949
Views
3
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Going solo during the pandemic: a generational segmentation of solo female travellers

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon &
Pages 381-395 | Received 15 Sep 2022, Accepted 29 Dec 2022, Published online: 07 Feb 2023

References

  • Abbasian, S. (2019). Solo travellers to city destinations: An exploratory study in Sweden. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 5(1), 35–50. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-01-2018-0001
  • Allan, M., & Shavanddasht, M. (2017). Rural geotourists segmentation by motivation in weekends and weekdays. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 19(1), 74–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1467358417694513
  • Arli, D., Kim, J., Rundle-Thiele, S., & Tkaczynski, A. (2019). Australian migrants’ social cultural adaptation and consumption behaviour towards food and alcohol. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 43(1), 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12439
  • Barrett, A. E., & Douglas, R. (2020). Footloose and fancy-free: Online travel advice to older and younger women. Journal of Women & Aging, 86(2), 189–222. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2020.1766943
  • Bernard, S., Rahman, I., & McGehee, N. G. (2022). Breaking barriers for Bangladeshi female solo travelers. Tourism Management Perspectives, (41), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100932
  • Bianchi, C. (2016). Solo holiday travellers: Motivators and drivers of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. International Journal of Tourism Research, 18(2), 197–208. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2049
  • Booking.com. (2021, April 28). How to guide: Booking.com shares 8 top tips for solo travel. Booking.com. https://news.booking.com/how-to-guide-bookingcom-shares-8-top-tips-for-solo-travel-gb
  • Bravo, R., Catalán, S., & Pina, J. M. (2020). Intergenerational differences in customer engagement behaviours: An analysis of social tourism websites. International Journal of Tourism Research, 22(2), 182–191. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2327
  • Brugulat, M., & Coromina, L. (2021). Constraints of solo female backpackers in Southeast Asia. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, (6), 640–653. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2021.1886134
  • Chiang, C.-Y., & Jogaratnam, G. (2006). Why do women travel solo for purposes of leisure? Journal of Vacation Marketing, 12(1), 59–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766706059041
  • Crawford, D. W., & Godbey, G. (1987). Reconceptualizing barriers to family leisure. Leisure Sciences, 9(2), 119–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490408709512151
  • Dann, G. M. S. (1981). Tourist motivation an appraisal. Annals of Tourism Research, 8(2), 187–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(81)90082-7
  • Dolnicar, S., & Leisch, F. (2010). Evaluation of structure and reproducibility of cluster solutions using the bootstrap. Marketing Letters, 21(1), 83–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-009-9083-4
  • Fieger, P., Prayag, G., & Bruwer, J. (2019). ‘Pull’ motivation: An activity-based typology of international visitors to New Zealand. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(2), 173–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1383369
  • Gardiner, S., Grace, D., & King, C. (2014). The generation effect: The future of domestic tourism in Australia. Journal of Travel Research, 53(6), 705–720. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287514530810
  • Gibson, H., & Jordan, F. (1998, July). Travelling solo: A cross-cultural study of British and American women aged 30-50 [conference presentation]. 4th International Conference of the Leisure Studies Association, Leeds, UK, 31 July.
  • Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2014). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson.
  • Hajibaba, H., Grün, B., & Dolnicar, S. (2019). Improving the stability of market segmentation analysis. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 32(4), 1393–1411. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-02-2019-0137
  • Haugen, J. (2018, July 31). Going it alone: Solo travel on the rise. Adventure Travel News. https://www.adventuretravelnews.com/going-it-alone-solo-travel-on-the-rise
  • Heimtun, B. (2012). The friend, the loner and the independent traveller: Norwegian midlife single women’s social identities when on holiday. Gender, Place & Culture, 19(1), 83–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2011.617881
  • Heimtun, B., & Abelsen, B. (2013). Singles and solo travel: Gender and type of holiday. Tourism Culture & Communication, 13(3), 161–174. https://doi.org/10.3727/109830414X13911221027443
  • Hill, R. (1998). What sample size is “enough” in internet survey research. Interpersonal Computing and Technology: An Electronic Journal for the 21st Century, 6(3-4), 1–12.
