WorldVentures, which markets the travel membership club ‘DreamTrips’, has experienced a growth in membership in recent years, with more than 500,000 members across 29 countries taking up the club lifestyle to experience life fulfilment through travel.
SKIing is an acronym that has emerged to describe the trend of older travellers ‘Spending the Kids Inheritance’. Baby boomers are voting with their feet and passports by deciding it’s time to enjoy the money that they worked so hard to save over a lifetime of toil.
Anthony Fitzgerald from WorldVentures, says that baby boomers are turning to travel clubs to live life and travel.
“We are seeing more and more retirees travelling, not only to see the world but also to enjoy the social experience that comes along with travel clubs.”
“It is clear that many baby boomers have adopted the SKI outlook on life and are taking action to complete their bucket lists in retirement. DreamTrips offer S.K.I travellers the chance to enjoy a social experience but also have the perfect balance of alone time.”
53 per cent of WorldVentures’ Australian members travel with their spouse and over 70 per cent, feel that DreamTrips offer a distinctive vacation that enriched their lifestyle, allows them to gain knowledge and create beautiful memories.
“The options are endless and by joining a travel club SKI travellers are more likely to take the holidays they’ve worked to enjoy.”
“The DreamTrips for SKI travellers to tick off their bucket list definitely include a trip to Myanmar’s Treasures, sailing the Caribbean, walking with lions in Zimbabwe, staying in an Ice Hotel, or relaxing and healing in the Dead Sea,” Mr Fitzgerald suggests.
An Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey last year revealed that Australians intend to retire later than ever, with 23 per cent of the persons aged 45 years and over intending to retire at the age of 70 years or over compared with only eight per cent in 2004-05.
The OECD Better Life Index also reports that life expectancy at birth in Australia stands at 82 years, only 12 years after the majorities intended retirement.
Judy Anderson, of the Mornington Peninsula (Mt Martha), says that travel has become a priority in her life and that travel companies are increasingly catering for matured aged travellers.
“I didn’t travel much in my younger days as people do now, so I’m trying to catch up on all the places I want to visit and I want to live life to the fullest.”
“Travelling with a group is important to me. And travelling outside of school holidays means that I can get better deals and also travel with others with similar life goals.”
For the children of baby boomers, especially the Gen X and Y children who are struggling to establish a foothold in the property market or pay the kids’ school fees, the life of a SKIer is causing some consternation.
But for many like Dylan, whose mother was living alone for five years, the benefits of their parents choosing to SKI to lead happy and fulfilling lives can also be recognised.
“My mother just wanted more company than what our busy working schedules allowed. Travelling was a passion of hers, if she had the opportunity to join a travel club and meet new people she would have been over the moon,” Dylan explains.