Women solo travellers: motivations and experiences

Abstract

 100 RESUMO Introdução: O conceito de mulher solo traveller, apesar de recente, tornou-se um segmento turístico relevante. Estas turistas procuram mais do que uma viagem de um lugar para outro. Escolhem ir sozinhas na busca de aventura, independência, sentimento de realização pessoal, individualidade e fuga. Não viajam sozinhas porque não têm escolha ou porque são solitárias. São levadas por motivações específicas e conscientes. Objetivos: Neste trabalho conceptual, são categorizadas motivações de mulheres solo travellers com base na revisão da literatura, a fim de identificar por que as mulheres escolhem viajar sozinhas. O foco deste artigo é explorar a relação entre essas motivações e as suas experiências de viagem fornecendo um modelo conceptual. Métodos Através de uma ampla revisão de literatura centrada no conceito de motivações e experiências turísticas, permitiu-nos organizar determinadas motivações que levam as mulheres a viajar sozinhas e as suas correspondentes experiências como solo travellers. As escalas multidimensionais consideram oito dimensões de motivações: (1) escape, (2) auto-identidade e desenvolvimento, (3) desafio, (4) conexão com outros, (5) aprendizagem, (6) aventura, (7) novo perspetivas de vida, e (8) autonomia; e cinco dimensões de experiência: (1) sensação, (2) sentir, (3) pensar, (4) agir e (5) relacionar-se baseado no modelo Schmitt da experiencia turística (Schmitt,1999). Resultados: Apesar de uma extensa revisão da literatura, há poucos estudos baseados em experiências e motivações de mulheres solo travellers. Conclusões: Ainda que se trate de um mercado pouco explorado e estudado, ganhou inúmeros apoiantes em todo o mundo, traduzindo-se em um impacto expressivo não só em termos sociológicos, mas também na experiência turística. Palavras-chaves:Turismo; Motivações; Women Solo Travel; Experiência. ABSTRACT Introduction:The concept of female solo traveler, despite recent, has become a relevant tourist segment. As tourists, these women are looking for journeys that bring more than a trip from one place to another. They choose to go alone in the pursuit of adventure, independence, feeling of personal fulfillment, individuality and escape. They do not travel alone because they have no choice or because they are loners. They are driven by specific and consciousness motivations. Objective: In this conceptual work, a set of solo travel motivations are categorize based on literature review, to identify why women, choose to travel alone. The focus of this article is to explore the relationship between these motivations with women solo travel experiences providing a conceptual model. Methods: An extensive literature review focusing on the concept of tourism motivations and experiences provide a framework that allows assesses the specific motivations that driven women into travel alone and the corresponding solo traveler experience dimensions. The multi-dimension scales considers eight motivations dimensions: (1) escape, (2) self-identity and development, (3) challenge, (4) connectedness wit...

The exploration of Iranian solo female travellers' experiences

“…In line with previous studies (Karagöz et al, 2021;Osman et al, 2020;Pereira & Silva, 2018;Johnson, 2010;Jordan & Aitchison, 2008;Reichel et al, 2007;Seow & Brown, 2018;Wilson & Little, 2008;Nikjoo, Markwell, et al, 2021a;Nikjoo, Zaman, et al, 2021b), our findings on female solo travellers also have we found that women's rights to fully enjoy excursions are hampered in many traditional Iranian families due to stereotypical expectations for women and control over them. As traditionally women are not allowed to travel alone, many Muslim women's travelling plans require approval from other family members.…”

Antecedents of tourists’ solo travel intentions

“…The literature on solo travel is mostly exploratory and focuses on female solo travelers (Chiang and Jongaratnam, 2006; Douglas and Barrett, 2020; Jordan and Gibson, 2005; Karagöz et al , 2020; McNamara and Prideaux, 2010; Osman et al , 2020; Pereira and Silva, 2018; Seow and Brown, 2018; Wilson and Little, 2008; Yang et al , 2018; Yang et al , 2019). These studies suggest that women travel solo predominantly to feel a sense of autonomy, for self-development or to meet new people (McNamara and Prideaux, 2010; Wilson and Harris, 2006).…”

“…Research finds that solo tourists feel pleasure from experiences that provide opportunities for personal growth, to escape from the ordinary and to meet other people (McNamara and Prideaux, 2010;Pereira and Silva, 2018;Webster and Rennie, 2011;Yang et al, 2019). Thus, feelings of pleasure from past solo-travel experiences are predicted to increase satisfaction with past solo-travel experiences as follows:…”

Tourist behavioral intention in visiting attractions in Quezon Province

“…The women's motivations for independent travel and tourism experiences are related to the desire to learn, self-development, challenge themselves, find a sense of identity and autonomy, meet new people and experience new life and adventure moments. These motivate solo women travel experiences (Pereira & Silva, 2018). On the other hand, young women may be travelling more because they have greater freedom and choice arising from greater economic, social, and leisure independence (Tilley & Houston, 2016).…”