New Report Finds Travel Is a Vital Part of Living Longer and Healthier

Wellness travel has long championed the idea that travelers can heal their mind, body, and spirit through travel. Now, a new report is taking that concept even further—calling for all travel, not just wellness-focused trips, to be recognized as an essential part of healthy aging.

Today, the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) and Transamerica Institute released Leveraging Travel as a Catalyst for Healthy Longevity, a report on the “transformative role of travel in fostering longer, healthier lives.”

According to the report, “Travel benefits health at any age, contributes to healthier living, supports sustainable workforces, increases economic growth, and combats ageism.”

The report reveals key takeaways and conclusions from an expert roundtable the two organizations hosted in September 2024. Here are a few:

Research shows that travel is beneficial for one’s health. According to the report, “Regular travel has been shown to reduce mortality risk by 36.6% and lower Alzheimer’s risk by up to 47% through culturally enriching activities like museum visits, attending live music performances, and exploring historical landmarks.”

Despite the well-documented benefits, the report argues that travel is “unrecognized” in conversations about healthy aging.

The GCOA and Transamerica report recommends that travel be incorporated into public health strategies and economic development plans.

“It’s time to reposition travel as an essential part of healthy aging and economic growth, rather than just a recreational activity,” said Michael Hodin, CEO of GCOA.

“The travel sector, like healthcare and financial services, should be booming as the world’s population aged 50 and older grows. Yet, despite their spending power and increasing recognition of travel’s health benefits, older adults are often overlooked as a market opportunity,” Hodin added.

Ultimately, the findings pointed toward the need to promote and maximize the full potential of travel for healthy aging, something that will be a game-changer for the travel industry and global economy, the report said.

The report proposes three key recommendations to shift the narrative and realize the opportunity with the 50+ market:

• Increase Awareness & Research – Strengthen the narrative on travel’s health benefits through evidence-based advocacy. Elevate travel’s role in healthy aging through a compelling narrative and data-driven advocacy.
• Engage Policymakers – Integrate travel into public health and economic strategies.
• Foster Public-Private Collaboration – Work across sectors to create more inclusive, age-friendly travel experiences.

Catherine Collinson, founding CEO and president of Transamerica Institute, said public-private collaboration will be necessary to fully realize travel as a catalyst for healthy aging.

“By combining efforts, expertise, and vision, we can create opportunities for older adults to thrive, improve well-being, and drive economic growth in ways no single entity could achieve alone,” Collinson said.