Changing lifestyles through generationsŠpindler, Tomi (Avtor) Gorenak, Mitja (Avtor) Lesjak, Miha (Avtor) lifestylegenerationsmountain tourismmountaineeringMountains are visited by different generations of tourists; therefore,generational studies are important for understanding psychologicaldifferences and behaviours of mountain tourists. This study aimedto determine if lifestyles of mountain tourists differ based ongeneration, gender, and membership in a mountaineeringorganization. A quantitative approach was used with a conveniencesample of 407 respondents in Slovenia. The research was carried outon sports tourists who spend the night outside their place ofresidence and visit a 1st category hut in the Slovenian mountains,including Baby Boomers, Generations X, Y and Z. Results show amoderate correlation between generation and lifestyle. There areno statistically significant gender-based lifestyle differences butthere are significant differences between members and non-members of mountaineering associations. The identified lifestylefactors align with previous studies and highlight differencesbetween generations. Younger generations exhibit more optimisticand thoughtful lifestyles. Also, mountaineering associations play arole in promoting active lifestyles among members. Lifestyle is acrucial aspect of tourism behaviour, influenced by generationaldifferences. Understanding these differences is essential fordeveloping targeted tourism strategies. Lifestyle can also be viewedfrom the perspective of sustainable development, as the concept oflifestyle is often seen as something that needs to be changed toachieve sustainable development. Modern tourists embrace theirhealthy lifestyle through hiking in the mountains, as the number ofhikers, mountaineers, and climbers continues to rise yearly.Therefore, future research could explore lifestyle differences in othercountries and seasons, offering insights into sustainable mountaintourism development.Sports Tourism International Council20252025-06-28 03:08:40Znanstveno delo93487UDK: 338.48-44(23.0)COBISS_ID: 231466499DOI: 10.1080/14775085.2025.2484178ISSN pri članku: 1029-5399sl