Solo Women Traveling: An Increasing Trend

Solo travel is a steadily growing trend, with women representing a significant segment of this market. This paper examines the phenomenon of solo female travel and the dynamics surrounding it, framing it within the context of contemporary social and cultural transformations. The literature highlights numerous motivations driving women to travel solo, such as the pursuit of autonomy, personal development, flexibility, and freedom. Researchers like Pung et al. (Curr Issues Tour 23(5):538–558, 2020) refer to the “transformative experience” as a key motivator, while other studies underline the influence of social stereotypes and social media. Despite recent progress, the profile and experiences of solo female travelers remain under-researched in the literature. This study analyzes key aspects of the growing trend of solo female tourism, with a particular focus on the independent nature of women’s travel. The research followed a mixed-methods approach. Initially, qualitative interviews were conducted with administrators of female travel communities. Subsequently, a digital questionnaire was distributed to women who travel solo. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative data were processed with SPSS. The sample consisted of women aged 15 to over 70, who are economically independent and educated. The study focused on travelers’ motivations to embark on solo travel, their age profiles, barriers they encountered during travel, digital tools they used, and tourism industry practices that support solo female travel. Findings show that women travel solo to explore the world, gain new experiences, and embrace flexibility and freedom. Motivational differences between age groups and the digital applications used for solo trips were also observed. Major challenges include safety concerns, lack of having a companion to share the experience with and cost of traveling alone, and social stigma. Social media platforms, such as Facebook groups, act as vital tools for information, empowerment, and peer support. In addition to analyzing motivational differences across age groups, there is also interest in examining age-related differences in barriers. Solo female tourism is a dynamic and emerging form of tourism that warrants further exploration. Women travelers seek freedom and personal empowerment, yet they often face challenges related to safety and social acceptance. The tourism industry must respond with strategies and initiatives that promote this form of tourism within the framework of sustainable and inclusive development.