A Research on Travel Constraint and Motivatiıons of Third-Age Domestic Tourists

With the rapid aging of the world population and change the socio-demographic and socio-economic structure of the elderly population, third age tourism has gained importance for the tourism industry. Due to the fact that the third age tourism is an important market because of the growth potential, it is necessary to analyse the travel motivations and the constraints of the seniors that prevent them from participating in tourism activities. Tourist motivation is also a set of needs or wishes that direct a person to participate in tourist activities. The most common push factors identified in research on the motivation of the seniors are resting and relaxation, escape, novelty seeking, social interaction, physical exercise, health, nostalgia visit friends and relatives. In pull factors, hygiene and cleanliness, security, climate, cost, ease of transportation, shopping facilities, medical facilities, historical and cultural attractiveness, natural attractiveness are prominent. Motivation is an intrinsic desire that affects the choice of tourism products and services but travel constraints are defined as factors that prevent people from traveling, starting preparations for travel, increasing the frequency of travel or travel. Constraints are divided into three as intrapersonal constraints (stress, depression, anxiety, etc.), interpersonal constraints (e.g. finding a suitable travel partner) and structural constraints (family life cycle stage, financial resources, season, climate, business planning, etc.). The aim of this study is to determine the travel constraints and motivations of the local senior tourists and to determine the relationship between motivation and travel constraints and to examine whether the travel constraints and motivations differ depending on the socio - demographic characteristics. Using factor analyses, four motivations factors named socialization, novelty seeking and physical health, self-development were delineated. Socialization and novelty seeking were identified as the most important travel motivation factor from four extracted factors. It is also found that travel constraints were grouped under three factors as intrapersonal constraints, interpersonal constraints and structural constraints. Interpersonal constraints were seen as the most important constraint in travel constraints. However, it has been also found that perceived travel constraints effect the level of motivation. For the purposes of the study, 394 people were surveyed. The tours to be prepared taking into account the travel constraints and motivations of the third-age tourists can make this age group travel more.