Close-to-home holidays dubbed "staycations" by trend-watchers have proliferated in the financial crisis, but now the travel industry is gearing to draw another crowd -- aging populations in countries like Germany whose spending power may outlast the downturn.You could call them "greycationers": the 50-plus age group mutating under a massive influx of baby-boomers who grew up in the 1960s. After redefining youth culture, they are now making their mark on older age.Health pursuits and sports, spas, swimming and cycling are all popular, as are vacations organized around cultural events like concerts and museum visits, tour operators say.In 2008, they spent $91 billion on foreign travel, compared with $80 billion spent by U.S. nationals, the U.N. report showed.
"Seniors today are more active, financially independent, and eager to travel," said Klaus Laepple from Germany's DRV travel association. "Their favorite destination is Germany." A study released by the Economy Ministry last month showed the senior age group is expected to take 20.3 million domestic holidays a year by 2020 compared with 17.2 million in 2007.
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