Can leisure travel help combat loneliness in later life?

Loneliness is a growing public health concern, particularly among older adults. Tourism research on healthy aging has largely centered on positive well-being; limited attention has been given to whether travel can alleviate loneliness. Drawing on longitudinal data from China and the United States, this study conceptualizes leisure travel as a form of activation and examines its relationship with loneliness among older adults. The findings indicate that greater participation in leisure travel is associated with lower levels of loneliness among this group over time. Travel also offsets age-related declines in daily social participation and the accompanying increase in loneliness, highlighting travel's activating role in later life. Leisure travel further serves as a compensatory resource for older adults with relational deficits. This mechanism varies across cultural contexts. By moving beyond the focus on positive emotion, this study demonstrates tourism's therapeutic potential for reducing loneliness and promoting well-being in aging populations.