This study aims to elucidate relationship between perceived shops’ servicescape and tourists’ purchase intension. Sixteen university students from Tokyo Metropolitan and sixteen employees of the tourism industry in Okinawa prefecture, Japan, were asked to rate 30 shops in the city center shopping streets of Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, on 36 five-point bipolar scales regarding the exteriors and interiors, the assortment of merchandise, the staff’s attitudes, the overall evaluation, and their purchase intention. The results show that the coefficient of the path from “Touristic Uniqueness” to the purchase intention was negative for both the students and the employees, and the students’ absolute coefficient was significantly higher than the one of the employees. On the other hand, the coefficients of the path from “The Okinawa locality” to the purchase intention were positive for both the students and the employees, and the absolute coefficient was significantly higher for the employees than for the students. Finally, the coefficients of the path from “Activity” to the purchase intention was positive for both the students and the employees, and this time the students’ absolute coefficient was significantly higher than the one of the employees. The above results show that, irrespective of differences between the two subject groups in the strength of the paths, the positive influence of “The Okinawa locality” and “Activity,” and the negative effect of “Touristic Uniqueness” on purchase intention are commonly observed.

As more people live longer lives where one lives is a key element of being physically and psychologically healthy. While cultural differences are significant, there are common developments of global importance – aging, urbanization, and technology.

From smart cities and smart homes to mobile devices, increasingly, media technology is offered as solution for physical and social challenges facing seniors. But these creative age-based communication options may also connect and disconnect individuals from family and community. With the positive may come unintended negative consequences resulting in a need to understand people/environment relationships and the unique needs of seniors.

Emerging areas of communication are introduced suggesting insights for future research. The first approach introduced is lifespan communication which assumes that human communication is developmental and communication patterns and needs must be understood as changing across time. The second approach introduced is urban communication which conceptualizes cities as complex environments of interpersonal interaction, landscapes of spaces and places shaping human behavior, and intricate technological environments. This paper suggests the need to consider communication approaches to understand and plan for the relationship between physical place and mediated interaction for the older adults.