Solo travel has captured the attention of mainstream media in recent years, often focussing on women or the much-hyped ‘female solo travel’. With more awareness and value placed on independence and prioritising one’s self, it makes sense that younger women – and women young at heart – are embracing solo travel. There are also more ways to travel ‘solo’ that might appeal to travellers with concerns about the safety, flexibility and value for money of solo trips. The tendency towards offering hybrid travel experiences, as outlined in our New Horizons IV report, increasingly allows consumers crossover products, co-branded co-creations and personalised travel experiences combining alone and social time, independent adventure and structured guidance.
That said, the classic backpackers are still out there – they just might not be women or people with gender-expansive identities.
The New Horizons 5 survey found that men were significantly more likely to be travelling alone. Men were also more likely to identify as ‘backpackers’. Women were more likely to be travelling in a family group or a tour group and identify as ‘travellers’. Transgender and non-binary travellers tended to identify with the ‘tourist’ and ‘traveller’ labels, though transgender and non-binary respondents represented just 1% of survey respondents.
Gender identity aside, fewer youth travellers reported travelling alone in 2023 than did in our 2017 New Horizons survey. This could be related to post-COVID interest in building new social connections or lingering weariness about travelling alone. How travel group composition looks in 2024 and beyond will be interesting to compare.
Characteristics of solo youth trips
On average, youth travelling solo tended to travel longer (60 days) than other types of youth travellers (33 days). They also spent more on their trips (EUR 3,378) than others (EUR 2,772). The booking lead time for solo travellers was shorter (10.9 weeks) compared to others (12.6 weeks) and more was spent on travel insurance, highlighting the flexibility of solo trips. Solo travellers were more likely than other youth travellers to be ‘living like a local’ or doing creative activities in destination. Learning a language was also popular with solo travellers, particularly those in the 20 to 22 age group.
Impacts of solo travel on youth
Compared to other youth travellers those who travelled alone reported more awareness of the environmental impact of travel (43% vs 34%). Solo travellers were also more open to adopting a more sustainable lifestyle as an outcome of their trip (34% vs 28%).
Personal identity considerations have an impact on those choosing to travel alone, with solo travellers more often than other youth travellers reporting that their personal identity made them anxious about visiting certain destinations (21% vs 15%) and caused them to avoid certain destinations (9% vs 6%).
Summary
In summary, fewer youth travellers went abroad alone in 2023. Those who did were more likely to be men. Solo travellers used less booking lead time for their trips and were more likely to stay longer, purchase travel insurance and spend more overall on the trip when compared to other youth travellers.
Value for money and safety are key considerations for solo youth travellers. Independent travel has the potential for high impact on youth travellers, which could be raised awareness, changed behaviour or even anxiety.
More insights on youth travel
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