Watching TV a favourite pastime of baby boomers,
according to survey
SINGAPORE : A survey by the Council for Third Age has
revealed that watching TV has now become the favourite pastime of
the baby boomers in Singapore.
The council said this is the first time such a poll has
been done on the consumption habits and interests of this group of
Singaporeans aged between 45 and 65.
According to the poll of 1,000 respondents, six in 10 of them count
watching TV as their favourite pastime, followed by shopping,
reading and cooking.
However, this may not necessarily mean that this group of
Singaporeans is a sedentary lot.
Gerard Ee, chairman, Council for Third Age, said: "One of the
results of watching TV, for instance the popularity of the Korean
series, has actually increased travel to Korea. This is something
that I hope the travel industry become mindful of. You are talking
about people who rode with Singapore's prosperity and they do have
savings."
Seven in 10 surveyed said they travel once or twice a year, even if
there is a recession.
But the interest level was slightly lower when it came to learning
a new skill.
The survey also showed that four in 10 of the baby boomers are
interested to learn something new such as cooking, IT or even a
third language, and many of them said they are likely to do so
within the next six to 12 months.
In fact, the poll showed that four in 10 respondents are already
using the internet to email, source for news or to shop
online.
Mr Ee said: "There are enough people out there who are interested
in these areas and justify further studies and the attention of the
commercial sector out there, and it really shows them that there is
the potential that is yet to be exploited. "
The Council for Third Age said it plans to share these findings
with its relevant partners like travel agencies and voluntary
welfare organisations next week.
- CNA/ms