More and more of them are traveling the roads.
“Solo” travelers now constitute a separate sector, which certain tourism players no longer hesitate to take over.
The territory seems limitless for women looking for new adventures.
A number already announced the color a few years ago.
According to the World Tourism Organization, the number of solo female travelers increased from 54 million in 2014 to 138 million in 2017. And it is expected to continue to increase in the coming years, at the same time as women become more socially and financially emancipated.
“It’s becoming common to meet solo female travelers. “More and more of them are sharing their experiences
,” explains Mélanie Couillard, founder of the Facebook group Dare Voyager Seule, which brings together some 27,000 members.
In this discussion group, (future) travelers share their questions and their own experiences.
Something to reassure those who are hesitant to take the plunge.
On the destination side, certain trends are becoming clearer.
“
For a first trip, solo travelers tend to head to large European cities, on a
city trip format
that lasts a few days
,” notes Mélanie Couillard.
Lisbon, Barcelona, Naples and even Rome are particularly popular, because of their living environment, but also their accessibility.
Sunny destinations
Some even choose to stay in France.
“For a first trip, many also go overseas: the change of scenery, the absence of a language barrier and a certain cultural proximity explain this choice
,” continues the long-term traveler.
Above all, we prefer sunny destinations, like many travelers.
This is confirmed by Émilie Straub, marketing and communications director of Copines de Voyage, an agency which offers turnkey stays exclusively reserved for women.
The latter notes a strong enthusiasm for Greece, a “
very varied destination, between its islands and the land part, with
Athens
and Thessaloniki
”.
Also in the Mediterranean zone, Morocco is doing well.
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What about much more distant destinations?
According to different sources, female travelers are turning to Southeast Asia.
With, in the lead, Bangkok and, generally speaking, Thailand and its nearby islands.
“
We also see a very strong rise in power in
Vietnam
compared to last year
,” observes Émilie Straub.
At Copines de Voyage, the number of departures to the South-East Asian country has also “
doubled
” in one year.
More rare, some opt for Cambodia and Laos.
It also happens that others choose Korea or Japan: “
Often, it is because they have cultural affinities with these countries, through reading manga for example
,” underlines Mélanie Couillard.
The so-called “small steps” method
Female travelers favor Thailand for a first solo trip (here, on the island of Phuket).
day2505 / day2505 - stock.adobe.com
Most of the time, these very distant stays are organized after a first trip to a closer destination, French or European.
“
It’s the method of small steps: we start with a few days in a nearby place before moving on to more distant lands
,” explains the founder of Ose Voyager Seule.
It is true that the process is attractive: “
if you fear distance and cultural shock, going to Europe first can be reassuring.
But the best destination is the one that makes us dream, that really makes us want to
,” says Lucie Azema, journalist and author of the book
Women Too Are Traveling.
Emancipation through departure
(Flammarion, 2021), interviewed in our
Voyage Questions podcast
.
But here, nothing gendered.
Although the question of security is obviously very present in the minds of travelers (and will often guide their choice of accommodation, for example), it does not represent the essential criterion.
“Certain countries, which are renowned for being very safe and are at the top of the rankings for gender equality, such as Iceland
and
New Zealand, are not the preferred destinations for women traveling alone
,” observes Mélanie Couillard.
The price, the attractiveness of the destination, but also its ease of access are all criteria that they will take into account... just like men.
It is therefore not surprising that the destinations cited are also those recommended by other categories of travelers.
The fear of insecurity can, however, guide those who begin a first solo journey.
Latin American countries still suffer from a bad image among some of them.
“
Peru ,
Bolivia
, Mexico and Colombia suffer from a fairly negative reputation, marked by the image of cartels and potential sexual assaults
,” explains Mélanie Couillard.
“
There are also a lot of preconceptions about Muslim countries
.”
So many clichés that you just have to deconstruct by talking with other travelers and people around you.
“You have to ask yourself if, in the same situation, a man would ask himself the same questions.
If the answer is no, then you have to go
,” advises Lucie Azema.
Enough to open up an infinite field of possibilities.