Unlocking Potential for Senior Tourism in Indonesia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Changing global tourism trends are opening up new opportunities for Indonesia to develop age-based and special interest tourism markets. The Indonesian Tourism Intellectuals Association (ICPI) expressed belief that senior tourism, or geronto-tourism, can be a long-term strategy to improve the quality and economic value of national tourism.

ICPI Chairman Azril Azhari said that Indonesian tourism development has been too focused on young and healthy tourists, while the elderly, with high purchasing power, have not been optimally explored.

"So, tourism is for everyone, not just healthy people. Tourism should be inclusive. Seniors have enormous needs, preferences, and economic potential, but it has not been a primary focus of policy," Azril said in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, as quoted by Antara.

According to him, senior tourism is not just about recreation, but also about meaningful, comfortable experiences that support a quality of life. Indonesia has strong assets through its rich culture, history, and natural resources that can provide personalized experiences for senior tourists.

Azril highlighted the Netherlands and Japan as two key potential markets. Senior tourists from both countries are known to tend to travel longer and spend more money for quality retirement experiences.

"This long-term stay significantly increases foreign exchange earnings, far more significantly than short-term mass tourism," he said.

According to the ICPI study, Japanese seniors are interested in creative activities such as painting and handicrafts, as well as light recreational activities like golf in natural areas. Indonesia is considered capable of offering ideal sea and mountain landscapes, although it still faces limitations in infrastructure and senior-friendly accommodations.

Meanwhile, Dutch tourists tend to be interested in historical and wellness tourism. The Indonesian spice route can be packaged as a tourism narrative that combines stories of the past, health benefits, and authentic cultural experiences.

Furthermore, emotional attachment is a major draw. Many senior Dutch tourists want to trace their ancestors' footsteps, visit historic cities, and even search for the graves of family members who once lived in Indonesia.

"They seek personal experiences that cannot be found in other countries. This is Indonesia's unique advantage," Azril said.

However, the development of senior tourism is considered inseparable from the readiness of healthcare services. ICPI encourages the presence of supporting medical facilities and gerontology doctors at tourist destinations to ensure the comfort and safety of tourists.

He highlighted that in health tourism, the Indonesian government has only begun developing the medical tourism, recovery tourism, and wellness tourism sectors. This is despite the current tourism paradigm shifting toward customized tourism or personal-based tourism.

"Wellness tourism isn't just about spas. Healthy eating, herbal remedies, and lifestyle are also part of it. So far, this is still often misunderstood," he concluded. ***