Senior Tourism in Malaysia - The Downstream Economy Catalyst

There is much more to senior tourism than healthcare, wellness and medical tourism. Senior tourists also travel to see and experience new cultures, enjoy different climates and savour new culinaries. They may have some different needs and wants, as well as having different characteristics from normal tourists. With more disposable time and affordability, they can opt to stay for longer periods of time at a place to take in more of what local life offers. The average inbound tourist length of stay in Malaysia in 2019 was 7.4 nights. A senior tourist may choose to stay for up to 3 months (depending on their respective visa-free allowance). This is one area Malaysia can look into along the lines of the digital nomad visa. Not every visitor is looking for emigration, so the MM2H may not be relevant in most cases. A 6-month or 12-month 'senior visa' could be seriously considered. This additionally, is useful too for medical tourism and senior living facilities so that they can offer extended recuperative stays and long-stay retreats. With longer stays, the needs will be more domesticated and regular. This in turn benefits the local businesses directly, more effective for the downstream economy than by a typical tourist who may only be able to patronise more touristy options.

2 Types Of Senior Tourist The Young At Heart & The Old At Heart. https://www.checkfront.com/blog/senior-tourism-trends/ Some needs and characteristics of the senior tourist are listed below. They will differ between cultures and backgrounds, so this is a general summary: Longer stay duration. To absorb more experiences. Access to good healthcare & medical facilities, linked to personal insurance provider. Safety and security assurances. Mid and long term residential housing if hotel is not preferred. Walkable access to daily amenities and services such as groceries, food, hair trim, post office, bank, etc. Concierge & butler services if required. Culturally specific cooking ingredients & groceries where relevant (Example: by ethnicity) Language translators or local tour guides. Access to reliable local transportation network. Wheelchair-Friendly access where required. Industry Spin Offs • Senior Hotel • Senior-Friendly Tours • Mid-Long Term Property Rental (Residential where legally allowed) • Retirement Village Short Term Rental • Senior Home Stays • Additional Medical/Other Insurance • Senior Concierge/Butler Services • Senior Companionship Support Groups (This article is actively edited with improvements and is purely of the writer's view and opinion. The scope is so much larger globally and will differ between areas.) Coming soon: How Senior Tourism can catalyse a part of Malaysia's property market. - end-