I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for great travel photography so when I saw this recent Architectural Digest article on the Most Beautiful Places, my jaw dropped. Of course, like you may do, I counted how many of these 21 special places I’d traveled to (11!) and added a few new places to my bucket list. I was pleased to see that the Sea of Cortez near our Baja campus – which contains nearly 40% of the world’s total known marine mammal species – was on the list.
Almost two-thirds of us say that travel is one of our most important goals during our later years. The Global Coalition on Aging and the Transamerica Institute just came out with a fascinating report, Leveraging Travel as a Catalyst for Healthy Longevity, that highlights the transformative role of travel in fostering longer, healthier lives. Drawing insights from an expert roundtable conducted in Fall 2024 (that I was fortunate enough to participate in), the report recommends integrating travel into public health strategies and economic development plans.
Research shows that travel enhances physical health, cognitive resilience, and social engagement – key parts of healthy and healthful aging. Regular travel is linked to a 37% lower mortality risk and up to a 47% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease through activities that promote movement, cultural engagement, and community connection. Yet, despite these benefits, the role of travel in healthy aging often remains unrecognized. Don’t you think it’s time to reposition travel as an essential part of healthy aging and economic growth, rather than just a recreational activity?
While I’m on the subject, here’s a great travel industry publication on the rise of longevity travel and here’s a story about a Booking.com report that shows that about 50% of people are curious about resorts and retreats that offer a “passport to longevity.”
-Chip