Overseas pleasure travel motivations of older alumnae of a Japanese women's university

Abstract

This study examined overseas pleasure travel motivations of Tsuda College (a women’s university in Tokyo, Japan) older alumnae, whose approximate ages ranged from 55 to 79 years old. Along with tourist motivations, the study also investigated barriers to travel, both of which were analyzed in relation to the data on demographics and overseas trip characteristics of older alumnae. The date were collected through a questionnaire mailed to each of 207 alumnae in May 2002, who were systematically chosen as a sample from the college’s alumnae list. A total of 132 usable responses were returned for a response rate of 63.8%. Results indicated that the older alumnae were most likely to seek “knowledge” for their overseas pleasure trips. While the alumnae overall were highly interested in knowledge on “history and art,” the extent of interest in “lifestyles” varied significantly by age. Those who were 65 years or over were less likely than those 64 or less to seek this type of tourism. Those 70 or over were especially less likely. While the alumnae overall did not perceive most questionnaire items of barriers to travel to be significant, “security concerns” was relatively a greater perceived barriers for them. Especially, it was identified that those who have greater health /physical ability concerns indicated greater security concerns. Also, there were 20 alumnae who reported that they had never taken any overseas pleasure trips. The most significant barriers for those were: commitment to work, other social activities and need to care for family, animals and plants. In addition, it was indicated that the major at college may have a significant impact on the alumnae’s overseas travel. Those who majored in English at college were more likely than those who majored in math to have traveled overseas a number of times. Those who majored in math were more likely than those who majored in English to perceive “language concerns” to be a greater barrier to travel overseas. A review of the related literature suggested that these results should be understood with the alumnae’s ordinary life in mind. These results, together with insights gained from literature, developed possible suggestions for travel managers at the end of the paper.