Demystifying intergenerational support from adult children in senior tourism consumption: Insights from large-scale household level survey data

Given the significant potential of the senior tourism market, it is crucial to facilitate and support seniors' engagement in tourism activities. By utilizing large-scale household datasets from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and adopting the generalized propensity score method (GPS), this study attempts to examine the impact of intergenerational support from adult children on senior tourism consumption and the key transmission channels between them. Results show that intergenerational support (including financial, instrumental, and emotional support) positively affects senior tourism consumption. Furthermore, the marginal effects of these three dimensions of intergenerational support exhibit varying patterns of change, suggesting the distinct contributions of each dimension to senior tourism consumption. Analysis of transmission channels reveals that intergenerational support strengthens the positive effect of physical health and social participation on senior tourism consumption, while mitigating the negative effects of income uncertainty. Finally, a series of supportive measures targeting the senior tourism market have been proposed.