Geography and Regional Future Studies

Geography and Regional Future Studies

Identifying the risks facing seniors in silver tourism

Document Type : Original Research Articles

Author
Zahra Raji
Department of Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.30466/grfs.2026.56513.1151
Abstract
Silver tourism is a significant and rapidly growing branch of tourism that has drawn considerable attention from policymakers, planners and others through the promotion of "tourism for all." This branch specifically emphasizes providing seniors with accessible, safe, and enjoyable travel experiences tailored to their needs and limitations. Achieving safe silver tourism requires the identification of potential risks prior to planning and undertaking trips, allowing for proactive measures to ensure well-being throughout the journey. This study employs a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with 21 experts in aging and tourism. Data were systematically analyzed using thematic analysis supported by ATLAS.ti software. The findings reveal that seniors encounter a diverse range of risks during travel, which can be categorized into physical, psychological, security and legal, infrastructural, and economic risks. To mitigate these challenges, practical and actionable recommendations are proposed to guide planners, policymakers, and organizers in designing safe and optimized travel routes, activities, and services. Suggested strategies include organizing recreational activities with appropriate supervision and scheduling by the Ministry of Sport and Youth, offering specialized travel insurance packages covering accidents, illnesses, and property damage by the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare in coordination with the Central Insurance of Iran. Implementing these measures aims to enhance seniors’ safety, satisfaction, and overall travel experience, fostering sustainable, inclusive, and age-friendly tourism. This study highlights the critical importance of proactive risk assessment and strategic planning in ensuring that older adults can enjoy secure, accessible, and fulfilling travel experiences.
Keywords
Thematic Analysis
Seniors
Silver Tourism
Risk Points
Subjects
Agrawal, S., & Kaur, R. (2024). Perceived safety in daily travel among older adults in Bangalore, India: Challenges and urban solutions. Journal of Transport & Health, 29(1), 101874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2024.101874
Albanesi, H., Changfoot, N., Rice, C., & Stojanovic, L. (2025). Disability identity work among student veterans with service-connected injury. Disability Studies Quarterly, 44(3),  33-45. https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/7780
Asadi, M.-M., Rahimzadeh Torabi, N., & Ahmadkhani, M. (2016). Elderly tourism development strategies using the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach in Yazd Province. Social Tourism Studies, 4(7), 83–104. https://www.itsairanj.ir/article_149427.html
Attarzadeh, M. (2024). Future studies of the necessity of strengthening the sense of security in choosing Ilam province as a tourist destination. Journal of Geography and Regional Future Studies, 2(3), 67-86. : https://doi.org/10.30466/grfs.2024.55366.1062
  Behrens, R. H., Stauffer, W., Boulware, D., & Leder, K. (2016). Challenges and risks of travel in older adults with comorbidities. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 14(4), 301–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.03.005
 Boggild, A. K., Castelli, F., Gautret, P., Grobusch, M. P., Leder, K., Loutan, L., … & Schlagenhauf, P. (2020). Predictors of travel-related illness in older travelers: The ELDEST observational study. Journal of Travel Medicine, 27(5), 53-63. https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taaa063
 Brown, H., & Taylor, P. (2023). Travel participation and mental health benefits for the elderly: A longitudinal study. Ageing & Society, 43(7), 1530–1548. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X22001234
Chen, S. C., & Shoemaker, S. (2014). Age and cohort effects: The American senior tourism market. Annals of Tourism Research, 48(2) , 58–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2014.05.007
  Crooks, V. A., Agarwal, S., & Jutai, J. W. (2020). Social isolation and mental health among older adults during COVID-19: Implications for policy and practice. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 591120. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.591120
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Springer Science & Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7
Elhaki, V., Karegar, G., Keshkar, S., & Ghafoori, F. (2023). Strategies for developing elderly sports tourism in Iran. New Approaches in Sport Management, 11(43). http://ntsmj.issma.ir/article-1-2055-fa.html [In Persian]
Ghalehteimouri, K. J., Shamsoddini, A., Bayramzadeh, N., & Mousavi, M. N. (2023). Identifying the pleasant sounds in the city's public parks environment (Case study: Mellat riverside park, Urmia). Street Art & Urban Creativity(Public Spaces on the East), 9(1), 149–165. https://doi.org/10.25765/sauc.v9i1.690
Goh, C., & Kim, S. (2007). Senior tourism and chance for tourism business players. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Environment Management, 5(19), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.35631/JTHEM.519001
  Hill, D. R., & Ericsson, C. D. (2013). Health risks and physical challenges of international travel in older adults. Journal of Family Practice, 62(9), 450–457.  https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2011.00594.x
