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A 'journey of her own'?: the impact of constraints on women's solo travel
Abstract
Women are increasingly active in the participation and consumption of travel, and are now recognised as a growing force within the tourism industry. This trend is linked to changing social and political circumstances for Western women around the world. Within Australia specifically, women's opportunities for education and for earning equitable incomes through employment have improved. Furthermore, traditional ideologies of the family have shifted, so that social expectations of marriage and the production of children do not yield as much power as they once did. As a result of these shifts, women living in contemporary Australia have a wider range of resources and opportunities with which to access an ever-increasing array of leisure/travel choices.It appears that one of the many ways in which women have been exercising their relatively recent financial and social autonomy is through independent travel. The solo woman traveller represents a growing market segment, with research showing that increasing numbers of females are choosing to travel alone, without the assistance or company of partners, husbands or packaged tour groups. However, little empirical research has explored the touristic experiences of solo women travellers, or examined the constraints and challenges they may face when journeying alone.'Constraints' have been described variously as factors which hinder one's ability to participate in desired leisure activities, to spend more time in those activities, or to attain anticipated levels of satisfaction and benefit. While the investigation of constraints has contributed to the leisure studies discipline for a number of decades, the exploration of their influence on tourist behaviour and the tourist experience has been virtually overlooked. Research has shown that despite the choices and opportunities women have today, the freedom they have to consume those choices, and to access satisfying leisure and travel experiences, may be constrained by their social and gendered location as females. Although theorisations of constraint have remained largely in the field of leisure studies, it is argued and demonstrated in this thesis that there is potential in extending constraints theory to the inquiry of the tourist experience.Grounded in theoretical frameworks offered by gender studies, feminist geography, sociology and leisure, this qualitative study set out to explore the impact of constraints on women's solo travel experiences. Forty in-depth interviews were held with Australian women who had travelled solo at some stage of their adult lives. Adopting an interpretive and feminist-influenced research paradigm, it was important to allow the women to speak of their lives, constraints and experiences in their own voices and on their own terms. In line with qualitative methodologies, it is these women's words which form the data for this study. Based on a 'grounded' approach to data analysis, the results reveal that constraints do exist and exert influence on these women's lives and travel experiences in a myriad of ways. Four inter-linking categories of constraint were identified, namely socio-cultural, personal, practical and spatial. Further definition of these categories evolved, depending on where the women were situated in their stage of the solo travel experience (that is, pre-travel or during-travel).The results of this study show that there are identifiable and very real constraints facing solo women travellers. These constraints could stem from the contexts of their home environments, or from the socio-cultural structures of the destinations through which they travelled. However, these constraints were not immutable, insurmountable or even necessarily consciously recognised by many of the women interviewed. In fact, it became increasingly evident that women were findings ways and means to 'negotiate' their constraints, challenges and limitations. Three dominant negotiation responses to constraint could be identified; the women could choose to seek access to solo travel when faced with pre-travel constraints: they could withdraw from solo travel because of those same constraints, or they could decide to continue their journeys as a result of their in-situ constraints.Evidence of women negotiating suggests that constraints are not insurmountable barriers, and confirms that constraints do not necessarily foreclose access to travel. Furthermore, a focus on negotiation re-positions women as active agents in determining the course of their lives and the enjoyment of their solo travel experiences, rather than as passive acceptors of circumstance and constraint. Linking with the concept of negotiation, solo travel was also shown to be a site of resistance, freedom and empowerment for these forty women. Through solo travel, it was apparent that the women could transgress the structures and roles which influenced and governed their lives.This thesis shows that, through solo travel, the women interviewed found an autonomous and self-determining 'journey of their own'. At the same time, the extent to which this really was a journey of their own was questioned and revealed to be problematic under a feminist/gendered lens. Thus a more appropriate concept of women's solo travel is that it is a 'relative escape'. That is, their journeys, escapes and experiences were always situated relative to the societal expectations and perceptions of home; relative to the gendered perceptions and ideologies of the destination, and relative to the limited spatial freedoms as a result of a socially constructed geography of fear.
