Tourism Management Studies

Conceptual Modeling of Senior Tourism with a Health-Oriented Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

fatemeh azizi

Department of Management Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2025.86863.3086
Abstract
With the growth of the aging population, increasing attention to the health-related aspects of tourism has become essential. This study aimed to analyze the knowledge structure of senior tourism with an emphasis on health components, using a mixed quantitative-qualitative approach through bibliometric analysis and Total Interpretive Structural Modeling (TISM). Based on 270 Scopus-indexed articles (1979–2024), the quantitative phase employed co-citation and keyword co-occurrence analyses to identify key concepts and trends, while the qualitative phase modeled causal relationships. Results revealed three main conceptual clusters: mobility, green spaces, and health crises, alongside a shift in research focus toward mental health, medical tourism, and digital interaction. The conceptual model highlighted the central role of senior and medical tourism in promoting active aging through subjective well-being and quality of life. These findings provide a foundation for developing health-oriented policies and effective tourism interventions to enhance elderly well-being.

Keywords

Senior Tourism
Health aging
Bibliometric Analysis
Total Interpretive Structural Modeling (TISM)
Subjects
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