Active seniors tourism: A bibliometric analysis in the past decade and future research agendas

Recognizing the importance of the active senior cohort (between the ages of 50 to 77) in tourism, this study systematically reviewed senior tourism research from 2013 to 2023 from Australian Business Deans Council-listed journals to identify key researchers contributing to the senior tourism discipline and trends to propose a future research agenda. The research revealed that the active senior demographic is a diverse group with different lifestyles, cultural backgrounds, health statuses, and financial resources, emphasizing that age alone is insufficient to provide a comprehensive understanding of senior tourism. The study also highlights emerging areas in senior tourism, such as artificial intelligence and social media, aligning with broader themes of innovation and dynamic capabilities that are associated with quality of life, leisure, and constraints. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing research and interdisciplinary collaboration for a nuanced understanding of the needs of active senior travelers. Key findings underscore the evolving research themes in senior tourism, emphasizing the importance of designing tourism products and destinations that cater to active senior tourists’ specific needs and preferences. These outcomes are critical for enhancing the active senior tourism industry and ensuring fulfilling travel experiences for this growing demographic.