7The Differences Between Participants and Non-participants in a Senior Travel Program

The study investigated travel interests, constraints to travel, and other relevant char-acteristics regarding persons 55 or older. The results identify significant demographic differences between travelers and non-travelers as well as differing constraintsfor travelers and non-travelers. Population statistics indicate that older North Americans represent a potentially large share of the travel market. According to the Statistical Abstract for the United States (1985), persons age 55 and older made up 21.2 % of the population. This group of people possesses a relatively large share of all discretionary dollars because their investments in home and family have been made and their children no longer depend on them (Anderson and Langmeyer 1982). Rela-tively little investigation has been conducted on the barriers which may prevent older people from realizing travel as a leisure experience. The investigation reported here was undertaken to identify travel interests, constraints to travel and other characteristics found in a sample population of persons age 55 and older. An important aspect of the analysis was the identification of constraints which affect those persons who may wish to participate but are prevented from doing so. Similarly, the data provided information on negative experi-ences which deter participants from continuing their partici-pation. Finally, the existence of differences between the participant and non-participant groups was determined. In order for travel-related service providers to address the needs of older persons, it is necessary to achieve a greater under-standing of constraints to travel and the basic differences between travelers and non-travelers. Specific constraints to participating in leisure by older adults were first addressed in 1955 when Baley published the landmark article &dquo;Recreation and the Aging.&dquo; Since then, and particularly within the past five years, published research on the subject of barriers or constraints to leisure participation has increased dramatically. Researchers (see, for example