Tourism as a Means of Happiness and Subjective Well-Being for Senior Travelers

A number of studies have investigated the impact of tourism experiences on health and well-being; however, very little is known about the underlying psychological factors and the mechanisms involved. Several researchers have suggested that happiness and tourism activities are strongly linked, but relatively little research has looked at potential connections between tourism and happiness, subjective well-being (SWB) and quality of life, especially for older travelers in an ageing world. Psychologically, tourism provides the greatest benefits for older travelers, as tourism provides the means by which many older adults are able to seek happiness and positive feelings related to their well-being and quality of life. This is because it helps improve mood while creating a positive outlook, feelings of well-being, and cheerfulness for older tourists. This conceptual paper focuses on how travel contributes to older tourists’ feelings of happiness and well-being. The findings will provide a deeper understanding of the potential relationship between tourism and mental health, to determine if tourism can positively affect people’s lives and make them feel happy.