International retirement migration and tourism along the Lake Chapala Riviera: Developing a matrix of retirement migration behaviour

Abstract

International retirement migration is an area of increasing concern to social scientists because of the anticipated increase in migration due to changes in the nature of today's retirement cohort, e.g. the greying of the Baby Boom generation, longer life expectancy, and improvements in travel and communication. Tourism destinations often possess the amenities and qualities desired by retirees, but research on the nature of the migrants, their impacts upon a destination, and the ties between tourism and retirement migration is sparse. This article argues that the models regarding retirement migration and tourism destinations (e.g. the tourism resort cycle) share common features and that these linkages need to be further developed to aid our understanding of international retirement migration. The Lake Chapala Riviera in Jalisco, Mexico attracts thousands of foreign visitors and retirees from North America and is considered one of the oldest and most popular international retirement destinations. According to local officials and residents, a group of 'new' retirees/visitors has emerged over the past decade, and is having a noticeable impact upon both the cultural landscape and on the socio-cultural integrity of the area. This paper presents a conceptual matrix of retirement migration based on survey results from the area.