Huber, Dominik, Simon Milne, and Kenneth F. Hyde. (2018). "Constraints and facilitators for senior tourism." Tourism management perspectives 27 , 55-67.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.04.003
Jiang, Y., & Yu, G. (2025). Navigating the nexus between senior tourism and healthy aging: A post-neoliberal perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395995188
Kord, A. (2023). Identifying tourism benefits for elderly tourists. The First National Comprehensive Conference on Health Tourism, Tehran. Retrieved from https://civilica.com/doc/2039048 [In Persian]
Kord, A., Koroubi, M., Ghaderi, E., & Yavarigheh, F. (2023). Identifying categories of elderly tourism development: A meta-synthesis method. Social Welfare and Development Planning, 14(57), 171–214. https://doi.org/10.22054/qjsd.2023.69449.2389 [In Persian]
  Kowalski, K., & Nowak, M. (2023). Financial constraints and travel behaviors of older adults: Evidence from Poland. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 35(4), 421–439. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2023.22001090
  Lai, J. H., & Hsu, C. H. (2025). Tourism and elderly well-being: Unpacking silver tourism preferences and constraints. Tourism Review, 80(3), 411–427. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392536674_Tourism_and_Elderly_well-being_Unpacking_Silver_Tourism_Preferences_and_Constraints
  Litwin, H., & Shiovitz-Ezra, S. (2010). Social network type and health-related behaviors: Evidence from a nationally representative sample of older adults. The Gerontologist, 50(6), 738–748. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnq013
Medarić, Z., Gabruč, J., & Sedmak, M. (2016). Social tourism benefits for seniors. Academica Turistica-Tourism and Innovation Journal, 9(2).‏
Mousavi, M., Omidvarfar, S., Hoseinzadeh, R., & Bayramzadeh, N. (2022). Analysis of Spatial Justice in the Distribution of Service Uses in Urban Areas (Case Study: 5 Regions - Urmia). Journal of Geography, Urban and Regional Studies, 11(43), 162- 177. https://sanad.iau.ir/en/Journal/ges/Article/691454?jid=691454 [In Persian] 
Nasiri Hendehkaleh, E., & Mohaqqeqpour, S. Y. (2024). Examining barriers to elderly tourism development (Case study: Qom city). Geography and Planning, 28(87), 401–421. https://doi.org/10.22034/gp.2022.52253.3018  [In Persian]
Nyaupane, G. P., McCabe, J. T., & Andereck, K. L. (2008). Seniors’ travel constraints: Stepwise logistic regression analysis. Tourism Analysis, 13(4), 341–354.
  Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2001). Influences of socioeconomic status, social network, and competence on subjective well-being in later life: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging, 16(2), 187–224. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.16.2.187
Raji, Z. (2025). Domestic tourism accessibility policies. Islamic Parliament Research Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran. https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/report/show/1834434  [In Persian]
Robertson, M. C., & Gillespie, L. D. (2013). Fall prevention in community-dwelling older adults. JAMA, 309(13), 1406–1407. 1406–1407. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.23549586
Robertson, M. C., Devine, S. M., & Scuffham, P. A. (2019). Preventing falls in older people: A systematic review of home safety interventions. Journal of Safety Research, 70, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2019.01.001
Roman, M., Abrham, J., Niedziółka, A., Szczucka, E., Smutka, L., & Prus, P. (2022). Tourist attractiveness of rural areas as a determinant of the implementation of social tourism of disadvantaged groups: Evidence from Poland and the Czech Republic. Agriculture, 12(5), 731. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050731   
Shokri Firouzjah, P., Seidbeigi, S., Aravand, P., & Moghadam Habibzadeh, M. (2024). Evaluation of the realization of the indicators of the elderly-oriented city in the old and inefficient context of Sari city). Journal of Geography and Regional Future Studies, 2(1), 69- 83. https://doi.org/10.30466/grfs.2024.55069.1039
  Smith, L., & Jones, M. (2024). Recreational travel and cognitive well-being in older adults: Mitigating depression and social isolation. Journal of Travel Research, 63(2), 210–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875231101019
United Nations Population Division. (2012). World Population Ageing: 1950–2050 (Medium variant projections). United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
United Nations. (2017). Ageing, older persons and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [Issue brief]. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/08/Ageing-Older-Persons-and-2030-Agenda_Issues-Brief-low-resolution-.pdf
Wartecka-Wazynska, A. (2021). Silver tourism economy in rural areas in Poland: a fad or a permanent element? European Research Studies Journal, 24(3), 729–748. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83491
  Wong, G., Fong, C., & Chan, K. (2021). The impact of social isolation on mental health of older adults during COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 619720. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.619720
World Tourism Organization. (1980). Report on the draft tourism bill of rights and tourist code (CE/14/7). https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/unwtoecd.1980.5.x65q771m602r5h34
Zsarnóczky, M. (2017). The impact of silver tourism on rural areas. Roczniki (Annals), 2016(3).‏ 729-748. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/257502/?v=pdf
Geography and Regional Future Studies
Volume 4, Issue 2 - Serial Number 15
Summer
Summer 2026
Pages 61-76