... Understanding the term "solo traveler" requires navigating various interpretations within the current literature. Some studies define solo travel based on the arrival status of an individual (McNamara and Prideaux, 2010), while others focus on whether someone travels alone or mostly alone (Wilson, 2004;Bianchi, 2016). In addition, solo travel encompasses diverse experiences such as visiting friends and relatives, backpacking, business travel and volunteer tourism (Campbell, 2009;Gomes and Montenegro, 2016;McNamara and Prideaux, 2010;Wantono and McKercher, 2020) but also digital nomads and medical tourists who may follow the same pattern. ...
... Solo travelers focus solely on the arrival status of individuals at their destinations. While they may begin their journey alone, they might join other travelers or arrange experiences with tour guides during their trip (Foo, 1999;Wilson, 2004). This distinction enhances our understanding of solo travel and its variations in tourism experiences. ...
... Interpersonal constraints involve individuals' relationships with others and a lack of suitable companions, a significant concern in solo travel (Chung et al., 2017;Osman et al., 2020). Intrapersonal constraints relate to psychological perceptions like lack of confidence and anxiety (Wilson, 2004). Structural constraints encompass physical and demographic factors such as time and financial limitations, which can be particularly impactful for solo travelers due to the absence of cost-sharing companions (Yang, 2021). ...
Purpose
This study aims to empirically investigate solo travel behavior, comparing decision-making, destination choice, motivations, perceived experiences and constraints between the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic eras.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative and qualitative data to enhance reliability and flexibility. An online survey attracted 250 respondents, providing demographic data and pandemic-related insights, complemented by eight in-depth interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to extract key findings on motivations, constraints and destination choices.
Findings
The findings reveal that, pre-pandemic, independence and flexibility were key motivators for solo travel, with safety and budget as significant constraints. During the pandemic, half of the respondents continued solo travel, mainly within Europe, facing constraints related to destination choice and health concerns. Post-pandemic, solo travel interest resurged, emphasizing unchanged motivations but reduced concerns over companionship and planning. The study identifies a “traveling for revenge” trend post-pandemic, showcasing a desire to overcome constraints imposed during the pandemic.
Originality/value
The study contributes original insights into the nuanced changes in solo travel behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a deeper understanding of solo travelers' evolving mindsets. It is one of the few studies to examine the pandemic's impact on solo traveling, providing short-term shifts in motivations and constraints with implications for the travel industry.
... People have equal rights regardless of their economic and social status (Wilson, 2004). Although rights are equal, gender as understood in society imposes various roles on men and women. ...
... In the literature review on the social status of women in human history and today, one of the most common problems is gender (Wilson, 2004) and that the historical development of tourism studies related to this dates back to the mid-1990s (Aitchison, 2005;Mottiar, Quinn, 2004). Conceptually, gender is the cultural meanings associated with the biological sex of individuals (Henderson et al., 1996). ...
... In the international literature, there are a lot of studies on women travelling alone (Carvalho, Baptista, Costa, 2014;Chiang, Jogaratnam, 2006;Harris, Wilson, 2007;Jordan, Aitchison, 2008;Jordan, Gibson, 2005;McNamara, Prideaux, 2010;Myers, 2010;Obenour, 2005;Seow, Brown, 2018;Wilson, 2004;Wilson, Little, 2005Valaja, 2018;Yang, Khoo-Lattimore, Arcodia, 2018). The increase in studies on women travellers, especially in recent years, can be attributed to an increase in women's tendency to travel alone. ...
The aim of this study is to examine differences in women’s perceptions of travel constraints by personality trait, according to age, educational level, personal income, travelled destination, the purpose of travelling, the time spent travelling, the region travelled to and the factors that affect the choice of destination. The survey data collected from a sample of 304 women travellers were analyzed by performing one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that there are significant differences between women’s perceptions of travel constraints and personal income, the region they travelled to and the purpose of travelling. Significant differences between women’s personality traits and age, education level, duration of travel, destination and destination choice were also found.
... Several studies suggest that solo women travelers seek adventure, social interaction, education, self-understanding and learning about new cultures (Hamid et al., 2021;Osman, Brown, & Phung, 2020;Su & Wu, 2020;Wilson & Little, 2008). Wilson (2004) demonstrated that women's motivations for independent travel are related to the desire to challenge themselves, extend themselves out of their comfort zone, and develop a sense of autonomy and individuality. However, self -discovery can differ among nationalities, and for some Asian women, it's achieved by challenging social expectations (Yang et al., 2019). ...