  • Hosseini, S., Macias, R. C., & Garcia, F. A. (2021). The exploration of Iranian solo female travellers’ experiences. International Journal of Tourism Research, 24(2), 256–269. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2498
  • Huang, Y.-T., Tzong-Ru, L., Goh, A. P. I., Kuo, J.-H., Lin, W.-Y., & Qiu, S.-T. (2022). Post-COVID wellness tourism: Providing personalized health check packages through online-to-offline services. Current Issues in Tourism, 3905–3912. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2022.2042497
  • Jensen, J. M., & Hjalager, A.-M. (2019). Travel motivations of first-time, repeat, and serial backpackers. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 19(4), 465–477. https://doi.org/10.1177/1467358418781440
  • Jordan, F., & Aitchison, C. (2008). Tourism and the sexualisation of the gaze: Solo female tourists’ experiences of gendered power, surveillance and embodiment. Leisure Studies, 27(3), 329–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614360802125080
  • Karagöz, D., Işık, C., Dogru, T., & Zhang, L. (2021). Solo female travel risks, anxiety and travel intentions: Examining the moderating role of online psychological-social support. Current Issues in Tourism, 24(11), 1595–1612. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2020.1816929
  • Kerstetter, D. L., Yen, I.-Y., & Yarnal, C. M. (2005). Plowing uncharted waters: A study of perceived constraints to cruise travel. Tourism Analysis, 10(2), 137–150. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354205776259295
  • KPMG. (2017). Meet the Millennials. https://home.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/uk/pdf/2017/04/Meet-the-Millennials-Secured.pdf
  • Li, X., Li, X., & Hudson, S. (2013). The application of generational theory to tourism consumer behavior: An American perspective. Tourism Management, 37, 147–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.01.015
  • Madaleno, A., Eusébio, C., & Varum, C. (2019). The promotion of local agro-food products through tourism: A segmentation analysis. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(6), 643–663. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1296417
  • Major, L. E., Eyles, A., & Machin, S. (2020). Generation COVID: Emerging work and education inequalities. http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/cepcovid-19-011.pdf
  • Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224–253. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.98.2.224
  • Martin, P., & Bateson, P. (1986). Measuring behaviour: An introductory guide. Cambridge University Press.
  • McKercher, B., Lai, B., Yang, L., & Wang, Y. (2020). Travel by Chinese: A generational cohort perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 25(4), 341–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2019.1709877
  • Meyerding, S. G. H., Bauchrowitz, A., & Lehberger, M. (2019). Consumer preferences for beer attributes in Germany: A conjoint and latent class approach. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 47, 229–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2018.12.001
  • Monteiro, A., Lopes, S., Silva, J., Dincar, N., & Correia, M. (2021). The azores and solo travel: A segment to bet on. Proceedings of the International Conference on Tourism Research, 376–383. https://doi.org/10.34190/IRT.21.097
  • Nguyen, D. T. A., & Hsu, L. (2022). Exploring visit intention to India among southeast Asian solo female travelers. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 25, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2022.100725
  • Ngwira, C., Tse, S., & Vongvisitsin, T. (2020). Negotiation strategies and constraints for solo female travelers in Africa. Tourism Culture & Communication, 20(1), 35–47. https://doi.org/10.3727/109830420X15859302993081
  • Nikjoo, A., Markwell, K., Nikbin, M., & Hernández-Lara, A. B. (2021). The flag-bearers of change in a patriarchal Muslim society: Narratives of Iranian solo female travelers on Instagram. Tourism Management Perspectives, (38), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100817
  • Osman, H., Brown, L., & Phung, T. M. T. (2020). The travel motivations and experiences of female Vietnamese solo travellers. Tourist Studies, 20(2), 248–267. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468797619878307
  • Pennington-Gray, L., Fridgen, J. D., & Stynes, D. (2003). Cohort segmentation: An application to tourism. Leisure Sciences, 25(4), 341–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/714044495
  • Polson, E. (2021). The sociality of #solotravel. In A. Hill, M. Hartmann, & M. Andersson (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of mobile socialities (pp. 167–177). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003089872-17
  • Prayag, G. (2010). Images as pull factors of a tourist destination: A factor-cluster segmentation analysis. Tourism Analysis, 15(2), 213–226. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354210X12724863327768
  • Ruiz-Alba, J. L., Nazarian, A., Rodríguez-Molina, M. A., & Andreu, L. (2019). Museum visitors’ heterogeneity and experience processing. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 78, 131–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.12.004
  • Sánchez-Pérez, M., Terán-Yépez, E., Marín-Carrillo, M. B., Marín-Carrillo, G. M., & Illescas-Manzano, M. D. (2021). The impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on tourist evaluation and behavioural intentions in Spain: Implications for market segmentation analysis. Current Issues in Tourism, 24(7), 919–933. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.1889481
  • Schroeder, B. (2019, November 13). Baby Boomers, Millennials and Gen Z are all changing the $8 trillion travel industry in the same way, opening up major opportunities for entrepreneurs and marketers. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernhardschroeder/2019/11/13/baby-boomers-millennials-and-gen-z-are-all-changing-the-8-trillion-dollar-travel-industry-in-the-same-way-major-opportunities-for-entrepreneurs-and-marketers/?sh = 22426eb5279c
  • Sebova, L., Pompurova, K., Marcekova, R., & Albertova, A. (2021). Solo female travelers as a new trend in tourism destinations. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, 311–323. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72469-6_20
  • Seow, D., & Brown, L. (2018). The solo female Asian tourist. Current Issues in Tourism, 21(10), 1187–1206. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1423283
  • Siegel, L. A., & Wang, D. (2019). Keeping up with the Joneses: Emergence of travel as a form of social comparison among millennials. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 36(2), 159–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2018.1499579
  • Singh, A. S., & Masuku, M. B. (2014). Sampling techniques & determination of sample size in applied statistics research: An overview. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 2(11), 1–22.
