Women in Southeast Asia are embracing independent travel, according to the findings of TripAdvisor’s inaugural Women and the World Travel Survey. The study of over 600 women from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia found that one in three (36 per cent) travel alone for leisure, with 43 per cent planning at least two solo trips this year.
According to the survey, four in five women (80 per cent) in Southeast Asia cited the ability to do whatever they want without worrying about others as the main reason for travelling without friends or family. When it comes to the destinations for solo travel, four in five (81 per cent) are planning to venture within Asia, followed by exploring their home country (36 per cent) and Europe (36 per cent).
Of those who travelled alone, three in four (75 per cent) women reported that the experience has changed them, with feeling more confident, learning something about themselves and becoming more aware of their surroundings as the top three changes they experienced.
The survey also found that two in five women (41 per cent) go on leisure trips with other women, with more than half (53 per cent) planning at least two trips this year.
The majority of women questioned cited the ability to enjoy the same activities, followed by bonding with other women as the motivating factors for travelling with other women. Their favourite activities when travelling with other women are shopping (76 per cent), experiencing local cuisine (67 per cent) and indulging in beauty and wellness activities (54 per cent).
Cindy Tan, vice president, APAC, TripAdvisor, said, ?Women in Southeast Asia are embracing the positive effects from travelling by themselves or with other women. With female travel on the rise whether for business or leisure, it is clear that this traveller segment can no longer be ignored.?
