News

We may not like to think of our parents, or grandparents for that matter, having a fling, but the statistics are in and they show that approximately one in ten Kiwi travellers aged 50 or over are finding romance while on holiday.

The research, carried out by TNS on behalf of Southern Cross Travel Insurance, found that 11% of those over 50 have had an overseas holiday romance with a local, a figure almost exactly the same as younger age groups.

What’s more, 34% of those over 50 who had a holiday fling hooked up with someone younger than themselves, with only 14% indulging in some fun with someone older.

“When we think about holiday flings, we tend to think it’s younger travellers who are having all the fun, but our research shows otherwise. It just goes to show that holiday flings aren’t just for the young, but for the young at heart as well,” says Craig Morrison, SCTI CEO.

Unfortunately, in most cases, the love didn’t last, with only 25% of romances continuing after the holiday, the lowest figure across the age brackets (although it was shared with those aged between 30 to 39).

Chances are though that language wasn’t a reason for the break-up as 80% of over 50s who had a holiday romance said they could speak the same language as their beau.

-ends-

Editor note: Conducted by TNS the online survey of randomly selected New Zealanders was carried out in September 2014. Responses were weighted to be representative of the New Zealand over 15 population by age, gender and region.