Unlocking informal social support to empower empty-nest families’ tourism consumption in the digital age

The aging of the population is becoming more and more severe, and the continuous growth of empty-nest families cannot be ignored. With improvements in the quality of life for older people and increased leisure time, their tourism consumption potential is gradually emerging. However, it is unclear which factors more influence the tourism consumption of empty-nest families. Based on the China Family Panel Survey (CFPS) data, this study identifies the impact of informal social support on the tourism consumption of empty-nest older adults and examines the underlying mechanisms. This study finds that informational and emotional support show more significant effects on the tourism consumption of empty-nest families, while instrumental and economic support have a relatively limited effect. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that the effects are more pronounced among older-aged empty-nesters, retired households, and urban households. Mechanism analyses show that the effect on empty-nest families operates primarily through improving health status and digital literacy. This study provides insights into promoting tourist consumption among empty-nest elders and encouraging the tourism sector’s sustainable growth in the digital age.