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Australia
Tourism : baby boomers are seeking new locations and experiences
Mis en ligne le 28/01/2008
Forget Paris and London, baby boomers these days are more likely to be cruising on the Danube, exploring the markets in Morocco or dining out on local cuisine in a top Canadian restaurant. These are just some of the different locations and experiences baby boomers are seeking, according to Australian travel experts.
Lorraine Sharp, Insight Vacations managing director, says the company has experienced a huge surge in bookings to eastern Canada in the over-50s market. "Eastern Canada is rich in history with a vibrant culture, which is ultimately what baby boomers are looking for", she says. "Baby boomers are discovering the best way to experience a region is by escorted tours." This includes travelling in smaller groups, individual attention, indulging in first-class accommodation and cuisine and allowing them to travel in comfort. Paul Wiseman, managing director of Trafalgar, says eastern Europe is also one of the hot destinations, because of the increased ease of visiting and growing awareness of the region's culture and rich history. "The popularity of river cruising through eastern Europe is increasing visitation to countries such as Hungary, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, which until now have been relatively unexplored", he says. "Where in the past the baby boomer market was seeking to travel overseas every three to five years, feedback from travel agents indicates that this is increasing in frequency to annual holidays or even multiple trips per year", Wiseman says. India is another popular destination with this market. Andrew Yell, from Creative Holidays, says baby boomers, who had visited India years before, are going back to experience it in style. Vietnam, Thailand, Morocco, Spain and Portugal are also ideal travel hot spots. Dennis Bunnik from Bunnik Tours says Vietnam and Thailand are very popular with the boomer market because they are easily accessed from Australia and offer a wide range of scenic and cultural experiences different from life in Australia. "Thailand also offers fantastic food and shopping. For the boomer market the country's tourism infrastructure in terms of roads, coaches and hotels are excellent.'' Vietnam and Thailand have grown in popularity over the past few years with the boomer market, mainly those who have previously been to other parts of Asia. Bunnik says tourism infrastructure in Vietnam is not as well-developed as in Thailand but is improving. "Both countries are home to the most friendly and welcoming people in all of Asia - you'll be greeted with a smile wherever you go." (The Courier Mail, 10/11/2007 : "Bliss for boomers")
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