Review article

MOTIVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN SOLO TRAVELLERS

Andreia Pereira ; Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
Carla Silva ; Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Viseu, Portugal

Abstract

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. In this conceptual work, a set of solo travel motivations are categorize based on literature review, in order to identify why women choose to travel alone. Even if it is a market that has not been very explored and studied has gained numerous supporters around the world, translating into an expressive impact not only in sociological terms, but also in its tourist experience.
An extensive literature review focusing on the concept of tourism otivations 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 with others, (5) learning, (6) adventure, (7) new life perspectives, and (8) autonomy; and five experience dimensions: (1) sense, (2) feel, (3) think, (4) act, and (5) relate. The focus of this article is to explore the relationship between these motivations with women solo travel experiences providing a conceptual model.

Keywords

women; motivations; solo traveler; experience

Hrčak ID:

205541

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/205541

Publication date:

1.2.2018.

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