The results of the forecast made by the Population, Labor and Household Economy Office of the Statistical Center of Iran show that the Iranian population is tending towards aging. In 1404, 8 out of every 100 people in Iran are aged 65 and over, while in 1395, 6 out of every 100 people in the country were in this age group.
In the tourism industry, this statistic means the expansion of senior tourism or silver tourism (one of the reasons for using the word silver is related to the hair color of this age group). A type of tourism that other countries have also planned for and have been able to earn a lot of income from it. In Iran, however, single-use tourism faces many challenges. The first of them is related to transportation. The deterioration of transportation infrastructure, along with the difficulty of obtaining plane and train tickets as desirable options for the elderly, has created serious problems for silver tourism. The second challenge is the lack of suitable accommodation in many accommodation facilities.
The third problem is the lack of attention to the accessibility of tourist sites and museums. The fourth challenge in this area is the lack of consideration for the tastes of the elderly in many restaurants, along with the lack of attention to the suitability of these places. The fifth problem facing silver tourism is the lack of service centers halfway between two tourist attractions or their inadequacy. The sixth challenge is the lack of consideration for the conditions of this age group for entering the sites, which in some cases discourages them from visiting.
Many of our historical and natural sites are out of reach of the elderly due to non-standard design or environmental conditions, and this issue should be seriously considered when designing travel plans and selecting destinations.
The boom of silver tourism with equipped trains in China
While in Iran, senior tourism is struggling with all kinds of challenges in the areas of transportation, accommodation, and food, other countries have moved towards solutions to improve travel conditions for the elderly. An example of this is China.
The country is launching a network of trains equipped with medical services and facilities suitable for the elderly, which will be fully operational by 2027.
In addition to these trains, China is equipping its hotels and accommodation centers with facilities such as non-slip floors and safe bathrooms for the elderly. The country is also implementing innovations such as silent floors and non-slip toilets to meet the safety and comfort needs of the elderly. In addition, local accommodations in some areas of the country offer services that combine local cultural experiences with health-oriented services, such as traditional Chinese medicine sessions and health management programs.
In Thailand, the “Tourism for All” campaign launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand has designed special routes for elderly and disabled tourists.
Chile has set up a series of training workshops for senior tourism, and the Danes are trying to attract senior tourists with programs such as Ageless Cycling. Spain is also not sitting idle and is encouraging its seniors to travel by offering travel subsidies.
The Greeks have also designed a digital platform called “Silver Guide” with the aim of providing appropriate tourism services and information for people over 55. The Portuguese are also organizing programs to train the tourism sector to provide appropriate services for seniors in order to gain a larger share of the growing senior tourism market.
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