VFR travellers of the future

The purpose of this chapter is to : Highlight the importance of visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel now and in the future; Discuss key demographic trends related to VFR travel and analyse the findings from a study of VFR tourism to two Australian including destinations, including: VFR travellers represent a substanial form of solo-travellers and single-person households are forecast to grow in the future. VFR travel represents a hidden form of travel for children travelling without parents (linked with emerging niche market, the 'grand-traveller'); VFR travelly utilise commercial accomodation, and their usage of this is likely to increase; VFR travel has important social benefits to families; VFR travel will grow as a market segment for older travellers, especially those in the final stages of the family life cycle