Modern-day seniors in the coach and group tourism sectors

The Day of Coach Tourism has been providing the coach tourism sector with valuable impulses and compelling ideas for well over 25 years now. The 28th Day of Coach Tourism will be held on 11th January 2010 in Essen, Germany. Essen and the surrounding Ruhr area have been nominated European Capital of Culture 2010. The official opening of the European Capital of Culture 2010 year takes place on 9th January 2010.

The 28th Day of Coach Tourism will be opened by RDA President Richard Eberhardt and will kick-off the new tourism year once again with a splendid opportunity to discuss current industry trends, to catch up with RDA colleagues, to establish new business contacts and to enjoy a lively Get-Together networking event on the evening prior to the one-day conference.

The topic that will be explored and discussed by a panel of renowned industry experts is: “Modern-day seniors in the coach and group tourism sectors”. German coach holidaymakers are primarily older persons and tend to be members of largely middle-income groups, have a high single and widowed component. Over 70 per cent travel to destinations mainly within Europe when travelling abroad. Seniors are not only the most important clientele for coach holidays – around 17 million holidaymakers between 40 to 59 years, and 13 million over 60 years in 2008 (FUR Reiseanalyse) – but are a growing market segment which offers excellent potential – especially in the second holiday, city-breaks and short-trips segments. The seniors’ market is a market which should not be neglected – especially in the light of current demographic trends and developments in Europe, Germany in particular.

Topics which will be discussed include:

• Today’s seniors and tomorrow’s seniors have different travel biographies and leisure activities.
• Tomorrow’s seniors are experienced independent travellers, mostly speak English, are discerning spenders, are attracted by the holiday experiences offered and not necessarily by a particular destination.
• Traditional coach holidays attract only a small part of this target group. The so-called “Silver Generation” or “Over 60s” feel much younger today than they actually are – up to ten years younger. They do, however, expect offers which respect their interests and abilities.
• The challenge for coach holiday operators is to carefully modernise traditional offers for current senior clients while creating new and “untypical” offers for the new Younger Seniors’ generation.
• The importance of seniors’ clubs and associations, charitable and voluntary organisations for group travel planning, distribution and sales.
• The effects of demographic change on management and staffing in coach holiday companies – is know-how being lost? How can younger management and staff be attracted to our industry?
• Seniors’ demands and future requirements in terms of tour planning, tour coaching, hotel services, restaurants, health and nutrition, facilities at visitor attractions and tour guiding content and approaches.

Plenty of food for though for our industry as it sets out to battle its way through difficult economic conditions, financial uncertainty and rising costs. Current demographic developments offer considerable challenges, indeed, but also a whole host of exciting opportunities for those willing to invest in new marketing-, product-, programming-, distribution- and sales strategies.

The 28th Day of Coach Tourism hopes to make a pro-active contribution to meeting the challenges of demographic change, especially in the tourism sector, by providing useful insights and concrete proposals for future planning, design and delivery of coach tourism offers. It will also draw on the knowledge, experience and expertise of representatives from seniors’ organisations, politics and market research. Your contribution and ideas are also most welcome in advance of the conference. Please contact RDA CEO Dieter Gauf if you would like to be involved.

Dieter Gauf has been responsible for the conception and organisation of the "Day of Coach Tourism" since 28 years. Participation is gratis and for trade members only.

Date:    Monday, 11th January 2010.

Place:    Essen, Germany

Information and Registration:

Dieter Gauf, Grafenmühlenweg 63, 51069 Cologne, Germany
Phone:    +49 221 9127720 and +49 221 6201221
E-mail:    dieter.gauf @gauf-germany .de