DOI: 10.5176/2251-3426_THoR15.14
Authors: Hickman. M, Inkster. A, Fitzgerald, L., Gammon, S., Passenger, N. and Miles, B.
Abstract: Aim: Currently there in excess of 10 million people in the United Kingdom aged over 65 with this figure predicted to rise to 19 million by 2050. Comparative figures are a useful illustration of this global trend: in the USA, it is anticipated that the over 65s will increase from just under 70 million at present to 80 million by 2050; by the same date, in Hong Kong the figure will be 40{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} of the population; in Singapore the figure could be almost 27{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}; and in Australia it is estimated that the over 65s will account for 25{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} of the population by mid-century. Some believe that this will usher in a period when, for several decades’, governments will have to focus on steeply rising costs associated the negative aspects of population ageing. However, this narrative can be misleading. Statistical and wide socio-economic descriptions are only one way to communicate information, and this often fails to account for individual experiences. Thus ‘voice’ and personal story should be an essential document of ageing. However, few come forward to tell their tales believing their experiences to be ‘normal’ and as such their testimonies are often under-represented. This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of rock climbers from the north of England and Montana in the western USA, and sea kayakers from Scotland. A total of 21 people aged over 65 were interviewed and the results analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Our preliminary findings suggest that older adults with a lifelong commitment to adventure are using their experiences of ‘serious leisure’ as a focus for ‘savouring’ the ageing process, and re-casting it as being both positive and meaningful. This suggests that more research on the perspectives of baby boomers should be undertaken which might assist adventure tour providers in understanding the needs and expectations of this niche group and in marketing provision accordingly.
Keywords: adventure tourism (80), baby boomer (70), thor singapore december (63), interpretative phenomenological analysis (63), older adult (60), central lancashire (40), narrative gerontology (40)
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