A Theoretical Review on The Place and Importance of The Third Age Market in Gastronomy Tourism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19325462Keywords:
Third Age Tourism, Gastronomy Tourism, Aging Population, Eating and Drinking BehaviorAbstract
At the global level, rising life expectancy and declining fertility rates are contributing to the steady aging of the world population. This demographic shift suggests that individuals aged 60 and over will constitute a significantly larger share of the population in the near future. Defined in the literature as the “third age,” this group has emerged as an important market segment in tourism, particularly in gastronomic tourism, due to its relatively higher levels of available time and financial resources. Third age individuals differ from other tourist groups in terms of their dietary habits, health-related sensitivities, and experience-oriented expectations. This study aims to examine the characteristics and importance of the third age market within the context of gastronomic tourism through a theoretical literature review. In this regard, global aging trends and the third age market are first discussed, followed by an analysis of this group’s behavioral patterns in gastronomic tourism. Findings reveal that although the number of studies on this topic is limited, existing research highlights a strong interest among third age individuals in gastronomic experiences. These experiences also play a significant role in shaping their travel preferences. Consequently, it is emphasized that this market should be addressed through more tailored and targeted approaches, considering age-related needs and expectations.
Downloads
References
Akdağ, G., Akgündüz, Y., ve Güler, O. (2015). Gastronomi turizmi ve Türkiye’de gastronomi turizmi üzerine genel bir değerlendirme. Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies, 3(3), 15-23.
Arslan, A., ve Staub, S. (2015). Kuşak teorisi ve iç girişimcilik üzerine bir araştırma. Kafkas Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 6(11), 1-24.
Aslan, Z., Güneren, E., ve Çoban, G. (2014). Destinasyon markalaşma sürecinde yöresel mutfağın rolü: Nevşehir örneği. Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies, 2(4), 3-13.
Aydın, Ş., ve Sayın, K. (2021). Yaşlı turizmi ve üçüncü yaş turizminin gelişimi üzerine bir değerlendirme. Turizm Akademik Dergisi, 8(2), 45-60.
Balderas-Cejudo, A., Patterson, I., ve Leeson, G. W. (2021). Gastronomic tourism and the senior foodies market. In Gastronomy and Food Science,193–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-820057-5.00010-8
Cohen, E., ve Avieli, N. (2004). Food in tourism: Attraction and impediment. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(4), 755–778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.02.003
Çalışkan, O. (2013). Destinasyon pazarlamasında gastronomi turizminin önemi: Türkiye üzerine bir değerlendirme. Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 24(1), 39-52.
Doğan, S., Güngör, Y. M., ve Güngör, O. (2018). Yiyecek-içecek hizmetlerinin değerlenmesinde kuşaklararası farkların belirlenmesi: Lara-Kundu otelleri üzerine bir araştırma. Güncel Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2(Ek.1), 616-629.
Durlu-Özkaya, F., ve Can, A. (2012). Gastronomi turizminin destinasyon pazarlamasına etkisi. Türktarım, Gıda Tarım ve Hayvancılık Bakanlığı Dergisi, 206, 28-33.
Fernando, J. (2016). Generational differences and demand for food. Consumer Corner: Updates from The Competitiveness and Market Analysis Section, 37, 1-6.
Eisner, S. P. (2005). Managing Generation Y. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 70(4), 4-15.
Ellis, A., Park, E., Kim, S., ve Yeoman, I. (2018). What is food tourism? Tourism Management, 68, 250-263.
Gürsoy, D., Chi, C. G., ve Karadağ, E. (2013). Generational differences in work values and attitudes among frontline and service contact employees. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 32, 40-48.
Hall, C. M., ve Sharples, L. (Eds.). (2008). Food and wine festivals and events around the world: Development, management and markets. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.
Hardy, A., Coates, L., ve Williams, R. (2018). The food preferences of Baby Boomers and implications for hospitality businesses. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 12, 169-175.
Harrington, R. J., ve Ottenbacher, M. C. (2010). Culinary tourism: A case study of the gastronomic capital. Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 8(1), 14-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/15428052.2010.518353
Hjalager, A. M., ve Richards, G. (2002). Still undigested: Research issues in tourism and gastronomy. Tourism and Gastronomy, 13, 224–234.
Joesalu, K. (2016). We were the children of a romantic era: Nostalgia and the nonideological everyday through the perspective of a ‘Silent Generation’. Journal of Baltic Studies, 47(4), 557–577. https://doi.org/10.1080/01629778.2016.1248685
Kamenidou, I. E., Stavrianea, A., ve Bara, E. Z. (2020). Generational differences toward organic food behavior: Insights from five generational cohorts. Sustainability, 12(6), 2299. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062299
Karim, S. A. B., ve Chi, C. G. Q. (2010). Culinary tourism as a destination attraction: An empirical examination of destinations’ food image. Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management, 19(6), 531–555. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2010.500404
Keleş, H. N. (2011). Y kuşağı çalışanlarının motivasyon profillerinin belirlenmesine yönelik bir araştırma. Organizasyon ve Yönetim Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(2), 129-139.
Kılıç, B., ve Bayrakçı, S. (2018). Gastronomi turizmi ve destinasyon pazarlaması ilişkisi. Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies, 6(2), 452–468.
