Australian women embracing solo travel
TripAdvisor has revealed that Aussie women are embracing independent travel, according to the findings of its inaugural Women and the World Travel Survey.
The study of over 3200 Australian women found that one in three (33 per cent) travel alone for leisure, with 40 per cent planning at least 2 to 4 solo trips this year. Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) reported that travelling alone had changed them. Thirty-one per cent of women said they have gained confidence, and 15 per cent felt that these liberating unaccompanied holidays changed the way they think about their lives. The majority of women surveyed felt more independent (46 per cent) and free (19 per cent) when travelling alone.
Cindy Tan, vice president APAC at TripAdvisor said, “Australians are amongst the most well-travelled in the world, and it’s clear that Aussie women are embracing the positive effects that travelling by yourself can bring. When it comes to their precious holiday time, women are spending it visiting and exploring the places on the top of their list, and not anyone else’s”.
So why are Australian women choosing to travel alone? Simple – to “get away from it all”, according to 82 per cent of respondents. Close to half of the women surveyed (45 per cent) cited the ability to choose their own schedule without worrying about others as one of the main reasons for travelling sans friends or family.
When it comes to the destinations for solo travel, three in five (60 per cent) women are planning to venture within Australia as well as overseas. Of those travelling domestically, New South Wales takes the top spot for independent travel (40 per cent), followed closely by Victoria (38 per cent) and Queensland (35 per cent). For long-haul trips, the draw of Europe’s cuisine and culture is the destination of choice for Australian women travelling alone (46 per cent), followed by Asia (39 per cent) and North America (28 per cent). Furthermore, Australian female travellers will be easy to spot – they will be the ones with cameras strapped to their neck – sightseeing is the number one activity that they enjoy whilst travelling alone (45 per cent).