... While traveling, women and men perceive and experience constraints in different ways. Women may face constraints of a more specified, unique, and limiting nature (Wilson, 2004). ...
... So, women feel more constrained in their freedom to go out alone at night and to use public spaces, such as cinemas, pubs, public transport, some city areas, and isolated and remote nature, including outdoor recreation. (Wilson, 2004). Due to feeling of powerless, some women may blamed themselves for being 'in the wrong place at the wrong time,' and may see it as their responsibility to avoid dangerous places (Wilson & Little, 2008). ...
Solo female travel represents a growing market segment, with an increasing number of females preferring to travel alone. This paper aims to explore the international solo women's traveler experience; it uses a novel approach by studying the comprehensive experience of solo women travelers through analyzing user-generated content. It explores the opportunities, motivations, and constraints faced by solo women travelers. The content of user-generated videos is crucial to destinations' attractiveness and image. In this context, the researchers analyzed the 50 most viewed YouTube videos shared by solo women travelers using both inductive and deductive approaches. The content of the videos was analyzed using Leximancer to classify the most commonly occurring concepts in the text of transcripts, while the videos were also watched, and manual coded in relation to a conceptual model developed based on the existing academic literature. The findings showed a relationship between the type of accommodation solo females choose to stay in and the willingness to meet locals. Furthermore, the time of the day and the destination's reputation heavily influenced the activities and safety perception of the travelers.
Management implications
Destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and travel planners aiming to target solo women travelers are encouraged to first recognize this interesting segment. Based on the videos that we have analyzed more content like this could be made available and having a DMO who caters specifically to the need of solo female travelers will enhance the destination image and will encourage others to come and visit. A solo female traveler-friendly destination could be launched for, and by, destinations that allow solo females to freely move and practice their activities at any time and any place. This will encourage travelers to visit, and consequently, the presence of other females will increase the overall safety perception as was found in the current research.
... The term "solo travel" in tourism literature can often be defined simply as a person traveling alone to a particular destination (Foo, 1999). According to another definition, Wilson (2004) stated that solo travel is a type of travel that is similar to independent travel and is a form of travel that prefers freedom and flexibility rather than more structured tour packages or organized travel. He also stated that tourists traveling alone and independently have different wishes, expectations and needs than tourists participating in mass tourism (Wilson, 2004). ...
... According to another definition, Wilson (2004) stated that solo travel is a type of travel that is similar to independent travel and is a form of travel that prefers freedom and flexibility rather than more structured tour packages or organized travel. He also stated that tourists traveling alone and independently have different wishes, expectations and needs than tourists participating in mass tourism (Wilson, 2004). The increase in demand for independent and solo travel types reflects a trend called "new tourism", which reflects a broad and global tourism phenomenon (Buhalis, 2001;Poon, 2003). ...
While the number of solo travelers is increasing, there is limited research on this topic. This study aims to analyze the articles published on solo travel by using the bibliometric mapping method. Using the Web of Science database, all fields were selected in the search tab and "solo travel" was scanned. Article was selected as the document type, 170 journals were determined without any year or other limitations within the scope of the study, and 266 articles published between 1990-2023 were examined. Articles were analyzed using VOSviewer in terms of publications, authors, countries of authors, keywords in the publication and citations, using bibliometric analysis methods and visualized with network analysis. In line with the findings of the study, it was determined that the articles about traveling alone started to be published in the literature as of 1990 and showed fluctuations after 2005. It has been determined that the most cited journals are "Current Issues in Tourism" and "Tourism Review International", respectively. In addition, it was determined that the most frequently cited keywords were "solo travel", "motivation" and "pressure" in the articles examined, and Little and Wilson were the most cited authors. However, it has been determined that the most productive countries for solo travel are Australia, New Zealand, England and the USA, respectively. This study reveals that solo travel still offers unexplored areas for academic research and provides a basis to inspire future studies.
... Depending on the empirical corroboration, it is not imperative for the solo traveller to be fully independent. However, it can be suggested from limited research on solo travellers that they tend to be independent travellers who value independence and elasticity over packaged and structured holidays (Wilson, 2004). The study's significance therefore stems from its feminist objective to create societal reform via research (DeVault, 1996). ...