  • Smith, A. (2022, May 23). Female solo travel: What it’s like to travel solo in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Lonely Planet. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/travelling-solo-at-every-age
  • Su, C. P., & Wu, T. C. (2021). Solo female travellers’ memorable experiences: Positive encounters with male strangers. World Leisure Journal, 63(1), 40–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2021.1887998
  • Sung, Y. A., Kim, K. W., & Kwon, H. J. (2021). Big data analysis of Korean travelers’ behavior in the post-COVID-19 era. Sustainability, 13(1), 310. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010310
  • Terziyska, I. (2021). Solo female travellers: The underlying motivation. In M. Valeri & V. Katsoni (Eds.), Gender and tourism (pp. 113–127). Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-322-320211007
  • Valentine, G. (1989). The geography of women’s fear. Area, 21(4), 385–390.
  • Wantono, A., & McKercher, B. (2020). Backpacking and risk perception: The case of solo Asian women. Tourism Recreation Research, 45(1), 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2019.1636180
  • White, D. D. (2008). A structural model of leisure constraints negotiation in outdoor recreation. Leisure Sciences, 30(4), 342–359. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400802165131
  • Wilson, E., & Little, D. E. (2005). A ‘relative escape’? The impact of constraints on women who travel solo. Tourism Review International, 9(2), 155–175. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427205774791672
  • Xie, L., & Ritchie, B. W. (2019). The motivation, constraint, behavior relationship: A holistic approach for understanding international student leisure travelers. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 25(1), 111–129. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766717750421
  • Yang, E. C. L., Lai, M. Y., & Nimri, R. (2021). Do constraint negotiation and self-construal affect solo travel intention? The Case of Australia. International Journal of Tourism Research, 24(3), 347–361. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2506
  • Yang, E. C. L., Nimri, R., & Lai, M. Y. (2022). Uncovering the critical drivers of solo holiday attitudes and intentions. Tourism Management Perspectives, 41, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100913
  • Yang, E. C. L., Khoo-Lattimore, C., & Arcodia, C. (2018a). Constructing space and self through risk taking: A case of Asian solo female travelers. Journal of Travel Research, 57(2), 260–272. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287517692447
  • Yang, E. C. L., Khoo-Lattimore, C., & Arcodia, C. (2018b). Power and empowerment: How Asian solo female travellers perceive and negotiate risks. Tourism Management, 68, 32–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.02.017
  • Yang, E. C. L., Yang, M. J. H., & Khoo-Lattimore, C. (2019). The meanings of solo travel for Asian women. Tourism Review, 74(5), 1047–1057. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-10-2018-0150
  • Ying, T. J., Awang, K. W., & Bojei, J. (2017). Generation Y Malaysian women’s perception towards solo travel. Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism, 6(2), 45–54. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid = 2-s2.0-85047760560&partnerID = 40&md5 = 58391e0a2df4b9c421b50b87ee0fe3c2
  • Zelia, B., Adriana, S., Tamara, K., & Gorete, D. (2020). Profile, motivations, and experiences from Portuguese solo female travelers. In P. Abraham, H. A. Husam, & A. A. Adenike (Eds.), Contemporary management approaches to the global hospitality and tourism industry (pp. 131–150). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-2204-2.ch008
  • Zhang, Y., & Hitchcock, M. J. (2014). The Chinese female tourist gaze: A netnography of young women’s blogs on macao. Current Issues in Tourism, 20(3), 315–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2014.904845
  • Zhong, Y., Shapoval, V., & Busser, J. (2021). The role of parasocial relationship in social media marketing: Testing a model among baby boomers. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 33(5), 1870–1891. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-08-2020-0873

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.