Travel and tourism and the over-50s A report for Saga Travel

Transcription

1 Travel and tourism and the over-50s A report for Saga Travel

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3 3 Contents Foreword by Andrew Strong, chief executive, Saga Travel 4 1. Introduction 5 2. Key findings 6 3. Overview of the over-50s role in travel and tourism 7 4. Over-50s travel flights, cruises and destinations 11 Modes of transport 11 Foreign holiday destinations 13

4 4 Foreword The over-50s play a significant role in supporting the UK s travel and tourism sector, and over-50s households now account for the majority of travel and tourism expenditure in the UK. Over the past decade, growth in holiday spending has been particularly strong among and over-75s households, meaning that these demographics are a significant driver of demand for travel and tourism services. With more people living healthily into old age, we can expect individuals to take more holidays in the UK and overseas in the later years of life. This research shows that the over-50s play a crucial role in supporting the travel and tourism industry in the UK, particularly in certain segments of the industry such as cruises. Here, the over-50s account for the overwhelming majority of passengers. Some 1.1 million cruise passengers last year were aged 55 or over, spending an estimated 1.6 billion in total. Overall, the over-50s are set to make a growing contribution to the UK travel and tourism sector as this demographic grows in size. Holiday providers will increasingly need to tailor and market their services to meet the needs and preferences of this age group. Andrew Strong Chief Executive Saga Travel

5 5 1. Introduction This report examines the importance of the over-50s to the UK s travel and tourism industry, drawing on data from the ONS Family Expenditure Survey, ONS International Passenger Survey and data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). With the UK population ageing and the spending power of the over-50s growing, this demographic is playing an increasing role in supporting the UK s travel and tourism industry. As this report shows, data from the Family Expenditure Survey suggests that over-50s households now account for the majority of travel and tourism spending in the UK. Over the past decade, growth in holiday spending has been particularly strong among and over-75s households, possibly reflecting growth in their spending power as well as the fact that many people are living more healthily into old age, enabling them to continue to enjoy activities such as holidays. This research shows that the over-50s play a crucial role in supporting the travel and tourism industry in the UK, particularly in certain segments of the industry such as cruises. Here, the over-50s account for the overwhelming majority of passengers. On the whole, the over-50s are set to make a growing contribution to the UK travel and tourism sector as this demographic grows in size. The structure of this report is as follows: - Section 2 provides the key findings of the report - Section 3 provides a brief overview of the over-50s role in supporting travel and tourism, drawing on data in the ONS Family Expenditure Survey. - Section 4 examines travel data in the ONS International Passenger Survey and data from the Cruise Lines International Association, to examine travel trends among the over-50s.

6 6 2. Key findings The key findings of the research are as follows: - The over-50s account for a growing share of UK travel and tourism spend - our analysis shows that over-50s households spent 25 billion on travel and tourism in 2012 (the latest year for which we have detailed family spending data). This is up from 14 billion in As a share of total expenditure on travel and tourism, spending by over-50s households rose from 46.3% in 2002 to 54.1% in 2012, meaning the over-50s now account for the majority of travel and tourism expenditure in the UK. - Between 2002 and 2012, travel and tourism expenditure by year old households increased by 68%, while among those aged it increased by 95.3% and for those aged 75 or over it increased by 81.2%. These are all higher than the growth recorded for all UK households (50.9%). - Households aged 75 and over spend a far greater share of their travel and tourism expenditure on domestic holidays than other age groups two fifths (40%) of expenditure on package holidays and accommodation for the over-75 is for UK-based holidays. This compares with less than 25% in younger age groups. - After allowing for inflation, the changes in real terms show - a +28% ( 0.8 billion) increase in spending by under 30s; -4.4% ( 0.8 billion) decrease in spending by year olds; +30.3% ( 3.6 billion) increase in spending by year olds; +51.5% ( 2.3 billion) increase in spending by year olds; and +40.6% ( 0.7 billion) increase in spending by over 75s. This compares with an average real-terms increase of +17% across all households. - The over-55s play a significant role in supporting the UK cruise industry - the average age of cruise passengers in 2013 was 57, up from 53.7 in Some 66% of cruise passengers in the UK were aged 55 or over in 2013, amounting to 1.1 million passengers. - Spain is the most popular foreign holiday travel destination for both the under-55s and over- 55s, while France is the second most popular travel destination for both groups. The USA is the third most popular destination for under-55s, whereas Italy is the third most popular destination for over-55s. - Top 10 foreign holiday travel destinations, in terms of visitor numbers (2013) Under 55s Over 55s 1 Spain Spain 2 France France 3 USA Italy 4 Italy Portugal 5 Portugal Greece 6 Greece USA 7 Netherlands Other countries (inc. cruises) 8 Turkey Turkey 9 Germany Belgium 10 Belgium Germany

