Elderly vacationers are leaning towards megacities for theirgetaways, opting for educational leisure. Experts from the travel agencyTutu have disclosed the cities senior travelers will be visiting during the upcoming May holidays, along with their preferred modes of transportation. According to VTB, the average spending by retirees before the trip is approximately 26,000 rubles per person.
Elderly Russians will gather for festivities in southern urban areas.
It's interesting to note that there's little distinction in choices between the pre-retirement age bracket (women aged 55-58 and men aged 60-63) and the post-retirement age (women aged 59 and above and men aged 64 and above). Both groups plan on spending the May holidays in the same cities within Russia and abroad.
"Top destination cities senior travelers will be flying to this May include Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kaliningrad, and Mineralnye Vody. When it comes to international routes, travelers have selected Minsk, Baku, Almaty, and Istanbul," says Olga Kotelnikova, head of the marketing analysis department at Tutu travel service. "There's been a significant increase in interest in Kaliningrad and the capital of Belarus, as well as Gorno-Altaisk this year."
"As we approach the holidays, retirees are busy preparing for their trips: there's a surge in demand for travel bookings, hotel reservations, and travel agency services among clients in the older age groups. Moreover, they are purchasing more clothes and shoes and making online shopping purchases prior to their trips. They're ready to spend over 26,000 rubles per person for these pre-trip activities - an increase from last year," says Anna Nesterova, head of the "Senior Generation" department at VTB.
Trains continue to be the favored mode of transportation for senior holidaymakers, with these transportation options connecting them to major cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Adler, and Simferopol.
Travel by bus is less common among senior travelers. For their May holidays, Russians of mature age will primarily travel to domestic destinations such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, and Volgograd. Buses will take them abroad to destinations like Minsk, Warsaw, and Vilnius.
When considering international destinations, megacities like Chongqing in China and Hangzhou, China, appeal to seniors due to their convenient high-speed rail accessibility and tranquil activities that encourage relaxation in nature. Udaipur, India, with its heritage-rich atmosphere, short flights from major cities, and gentleactivities like boat rides, is also popular among seniors. In these cities, tourists often participate in low-intensity walking tours designed especially for retirees. High-speed trains and short-haul flights cater to intercity travel in China and elsewhere, while walking tours offer a more structured exploration experience for seniors. Russian megacities like Moscow or St. Petersburg might attract seniors through river cruises and museum-focused itineraries, although specific details are unverified in the data provided.
- Senior travelers are planning to visit Kaliningrad during the upcoming May holidays, as revealed by Olga Kotelnikova, head of the marketing analysis department at Tutu travel service.
- Despite the increase in interest in Kaliningrad, Minsk and Baku are among the top international destinations chosen by retirees for their May holidays.
- As Anna Nesterova, head of the "Senior Generation" department at VTB, notes, there's an increased demand for travel bookings, hotel reservations, and travel agency services among older clients, with the average spending per person being approximately 26,000 rubles.
- In addition to purchasing clothes and shoes, senior travelers are making online shopping purchases prior to their trips, according to Anna Nesterova from VTB.
- Trains are the preferred mode of transportation for senior holidaymakers, connecting them to major destinations such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Chongqing, which are popular among them for their tranquil activities, convenient high-speed rail accessibility, and low-intensity tours designed specifically for retirees.
