Explore Statistics on Women Who Travel Including Demographics, Destinations, Spend & More!
Female travel has become a major phenomenon over the past few years with travel companies dedicated to woman-only clientele increasing by 230%. 64% of travelers worldwide are female, while only 36% are male. There has also been a growing desire for females to travel alone and it is expected that $125 billion will be spent by women on travel this year.
As you'll see from the data below, many women have decided to embark on travel alone and this trend is growing fast! The COVID-19 pandemic may have halted travel but post-pandemic, just 16% of women in 2022 are worried about getting Covid-19 vs. 37% in 2021.
Traveling as a woman is popular amongst a variety of different ages, both solo and within groups to destinations all over the world. It has been found that Japan is the best place to visit for solo woman travelers when considering a variety of different factors. Social media has become a vital source of information for female travelers, with Instagram and Pinterest becoming the main destination for travel inspiration.
KEY FEMALE TRAVEL STATISTICS:
Post-pandemic 23% of females will travel closer to home.
Post-pandemic 17% of women will fly only on specific, trusted airlines.
Only 16% of women in 2022 are worried about getting Covid-19 vs. 37% in 2021.
Travel companies dedicated to woman-only customers have hugely increased by 230% over the past few years.
32 million single American women went traveling at least once over the past year and 1 in 3 traveled 5 times or more.
It has been found that 80% of all travel decisions are made by women.
The search volume for the term 'female solo travel' across all search engines has increased by 62% over the past three years.
59% of female solo travelers would travel alone again in the next 12 months.
Regardless of what is going on in the world, it has been found that 86% of women state that they are not afraid to travel.
65% of women in the US have vacationed without their partner.
27% of travel agents believe that sightseeing and shopping are the most popular activities when women are booking travel.
It has been found that 75% of those who take adventure, cultural or nature trips are women.
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2021 data shows 42% of women are travelling less frequently by any means of transport.
Only 16% of women in 2022 are worried about getting Covid-19 vs. 37% in 2021.
39% of women still worry about changing travel restrictions in 2022.
23% of females will travel closer to home.
4% of women report traveling just as much, just not by air.
17% of women will fly only on specific, trusted airlines.
23% of women will travel by air only if they have to.
29% of women will travel less frequently by air.
Covid-19 had a huge impact on many different industries, travel being one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. While the travel industry is picking up, it has impacted how women choose to travel.
Sources: Solofemaletravellers, Shepackslite, Statista,
38.1% of business travelers pre-Covid were women.
11.2% of European business travelers pre-Covid were women, as opposed to 15% of men.
63.6% of women traveling for business felt somewhat unsafe taking business trips during the pandemic.
43.5% of female business travelers were worried about becoming infected with Covid 19 while travelling.
A study of female business travelers during Covid demonstrates that they felt nervous about business travel during the pandemic and worried about catching Covid 19 while traveling.
Sources: Shepackslite, Statista,
46% are aged between 25-39.
57 is the average age for women travellers in the UK.
54% of affluent travellers with incomes of over $250,000 are women.
11.2% of women who travel on business are business owners, in comparison to 15% of men.
When examining women travel statistics, it is obvious that senior citizens are one of the fastest-growing demographics in this sector. Data on those over 50 reveal that older women are leading the way for travel in the UK and is the biggest growth area, as 57 is the average age for women travellers.
Evidently, women over 50 enjoy travelling alone because they are often divorced, single or widowed. These women are also more financially stable as 54% of affluent travellers earn over $250,000 are women.
There is no age limit for women who like to explore as it is also common for millennial women to go abroad. Women taking vacations has recently become synonymous with self-care, it is an opportunity for wellness, freedom and empowerment. Research shows that women enjoy adventure travel and like to immerse themselves in a foreign culture more so than men.
The greatest increase in solo travel in 2022 came from women aged 65 and older going from 4% in 2019 to 18% in 2022.
96% of women who have never traveled solo before would be more likely to do so on a group tour.
18% of solo female travelers recommend their country of origin as the best destination for their first solo trip.
54% of solo female travelers recommend Europe as the best destination for their first solo trip.
81% of solo female travellers are over 45 years old.
13% are aged between 35-44, 6% between 25-34 & 1% are 18-24.
27% of women have said they would consider taking a holiday by themselves.
‘Solo female travel’ returns more than 45 million results on Google.
72% of American women like to take trips solo.
55% of solo travel searches in the UK are made by women, specifically ages 25-34 who live in London.
73% of travel agents found that female travellers embark on more solo trips than males.
59% of women solo travellers would go alone again within the next 12 months.
Solo bookings have grown 45% in the last few years in this market.
54% of British females are more likely to take trips alone than they were five years ago.
The female travel market has increased by 88% in the last few years demonstrating a massive cultural shift as there has been an increasing desire for females to discover the world alone. Data reveals that women travelling alone has become more common as travel agents noted that 59% of their clients are travelling more by themselves now than 10 years ago.
Why do women vacation solo? Solo female travel statistics demonstrate traveling alone as a woman gives them the opportunity to explore new places whilst following their own schedule and ensuing specific interests. Women love to visit different places as it gives them a chance to celebrate, reflect, learn, escape and test boundaries. In fact, it has been found that solo female travellers outnumbered solo male travellers by 67% versus 37%.
21%of females joined a small group trip in the last 12 months, either alone (17%) or with friends and family, recovering to 2019 pre-pandemic group travel levels.
In 2022, 28% of women were interested in a women-only group travel trip, vs. 65% in 2021.
24% of women in the U.S have gone on a ‘girlfriend getaway’ in the past three years.
39% of women in the US are planning on going on a ‘girlfriend getaway’ in the next three years.