7 Billions 7 3. Overview of the over 50s role in travel and tourism The over-50s are making a growing contribution to the UK s travel and tourism sector, as evidenced by the Family Expenditure Survey produced each year by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Cebr has examined data in the ONS Family Expenditure Survey showing how much households spend on: - Package holidays in the UK - Package holidays abroad - Holiday accommodation in the UK - Holiday accommodation abroad - Holiday spending and travel insurance We are able to analyse this spending by age of household reference person, which has enabled us to estimate the over-50s contribution to travel and tourism expenditure in the UK. Our analysis shows that the over-50s spent 25 billion on the spending categories listed above in 2012 (the latest year for which we have detailed family spending data). This is up from 14 billion in 2002, an increase of 76%. As a share of total expenditure on the travel and tourism categories above, over-50s spending rose from 46.3% in 2002 to 54.1% in 2012, meaning the over-50s now account for the majority of travel and tourism expenditure in the UK. This is shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Spending of over-50s households on travel & tourism categories ( billions) and as a share of total UK travel & tourism expenditure 30 60% 25 50% 20 40% 15 30% 10 20% 5 10% %

8 Billions 8 Among the over-50s age bands households aged account for the largest amount of travel and tourism expenditure, at 15.5 billion in This compares with 6.7 billion among households aged and 2.5 billion among those aged 75 or over, as shown in Figure 2 below. Figure 2: Spending of over-50s households on travel and tourism categories ( billions) or over Between 2002 and 2012, travel and tourism expenditure by year old households increased by 68%, while among those aged it increased by 95.3% and for those aged 75 or over it increased by 81.2%. These are all significantly higher than the growth recorded for all UK households (50.9%). This is shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 gives the pound value increase in travel and tourism expenditure between 2002 and 2012; those households aged between years old saw the largest pound value increase in expenditure at 6.3 billion over this time period.

9 Billions 9 Figure 3: % growth in travel and tourism spending, , by age of household reference person 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% -20% Less than or over All households Cash terms Real terms Figure 4: increase in travel and tourism spending, , by age of household reference person, billions Less than and over

10 10 The extent to which travel and tourism expenditure is focused on trips abroad versus the UK is broadly comparable across under-75s households, as shown in Figure 5 below. However, households aged 75 and over spend a far greater share of their travel and tourism expenditure on domestic holidays than other age groups two fifths (40.0%) of expenditure on package holidays and accommodation is, for this group, estimated to be for UK-based holidays. This compares with less than 25% in younger age groups. Figure 5: Spend on UK package holidays and accommodation, as a share of total spend on package holidays and accommodation, by age group (2012) 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 40.0% 24.4% 23.2% 20.9% 20.4% Less than or over Figure 6: Real change in travel & tourism spending, , billions (2012 prices), by household age groups

11 Millions Over-50s travel flights, cruises and destinations In addition to data in the Family Expenditure Survey, we have analysed data on overseas travel by age group; drawing on the ONS International Passenger Survey (IPS), which collects information about passengers entering and leaving the UK. The IPS conducts between 700,000 and 800,000 interviews a year of which over 250,000 are used to produce estimates of overseas travel and tourism. Interviews are carried out at all major airports and sea routes, at Eurostar terminals and on Eurotunnel shuttle trains. The IPS provides detailed information on travel and tourism by age, destination country and mode of transport (e.g. air, sea and tunnel). Modes of transport The 2013 International Passenger Survey shows that older age groups (those aged and 65 & over1) make fewer holiday visits than those aged when the mode of transport is by air, as shown in Figure 7. However, when the mode of transport is by sea, those aged 65 and over make the most amount of visits of all age groups, as shown in Figure 8. Figure : Number of holiday visits (where means of travel is by air), by age group, & over 1 Note that the age breakdowns in the International Passenger Survey differ from those in the Family Expenditure Survey.

12 Thousands 12 Figure 8: Number of holiday visits (where means of travel is by sea), by age group, & over The relatively high usage of sea transport among the over-55s is likely to reflect strong demand for cruise holidays. Research by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) shows that the average age of UK cruise passengers in 2013 was 572; up from 53.7 in 2008, as Figure 10 illustrates. Some 66% of cruise passengers in the UK were aged 55 or over in 2013, amounting to 1.1 million passengers as shown in Figure 10. We estimate that these 1.1 million passengers spent 1.6 billion on cruises in Figure 9: Average age of cruise passengers, CLIA analysis of UK cruise market Source: CLIA 2 ireland_cruise_review_published_march_2014.pdf

13 13 Figure 10: Number of UK cruise passengers aged 55 and over, thousands 1,200 1, ,037 1,089 1, Source: CLIA, Cebr analysis Foreign holiday destinations The International Passenger Survey also provides insights into travel preferences across difference age groups shown in Table 1 below. Spain is the most popular foreign holiday travel destination for both the under-55s and over-55s, and France is the second most popular travel destination for both age groups. The USA is the third most popular destination for the under-55s, whereas Italy is the third most popular destination for over-55s. Table 1: Top 10 foreign holiday travel destinations, by age of passenger, in terms of visitor numbers (2013) Under 55s Over 55s 1 Spain Spain 2 France France 3 USA Italy 4 Italy Portugal 5 Portugal Greece 6 Greece USA 7 Netherlands Other countries (inc. cruises) 8 Turkey Turkey 9 Germany Belgium 10 Belgium Germany

14 14 Disclaimer Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material in this document, neither Centre for Economics and Business Research Ltd nor the report s authors will be liable for any loss or damages incurred through the use of the report. Authorship and acknowledgements This report has been produced by Cebr, an independent economics and business research consultancy established in The study was led by Scott Corfe, Cebr Managing Economist with analytical and research support from Cebr Economist Osman Ismail. The views expressed herein are those of the authors only and are based upon independent research by them. London, June 2014