Kim, S., Choe, J. Y., ve Lee, S. (2018). How are food value video clips effective in promoting food tourism? Generation Y versus non–Generation Y. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 35(3), 377–393. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2017.1320262
Kivela, J., ve Crotts, J. C. (2006). Gastronomy tourism: A meaningful travel motivation. Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 4(2), 29-45. https://doi.org/10.1300/J385v04n02_03
Lehto, X. Y., Jang, S., Achana, F. T., ve O'Leary, J. T. (2008). Exploring tourism experience sought: A cohort comparison of Baby Boomers and the Silent generation. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 14(3), 237–252. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766708090585
Lin, Y. C., Pearson, E. T., ve Liping, A. (2011). Food as a form of destination identity: A tourism destination brand perspective. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 11(1), 30-48. https://doi.org/10.1177/1467358410386070
Lück, M., ve Schneider, M. (2020). Exploring the influence of the senior market on culinary tourism. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 44, 165-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.03.001
McKercher, B., ve du Cros, H. (2002). Cultural tourism: The partnership between tourism and cultural heritage management. Haworth Press.
Morrison, A. M. (2013). Marketing and managing tourism destinations. London: Routledge.
Moscardo, G. (2012). Exploring the social representations of tourism planning: Issues for governance. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(3), 423–436.
Nimrod, G., ve Rotem, A. (2012). An exploration of successful ageing among older tourists. Ageing & Society, 32(3), 379-404.
Okumuş, B., Okumuş, F., ve McKercher, B. (2007). Incorporating local and international cuisines in the marketing of tourism destinations: The cases of Hong Kong and Turkey. Tourism Management, 28(1), 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2006.04.004
Parment, A. (2013). Generation Y vs. Baby Boomers: Shopping behavior, buyer involvement and implications for retailing. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 20(2), 189-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2013.02.004
Sarı, E., ve Harta, G. (2018). Kuşakların tüketim ve satın alma davranışları üzerine bir araştırma. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 11(61), 968-980.
Sarıkaya, G. S., Demirci, B., ve Erol, E. (2021). Y ve Z kuşağının yeme davranışının belirlenmesi. Journal of Gastronomy, Hospitality and Travel, 4(2), 329-342.
Schroer, W. J. (2015). Generations X, Y, Z and the others. SocialMarketing.org. http://socialmarketing.org/archives/generations-xy-zand-the-others/
Singh, A. (2014). Challenges and issues of Generation Z. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 16(7), 59–63.
Sie, L., Patterson, I., ve Pegg, S. (2016). Towards an understanding of older adult educational tourism through the development of a three-phase integrated framework. Current Issues in Tourism, 19(2), 100–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2015.1021303
Stone, M. J., Migacz, S., ve Wolf, E. (2019). Beyond the journey: The lasting impact of culinary tourism activities. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(2), 147-152.
Şengül, S., ve Türkay, O. (2018). Türkiye’de gastronomi turizmi: Kavramsal bir inceleme. Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies, 6(2), 428-446.
Taylor, S., ve DiPietro, R. B. (2017). Generational perception and satisfaction differences related to restaurant service environment. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, 18(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15256480.2017.1348921
Türk Dil Kurumu. (2024). Türkçe sözlük (Erişim tarihi: 6 Haziran 2024). https://sozluk.gov.tr
TÜRSAB. (2024). Sağlık turizmi raporu. https://www.tursab.org.tr/haberler/tursab-saglik-turizmi-raporu_11430
United Nations. (2019). World population ageing 2019: Highlights. New York: United Nations. Erişim adresi https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/WorldPopulationAgeing2019
Williams, K. C., ve Page, R. A. (2011). Marketing to the generations. Journal of Behavioral Studies in Business, 5(1), 1-17.
Williams, P., ve Soutar, G. N. (2005). The role of culinary tourism in promoting a destination’s image. Tourism Management, 26(3), 491–500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2003.11.015
World Health Organization. (2015). World report on ageing and health. Geneva: World Health Organization. Erişim adresi: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565042
Verbeke, W., Pérez-Cueto, F., ve de Barcellos, M. (2010). European consumer perception of beef and other meat products. Meat Science, 84(2), 284-292.
Yıldız, A. (2021). Üçüncü yaş pazarı ve tüketim davranışları: Beslenme alışkanlıkları özelinde bir inceleme. Turizm Akademik Dergisi, 9(1), 40-52.
Etik Kurul İzni
Bu çalışma teorik bir araştırma olup, yalnızca mevcut literatürün analizi ve değerlendirilmesine dayanmaktadır. Bu nedenle, insan veya hayvan katılımını içermemesi nedeniyle herhangi bir etik kurul iznine ihtiyaç bulunmamaktadır.
Katkı Oranı Beyanı
Bu araştırma tek yazarlı olarak yürütülmüş olup, çalışmanın tüm aşamalarında yazar tarafından planlama, veri toplama, analiz ve yazım süreçleri gerçekleştirilmiş; dolayısıyla araştırmadaki katkı oranı %100’dür.
Çıkar Çatışması Beyanı
Bu araştırma tek yazarlı olarak yürütülmüştür. Yazarın herhangi bir kurum ya da kuruluş ile çıkar çatışması bulunmamaktadır.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Recreation and Tourism Research

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.