THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT OF THE ELDERLY TOURIST SEGMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PILGRIMAGE TOURISM

This article explores the economic significance of the elderly tourist segment within the context of pilgrimage tourism. As global demographics shift towards an aging population, the "Silver Economy" presents a unique opportunity for religious and cultural destinations. The study focuses on the "multiplier effect," analyzing how spending by elderly pilgrims influences regional income, employment, and infrastructure development. Through a qualitative and quantitative analysis, the paper demonstrates that elderly tourists, characterized by longer stays and higher loyalty, contribute more significantly to the local economy than younger cohorts. The findings suggest that optimizing pilgrimage infrastructure for the elderly can lead to sustainable regional economic growth.本文探讨了朝圣旅游（pilgrimage tourism）语境下老年旅游细分市场的经济价值。伴随全球人口结构向老龄化转型，银发经济（Silver Economy）为宗教与文化旅游目的地带来了独特发展契机。本研究聚焦乘数效应（multiplier effect），剖析老年朝圣者的消费行为如何作用于区域收入、就业及基础设施建设。通过定性与定量结合的分析方法，本文证实：相较于年轻游客群体，停留时长更长、忠诚度更高的老年游客对当地经济的贡献更为显著。研究结果表明，针对老年群体优化朝圣旅游基础设施，可推动区域经济实现可持续增长。