Purpose - This research explores the motivations and constraints of solo female travelers in Kashmir and Ladakh, focusing on their pursuit of independence and personal freedom while addressing social and cultural challenges. It also examines how these factors influence their destination choices.Methodology - A quantitative approach was used, with surveys distributed to 275 solo female tourists in popular Kashmir and Ladakh destinations. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.Findings - Solo female travelers are primarily motivated by independence, self-improvement, and unique experiences. Psychological factors such as escaping daily routines and boosting confidence were key, while sociocultural constraints like gender norms and family disapproval hinder independent travel.Originality - This study fills a gap in existing literature by focusing on solo female travelers in Kashmir and Ladakh. It offers valuable insights for tourism stakeholders to enhance the experiences of this emerging group and suggests strategies to boost female solo travelers' confidence and engagement.
The tourism sector is subject to constant change in response to global events, socio-economic changes, and individual preferences. However, women traveling alone encounter numerous barriers that impede their engagement in tourism and leisure activities. These barriers are influenced by structural, socio-cultural, economic, and psychological factors, as well as gender inequalities. This chapter examines the factors that limit women's leisure travel, focusing specifically on the constraints faced by women working in the tourism sector. Reducing these barriers will not only contribute to gender equality but will also support sustainable tourism practices by increasing women's well-being. The chapter puts forward a series of recommendations for policymakers, tourism professionals, and the business community to make independent travel safer and more accessible for women. In conclusion, the chapter emphasizes the critical importance of promoting social and structural changes to increase women's travel opportunities as a means to achieve gender equality.
The rise of solo travel has become a significant trend in the leisure sphere; nonetheless, there is limited understanding of how solo travelers utilize social media throughout their travel process. This lack of insight represents a research problem, as it hinders the ability to enhance solo travel experiences through social media engagement. Addressing this gap, this study investigates the specific ways in which solo leisure travelers experience and engage with social media during their journeys. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 solo travelers to explore the impact of social media on their travel experiences. Analysis revealed five key themes: sharing experiences, seeking information, documenting memories, minimal use of social media, and feelings of loneliness and connection. The findings demonstrate that social media plays a multifaceted role in shaping solo travel experiences, serving as a tool for information gathering, memory preservation, and maintaining social connections. However, an emerging trend of minimal social media use reflects a desire among some travelers for greater mindfulness and immersion in the present moment. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between social media use and solo travel, highlighting implications for travelers and the tourism industry in catering to the evolving needs of independent travelers in the digital age.
Today, there is an international travel mobility of nearly two billion. This mobility is increasing day by day in Turkey as well. However, it is seen that women travel abroad less than men. Starting from this problematic, the aim of the study is to examine what are the barriers for women to travel abroad compared to men, and how they struggle with these barriers with the theory of leisure time constraints. It is also to explore the travel experiences, motivations and constraints of women traveling abroad. In this study, qualitative research method was applied. In the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 40 participants living in 13 different provinces of Turkey. According to the research findings, the factor that most affects women in the category of personal restrictions is lack of self-confidence, gender positioning and inequality in the category of social constraints, and lack of financial resources in the category of structural constraints. As a result, women participate in travel activities by developing various struggle strategies, travel experiences affect women's lives. This situation changes the perceptions towards women and affects the social structure. In addition, travel experiences, preferences and limitations of secular and conservative women differ from each other.
Around The world, Solo travel is now not a niche market. It contributes significantly to the overall travel business on its own and has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Many people daydream of having a life filled with travel and adventure as they sit at their desks at work. This paper tries to investigate the interest of Woman to travel Solo and also studies the problems faced by woman during their trips. The research paper shares some key insights to the reasons that trigger the interest to travel among woman. The target population were woman in different parts of Kerala. Chi-Square test was done to investigate the link between age and problems faced by women.
