A study of travel behavior, travel preferences, and subjective well-being of older persons in Hong

209 Pages·2008·0.62 MB·English

Lingnan University
Digital Commons @ Lingnan University
Theses & Dissertations Department of Sociology and Social Policy
2007
A study of travel behavior, travel preferences, and subjective well-
being of older persons in Hong Kong
Ka Yan, Little CHENG
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Cheng, K. Y. L. (2007). A study of travel behavior, travel preferences, and subjective well-being of older
persons in Hong Kong (Master's thesis, Lingnan University, Hong Kong). Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/
10.14793/soc_etd.10
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A STUDY OF TRAVEL BEHAVIOR, TRAVEL PREFERENCES,
AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF OLDER PERSONS IN HONG KONG

CHENG KA YAN LITTLE

MPHIL

LINGNAN UNIVERSITY

2007
A STUDY OF TRAVEL BEHAVIOR, TRAVEL PREFERENCES,
AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF OLDER PERSONS IN HONG KONG

by

CHENG Ka Yan Little

A thesis
submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the Degree of
Master of Philosophy in Social Sciences (Sociology)

Lingnan University

2007
ABSTRACT

A Study of Travel Behavior, Travel Preferences,
and Subjective Well-being of Older Persons In Hong Kong

by

CHENG KaYan Little
Master of Philosophy

Demographic ageing of the population is now well established in Hong Kong and, as
elsewhere, is raising increasing concerns about the basic needs and the well-being of
older persons. Older individuals vary considerably and may try to enhance their
well-being in different ways by a range of leisure activities. The gradually
improving financial and physical status suggests travel as a potential leisure activity
which might enhance individual well-being and quality of life of older persons.

Previous research about travel has mainly involved marketing and sociological
perspectives. The market research to date for investigating customer values of
tourism and typologies of tourists in sociological studies largely ignored the
subjective, dynamic, and intangible components of consumption experience. These
components, however, are important for understanding travel needs of older persons.

The aims of the current study were therefore to identify the characteristics of travel
behavior and the main factors that contribute to a pleasurable trip of older persons to
investigate travel preferences and travel needs of older persons. The concept of
subjective well-being (SWB) which focuses on the positive affect, negative affect,
and life satisfaction was found to be useful for understanding the conditions under
which travel is desirable to older persons.

Two focus groups were conducted to provide insights for the initial design of an
in-depth questionnaire survey of 25 older persons age over 60 or above. Inclusion
criteria were that respondents would perceive themselves to be able to travel
financially and physically before they completed individual face-to-face interviews.
By purposive sampling, respondents were selected from urban areas in Hong Kong
from sources including social organizations, the researcher’s personal networks, a
church, a university, parks, a shopping mall, and public areas in government
buildings.

After collecting and analyzing the data referring to principles of grounded theory,
four patterns of travel behavior and outcome of travel regarding to individual
well-being were found. Six aspects of travel preferences and nine factors which
contribute to a pleasurable trip were identified. Travel needs of older persons were
further investigated and implications for providing travel services for older persons
to enhance their well-being were discussed.
DECLARATION

I declare that this is an original work based primarily on my own research, and I
warrant that all citations of previous research, published or unpublished, have been
duly acknowledged.

____________________________
CHENG Ka Yan Litle
August 2007
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL OF THESIS

A STUDY OF TRAVEL BEHAVIOR, TRAVEL PREFERENCES,
AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF OLDER PERSONS IN HONG KONG
by
CHENG Ka Yan Little

Master of Philosophy

Panel of Examiners:

_________________________ (Chairman)
Prof Wiliam Lee

_________________________ (External Member)
Dr Choy Bing-kong

_________________________ (Internal Member)
Prof SIU Oi-ling

_________________________ (Internal Member)
Dr Kevin Cheng

Chief Supervisor:

Prof PHILLIPS David R.

Co-supervisor:

Prof SIU Oi-ling

Approval for the Senate:

______________________________________________
(Prof. Mee-kau NYAW)
Chairman, Research and Postgraduate Studies Committee

______________________________________________
Date
CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………..……………………………iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………...……………………….……..v

Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION: AGEING, SENIOR LEISURE, TRAVEL, AND
BEHAVIOR …………………………………………………………..….…1
Background
1.1.1. Changing demographic structure of Hong Kong:
demographic ageing
1.1.2 Successful ageing: well-being of older persons
1.1.3 The emergence of growing “silver market” in tourism
Research in tourism
1.2.1 Limitations of market research in tourism
1.2.2 Limitations of typologies of tourist in sociological studies
1.3 Understanding travel needs through travel behavior
1.3.1 The nature of travel behavior
1.3.2 Understanding travel behavior through motivations for travel
1.4 Understanding outcome of travel regarding individual well-being
through subjective well-being (SWB)
1.5 Objectives of the study
1.6 Research questions
1.7 Significance of the study
1.8 Organization of the thesis

2. A REVIEW OF THE LITERARTURE ON SENIOR TOURISM ……….27
2.1 Definitions
2.2 The development of research journals and studies in tourism
2.3 Successful ageing and theories of ageing
2.4 Relationship between travel behavior and motivation for travel
2.5 Market research in tourism
2.6 Typologies of tourist in sociological studies
2.7 Positive effects of leisure on individual well-being
2.8 Possible relationship between leisure and travel
2.9 Positive effects of travel on individual well-being
2.10 Possible negative effects of travel on individual well-being
i
2.11 Possible factors related to travel needs of older persons
2.12 Subjective well-being (SWB)

3. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY…………..…………….62
3.1 Research methods
3.1.1 A qualitative approach
3.1.2 Focus groups and individual face-to-face in-depth interviews
3.1.3 An inductive approach
3.2 Investigation of travel behavior and outcome of travel regarding
individual well-being
3.3 Recruitment of the sample and data collection procedures
3.4 Conceptualizations
3.5 Methods of data analysis
3.6 Validity checks: triangulation

4. FINDINGS FROM THE RESEARCH………………...………………….77
4.1 Profile of the respondents
4.2 Four patterns of travel behavior and outcomes of travel regarding
individual well-being
4.3 Differences in travel behavior
4.4 Travel preferences of the members of the four patterns
4.5 The factors which contribute to a pleasurable trip for the members
of the four paterns

5. IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS…………….…......149

5.1 Implications of the findings
5.1.1 Theoretical implications
5.1.1.1 An inductive model of travel behavior
5.1.1.2 Travel as a means for achieving successful ageing
5.1.1.3 Major travel needs of the four segments
5.1.1.4 Source of pleasure: more than consumption of tangible
goods
5.1.1.5 Barriers to travel
5.1.2 Marketing and management implications
5.1.3 Implications for government policies

ii