31 May TUI SEEKS ‘FIRST TIME SENIOR SLIDER’ AS RESEARCH REVEALS A QUARTER OF OVER 60’s HAVE NEVER BEEN ON A WATERSLIDE
New research from TUI has revealed that a quarter (25%) of ‘senior’ Brits have never been down a waterslide, despite almost nine in ten (88%) over 60’s feeling ‘young at heart’. The findings are even more surprising given we’re a nation of self-confessed adrenaline junkies, with the study also uncovering that as many as nearly a third of over 60’s (32%) admitted they were still thrill-seekers despite their advancing years.
Regional breakdowns
· Seniors based in the North West (92%) and Scotland (90%) are the most ‘young at heart’ (national average 88%).
· Liverpool (14%), Nottingham (11%) and Manchester (10%) over 60’s are the biggest adrenaline junkies in the nation having slid down a waterslide 41-50 times in their lives (national average 5%).
· One in five (21%) of those based in Cardiff stopped going on waterslides after the age of 18.
To celebrate these adrenaline junkies across the UK, TUI is embracing the 100th anniversary of the holiday favourite – the waterslide – by giving one lucky ‘First Time Senior Slider’ the chance to travel to a TUI Splashworld resort and experience the thrill of a waterslide for the very first time.
The study of 1,000 over 60’s also revealed the grand age of 76 is when Brits officially consider themselves ‘old’, despite admitting on average feeling 13 and a half years younger than their actual age. This Baby Boomer generation is embracing life with more than one in ten (12%) adopting YOLO (You Only Live Once) as their mantra and almost one in ten (9%) claiming to be enjoying a new lease of life now they have fewer responsibilities.
When asked what kept them young, almost 40% said it was their grandchildren, which is why TUI are offering their chosen ‘First Time Senior Slider’ a family break making memories in Turkey this July. A further 37% said exercise was key to their positivity, whilst 32% claimed it was spending time with younger people, listening to modern music (26%), and keeping up to date with loved ones and general news on social media (14%) making the list. Of those polled, one in five (20%) admitted using their grandchildren as an excuse to go down a waterslide – even if they had wanted to do so by themselves.
Richard Sofer, Commercial Director, TUI UK&I commented: “We love the positive mentality, and adventure-seeking nature of so many older Brits. Far from just easing themselves into the twilight years, this generation are truly living life to the full. To mark the centenary of the waterslide, we wanted to celebrate our 30 Splashworld resorts and give someone young at heart an amazing first-time experience with their family and create life-long memories.”
However, other Boomers need a little more persuasion to embrace the slides with nearly one in five (19%) aged 60-64 deciding that it wouldn’t be good for them at their age. Some chose to blame others for hampering their fun with 5% saying that their husband, wife, or partner wouldn’t let them slide and twice the number of men vs women were worried that they would embarrass their grown-up kids.
Those who want to apply to be TUI’s ‘First Time Senior Slider’ and get a seven-night holiday for them and their family at the end of July, just need to answer three simple questions and submit a photo of themselves. The chosen person will travel to Ali Bey Club in Manavgat, Turkey, on 24 July with their family*, and the moment they slide into the new experience will be captured on one of the resort’s 12 adult slides.
TUI’s search for a ‘First Time Senior Slider’ is open for entries from Wednesday 31 May – Friday 9 June, for more information and to enter visit https://www.tui.co.uk/content/first-time-senior-slider/.
