Tourism experience and quality of life among elderly tourists Hyelin Kim, Eunju Woo * , Muzaffer Uysal Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, United States highlights  The study examines travel behaviors of elderly tourists.  The level of involvement and perceived value increases satisfaction.  Travel experience plays an important role affecting leisure and overall quality of life.  Leisure life satisfaction and overall quality of life are the predictors of revisit intention. article info Article history: Received 8 November 2013 Accepted 4 August 2014 Available online Keywords: Elderly tourist Involvement Perceived value Satisfaction with trip experience Leisure life satisfaction Overall quality of life Revisit intention abstract The main purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between the travel behavior of elderly tourists and overall quality of life. Specifically, the study examines the interrelationships between six main constructs: involvement, perceived value, satisfaction with trip experience, leisure life satisfaction, overall quality of life, and revisit intention. Using a sample drawn from elderly tourists in South Korea, the research model investigates nine hypotheses using a structural equation modeling approach. The results show that all nine of the hypotheses are supported. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Forecasts estimate that the number of people over 65 will more than double, consisting 26% of the world's population by 2050 (Haub, 2011). This means that the percentage of elderly tourists, who already make up a significant segment of the hospitality and tourism market (with their substantial population portion as well as their purchasing power), will increase (Bai, Jang, Cai, & O'Leary, 2001; Lohmann & Danielsson, 2001; Schr€ oder & Widmann, 2007). The size of the elderly tourists has great market potential and economic significance for the hospitality and tourism industry (Bai et al., 2001). The tourism industry has recognized this market po- tential for a number of years, and tourism policy makers as well as industry practitioners have been focusing on developing competi- tive business and marketing strategies to target elderly tourists (Bai et al., 2001; Sedgley, Pritchard, & Morgan, 2011). Accordingly, the scholarly literature has examined elderly tourists and their travel behavior, especially travel-related activ- ities, socio-demographic characteristics, preferences, and tourist motivation (e.g., Anderson & Langmeyer, 1982; Bai et al., 2001; Guinn, 1980; Jang, Bai, Hu, & Wu, 2009; Javalgi, Thomas, & Rao, 1992; Norman, Daniels, McGuire, & Norman, 2001; Shoemaker, 1989). For instance, Hsu, Cai, and Wong (2007) examined elderly tourist motivation from Beijing and Shanghai. Based on a qualita- tive survey and review of motivation theories, the study proposed a conceptual model of tourism motivation for China's elderly tourist. Another example is a study conducted by Shoemaker (1989), who explored the segmentation of the elderly tourist pleasure travel market. The study found that the elderly tourist market is not one large homogenous group but rather that it can be segmented into smaller homogenous groups based on reasons for pleasure travel. In order to understand the elderly's behavior, major psychoso- cial theories such as disengagement theory, activity theory, and gerotranscendence theory have been developed and applied. Cumming and Henry (1961) proposed disengagement theory. They mentioned that since a reduction in activity is a consequence of the aging process, elderly tourists gradually choose to withdraw from * Corresponding author. 342 Wallace Hall (0429), Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061. Tel.: þ1 540 838 5289; fax: þ1 540 231 8313. E-mail addresses: linakim@vt.edu (H. Kim), eunjuw3@vt.edu (E. Woo), samil@vt. edu (M. Uysal). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Tourism Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tourman http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.08.002 0261-5177/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Tourism Management 46 (2015) 465e476