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TRAMP – Transnational Mobility of Older People in Europe
66 Part II
and considers the motive for mobility on the other. This particularly involves
the promotion of active ageing, the active integration of elderly women and
men as volunteers working for the general interest and giving them access to
a wider range of volunteer activities across the European Union.
Definition of “Mobility“ in the TRAMP Project
Mobility refers to the opportunity of elderly (former) employees aged 50 and
above to move freely beyond national borders within the EU. The purpose
of mobility includes volunteering, education, cultural and personal exchange
as well as the use and sharing of competencies in the third sector. The time
frame of stays abroad relevant for the project refers to a short-term stay (between
1 week and 10 days) and not to a permanent settlement in another EU
country.
Definition of “Target Group”
The aim of the TRAMP project is to promote the EU-wide transnational mobility
of the elderly, particularly of (former) employees with limited language
skills, in order to facilitate their participation in exchange programmes within
the EU. This should specifically address the elderly who, for whatever reason,
have little transnational mobility opportunities outside tourist-related travel.
As a result, the selection of a project-related target group is particularly based
on the criteria of age and retirement, but also the financial situation and status
of language skills.
Age Criterion
The investigation of obstacles and success factors for transnational mobility
focuses on elderly people aged 55 and over. With regard to this group,
and more so the group of over 65s, out-of-home activities are declining and
the willingness and/or opportunity to be mobile limited compared to the
younger generation. “While on average 55 % of the population makes at
least one annual holiday trip of a duration of four nights or more, this is only
the case for 41% of the population aged 65 years and older. More than 6 out
of 10 holiday trips are spent within the country of residence, for the older
cohorts more than 7 out of 10 trips are domestic trips. Of the tourists, those
aged 65 and older on average make the most and the longest trips (in terms of
days). This indicates that a large share of the elderly do not at all make tourist
trips while on the other hand there is a group of active elderly who makes
relatively frequent - and in terms of days – long tourist trips. ..the elderly population
accounts for 20 % of the population but only 15 % of the tourists..” 7
7 EUROSTAT, Statistics in Focus 69/2008, Julia URHAUSEN:Tourism in Europe: does
age matter? http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-08-069/EN/
KS-SF-08-069-EN.PDF; Environment and Ageing - Final Report, COWI / European