to help you. Someone who can do the leg work and plan out everything so that you can have fun and not worry about micromanaging everything,” says Dr. Anjila Gugnani, a former professor from Delhi.
Local, and more personalised experiences in demand
“Many bucket lists feature wildlife safari or UNESCO World Heritage sites or meeting a rare tribe to meet to explore their culture,” says Sangita Bhattacharya, who runs a travel and adventure club for the 50+ age group in Bengaluru.
Water sports for the win
Since water sports for the 50+ age group are not permitted in most Indian sites, destinations like Maldives, Mauritius and Bali have become the most sought-after holiday spots. “Boomer travellers love adventure options like jet skiing, parasailing, scuba diving and also deep-sea walking,” shares the spokesperson of a Karnataka travel agency.
Yes to slow itineraries and no to long-hauls
Backpacking trips with early morning starts and day-long sightseeing is not something that interests the boomers. “We cannot exert ourselves even if we want to. I always prefer spaced-out travel itineraries, this way we can make the most of one place rather than hopping on all the places,” says Kartik Dhulia.
Cruising along is the new mantra
Due to restricted mobility or health concerns, this age group prefers cruise vacations with premium spa facilities, live music and safe water sports. “The day I realise that I can’t walk anymore, I decided I’ll only go for comfortable cruise vacations where one can explore the coastal cities,” said Rupali Sinha, an HR in her late 50s from Hyderabad.
I only started travelling after I retired and got the financial stability to spend on leisure travel. When I lost my husband, I told myself that I needed to get out of the gloom,” said Rupa Roy, a retired assistant teacher from Noida.
Why are ‘seenagers’ travelling more
- Revenge travel
- More financial resources at the disposal
- More personal time, with children out of the nest
- To escape loneliness and monotony
Most sought-after activities and adventure sports
– Whale-cage diving in South Africa
– Scuba diving in Maldives and Jordan
– Parasailing and Deep-Sea Walking in Bali
– Hiking to Tiger Nest, Bhutan
– White Water rafting in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Bhutan
– Floating in the Dead Sea in Jordan
– Hot Air Balloon in Kenya
– Sky Diving in Mauritius
– Wildlife safari
– Cruise
– Snorkelling
– Heritage site seeing
– Light hiking
– Sundowners
Most ‘senior-travel-friendly’ places
In India: Rajasthan and Kerala
Overseas: Eastern Europe, South Africa and Bali