Dhaka: A recent survey indicates that interest in travel is increasing among elderly people aged above 50, and the increase is around five percent year-on-year. The survey was conducted by AARP from November 8, 2024 to December 2, 2024.

The survey found that the average number of trips (3.6) the respondents predicted was lower than the average number of trips they actually took (3.9) in 2024 as fear of inflation decreased. But cost is still the most significant obstacle to travel, while family obligations, weather, and health are among others.

About seventy-five percent of the senior citizens, who require physical assistance and accommodations during travel, marked mobility as the biggest obstacle, and another AARP report suggests “special ticketing lines, more access to wheelchairs, and special TSA screening lines” at airports could improve the situation.

The previous remark from the AARP report also reflects another indication from the survey that preference for air travel decreases with age. About fifty percent of the 70-plus age segment preferred their personal vehicle for traveling, and forty-two percent preferred air travel. Though travelers in the 50-69 age segment still prefer air travel.

Forty-four percent of the respondents said they planned to travel to both domestic and international destinations. European destinations like Italy, Great Britain, and Spain were the first priority for international travel, and Latin America and the Caribbean destinations came second. Florida, California, Las Vegas, New York, Texas, and Arizona were the preferred destinations within the US.

A large part of the respondents said visiting family and friends motivated them the most to travel, while escaping daily routines for relaxation was the other major motivation, and regardless of the motivation, traveling helped around ninety percent of the senior citizens to improve physical and mental health.

AARP, a US-based non-profit interest group that concerns itself with the priorities of senior citizens, had conducted this survey in the US on 2970 adults aged 18-plus who had taken at least one trip in the last two years.