The ‘girlfriend getaway’ market brings in over $200 million a year.
Over 50%of women said they were interested in traveling with a group, either mixed or women-only.
91% of females who book trips with other females are travelling with friends
8% of females who book trips with other females are travelling with relatives.
The ‘girlfriend getaway’ market constitutes over $200 million a year and is evidently popular amongst women travellers. Women often like to take trips with a female friend if they are not travelling solo and is something that 24% of American women have done recently and 39% intend to do in the future.
Female travel companions range from bachelorette parties, trips with female relatives or even a big group getaway with their female friends. Women enjoy travelling with friends as seeing the world is often more fun with others as it is a chance for them to enjoy common interests together. It is also understood that safety comes in numbers when travelling, especially when visiting somewhere known to have a higher crime rate.
Interest in group travel in 2022 has decreased compared to the pandemic’s peak in 2021, but is still important for solo travellers going on their first trip.
$125 billion is the expected spend made by women on travel this year.
67 million women will make travel decisions this year. As women control $15 trillion in spending power and are therefore driving an explosive growth in the travel industry.
How much is the women’s travel industry worth? It is expected that $125 billion will be spent by women to take vacations this year and is, therefore, a major market within this industry. It is also apparent that it is women who make decisions when travelling over men. Due to the increase in demand, we can expect to see women spending more money on travel in the future.
A survey conducted by the International Currency Exchange (ICE) found that women are more likely to spend when they travel in comparison to men. 15% of women stated that they spend more than £200 a day, whereas this is just 5% for men. This is because women see travelling as a chance to reward themselves and see it as an opportunity to escape.
Sources: GirlPowerMarketing, GutsyTraveler, Bustle
45% of agents found that Europe is the most popular destination for women.
The top 10 destinations for American women travelling solo are: Cuba, Macedonia, Guatemala, UAE, Luxembourg, Egypt, Nepal, Mexico, Albania and Finland.
The top 10 safest destinations are: Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Uruguay, Switzerland, Belgium, Iceland, Austria, Chile and Japan.
When considering factors such as culture, safety, scenery, women’s rights and adventure for solo female travellers, Japan came out on top. This was followed by France, Spain, USA, Indonesia, Italy, Australia, Canada, Portugal and the Philippines.
Research shows that India is the fastest-growing destination for solo travellers, tour operators have credited this interest to the TV series The Real Marigold Hotel. The fastest-growing female-friendly destinations are then followed by Italy, then Sri Lanka.
Where are the safest places for women to travel?
Post-pandemic, the top 5 safest destinations for women to travel to are:
- Slovenia
- Rwanda
- UAE
- Japan
- Norway
Safety has a huge influence when females choose their solo female-friendly travel destinations. Travelling alone can be challenging and empowering however being safe is seen as the top priority for women.
What stops women from traveling alone?
- 69% said safety was their main reason for not travelling alone.
- 50% were concerned about getting lost.
- 46% didn't want to feel lonely.
Sources: BBC, GutsyTraveler, HostelWorldGroup, JetSetter, LonelyPlanet, AmperSand
Before a trip, the top 4 risks that women consider are:
Pickpocketing/purse snatching (93%)
Credit card fraud (86%)
Identity theft (63%),
Taxi scams (62%)
While traveling, women business travelers manage safety by:
Regularly communicating with family or friends (58%)
Staying only at trusted hotels (56%)
Sharing itineraries with family and friends (51%)
In 2021, 90%of female travellers were motivated to travel alone due to the flexibility it offers.
Getting away from routine and responsibilities was the second leading motive for86%of females traveling alone.
87% of women travel for beautiful scenery in comparison to 72% of men.
17% of females travel for history, culture and education.
16% of females travel for beach escapes.
15% of females travel for adventure.
13% of females like to travel on cruises.
Most women are looking to have ‘experiences’ when they travel.
2015 started the trend for females to quit their job and travel the world.
69% of females draw their inspiration from travel.
Why do females travel solo? Solo travel for women is focused on freedom, impulsivity as well a chance to meet new people. Women are still interested in luxury vacations and spa holidays, but female travellers are becoming increasingly interested in taking more active adventures. Solo travelling is an opportunity for relaxation but also an opportunity for women to experience new things.
Women are also increasingly bilingual which makes travelling easier and safer, it also allows for more cultural opportunities and a chance for women to feel intellectually stimulated.
Sources: Statista, GutsyTraveler, Forbes, MappingMegan
3% of women in the UK share their experiences on social media.
The ‘Solo Female Travellers’ group on Facebook has more than 27,000 members.
62% of women use social media to keep in touch with home.
75% of women use social media to help them find the best places to eat and the best activities to do.
58% of women say that social media makes them feel safer when they travel.
Searching ‘solo travel’ on Pinterest has surged by 600% in 2018.
These trends demonstrate the significance of social media for female travellers. The platforms act as a destination image library, a safety net, an inspiration guide and a place for recommendations. Social media has everything a female traveller needs!
It allows access to constant information and communication whilst at the same time giving them the chance to relax and enjoy the freedom of travelling. Social media and safety are also particularly important for solo female travellers as 58% of women say that social media makes them feel safer when they travel.
Women sharing beautiful destination photos on Instagram accounts have become a huge phenomenon within the travel industry. There are 500 million active users sharing on Instagram and around 80 million photos being uploaded a day which is why many females look for travelling inspiration on Instagram. With the increase in travel bloggers and the use of hashtags to explore destinations, Instagram is the perfect place to be inspired.
Sources: Skift, FlightNetwork, TravelDailyNews, Trekksoft, NationalGeographic, CNTraveler
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