The purpose of this paper is to provide a review and an interpretive framework for examining the “ethic of care” (i.e., the activity of relationships) as it offers possibilities and constraints for the leisure of women. The explanatory implications of the ethic of care are useful in further understanding antecedent and intervening constraints to leisure as well as understanding the empowering possibilities of leisure for women. The paper uses a feminist framework to address the concept of an ethic of care, the ways that the ethic has been embodied in leisure behavior for women primarily within the family, the link between an ethic of care and constraints to leisure for women, and the possibilities for the value of an ethic of care in the leisure of all individuals. In describing the experiences of women, the ethic of care is not meant to further dichotomize males and females in leisure but to offer an explanation of women's leisure and to provide some ideas that require further empirical research.
This study focuses on discerning the differences between older adults who travel and those who do not, and also on distinguishing between destination choices. Data show that several variables account for differences among older adults, and consideration is given to the role of continuity theory as one possible explanation of the outcomes.
This chapter takes a trip through cultural geographical work on tourism. The author considers tourism within cultural geography as something about which cultural geographers embark on generating new knowledge. He explores how geographies of tourism have been done, to what effect and how these have been situated and mediated. Critical tourism research therefore usually stems from Marxist, feminist, postcolonial, queer, environmentalist, or poststructuralist theories. This chapter is organized around hermeneutic "threads" - which are admittedly neither complete nor perfectly linear. The first such thread starts with neo-Marxist research critiquing tourism capitalism, and then discusses post-capitalist and relational approaches to understand the situatedness of tourism work, livelihoods, and performativities. The second thread considers the theme of spaces of encounter, embodiment, and ethics. The "trick" of tourism capitalism is its ability to commodify entire places and spill outwards from the edges of organized capital to saturate all other elements of place.
This article reports findings from a survey of business users towards the services provided by hotels. Although there are few significant differences between male and female executives towards general services, evidence is produced that — on some issues relating to accommodation and factors such as safety — while there is a commonality of concern between the sexes, females are more sensitive than their male counterparts. Some suggestions emanating from a focus group of female executives are also reported.
A gap exists between women’s leisure experiences and the theoretical constructs available to them to talk about and investigate their experiences. This paper suggests that the method of memory-work, by offering women a framework for individually and collectively writing, sharing and reflecting on their leisure related memories, can begin to bridge this gap. Using this framework women participating in this research were able to challenge the traditional view of holidays as leisure. Holidays as leisure were problematic because they could contain four elements not assigned to holidays by traditional leisure researchers: obligation, work, social disapproval and responsibility. Participation in this research led some women to discoveries about leisure in their lives which changed the way they viewed leisure.
The nature and content of the leisure studies literature in the next century will be influenced by the methods that researchers employ. Therefore the purpose of this study is to explore the current attitudes, knowledge and practices concerning qualitative research of a group of active North American leisure researchers (n = 115) in order to understand the changes that may lie ahead. Findings suggest that attitudes toward qualitative data are surprisingly positive. A majority of the survey respondents had undertaken at least one qualitative study and felt that qualitative data hold many potential benefits to leisure studies. A majority of the sample were favorable about graduate students learning about and engaging in qualitative research. Results suggest that our understanding of leisure in the next millennium may be based on a broader variety of data collection methods.
The potential role of historic theme parks in providing domestic tourists with an “authentic” insight into their history and culture is examined in this paper. Previous analyses of “authenticity” and its role in travel are discussed and it is argued that these analyses have not allowed for the possibility of seeking authentic insight into the past. An analysis of the advertising material of six major historic theme parks indicates that “authenticity” is actively promoted as part of the experience offered at theme parks. Evidence from studies of visitors to two Australian historic theme parks is presented illustrating that the visitors believe that authenticity is an important element of their experiences. Authenticity is also an important factor in satisfaction with their visits. This evidence, however, conflicts with the views of social scientists writing about authenticity and travel. A number of questions are raised about conceptual thinking on the topic of authenticity.
The purpose of this field study was to test whether leisure participation and satisfaction, as well as a set of social variables, would be related to perceived wellness. Data were collected from 219 men and women employed in local firms. Leisure participation and leisure satisfaction were found to be positively associated with perceived wellness. To examine the relative contribution of a set of behavioral and social variables that correlated significantly with perceived wellness, a stepwise regression analysis was used. For this sample, family satisfaction accounted for about 26% of the variance in perceived wellness, leisure satisfaction for 10%, and health satisfaction 7%. Implications and applications of the findings to leisure and allied practitioners are discussed.