The rise of solo travel and how to make the most of it. In recent years, more and more people are choosing to travel alone. Between 2015 and 2017, solo travel bookings increased by 42% (TravelDailyNews).In addition, a survey by MMGY Global revealed that a quarter of respondents plan to travel alone in the future. So it looks like the solo travel market is on the rise and shows no signs of slowing down.
Solo Travel
The search term “solo travel” has been growing in popularity every year since 2009. So why do people want to travel alone these days?
According to a survey of women traveling alone, 46% said a sense of freedom and independence prompted them to decide to travel alone. More than 22% said they didn’t want to wait for others, while 15% said traveling alone is a way to challenge themselves and regain confidence.
Of course, everyone’s reasons are different, but the trend is clear: solo travel is growing in popularity. And with that, spending by solo travelers has also increased. Most spend between $500 and $1,500 per week, with 24% spending more than $1,500 per week on their travel (Solo Traveler World).
As the market grows by double digits, it’s a good time to assess whether your offers are optimized for solo travelers.
To find out, we need to take a closer look at the solo travel market.
Next, we’ll look at some of the ways tour operators and tour operators can make the most of the solo travel trend.
Ready? Let’s go.
Solo Travel Market
It is difficult to profile solo travelers as they come from a wide range of backgrounds in terms of age, income, and nationality. However, we can define some patterns.
The majority of solo travelers tend to be women over 55, often with higher incomes (Travel Agent Central).
That said, a significant portion of solo travelers are millennials, characterized by increased use and familiarity with digital technologies. When it comes to things to do, most solo travelers are looking for the main sights, but they’re also looking for out-of-the-ordinary experiences. This means that offering a mix of alternative tours and traditional routes can be a successful strategy to attract solo travelers.
And when traveling alone, solo travelers often want to meet new people, whether locals or fellow travelers. This is why offering group tours for solo travelers is, paradoxically, a very good idea.
Meet the needs of solo travelers
Now that we know more about the solo travel market, it’s time to think about your deals. How can you ensure that your tour or activity meets the needs of the solo traveler? This is what we will see next.
Group tours for solo travelers
As we can see from the table above, solo travelers are actively looking for new social connections. And one of the best ways to meet new people is to go on a group tour with other people.
In fact, guided tours increased for solo travelers from 21% to 46% between 2013 and 2015 (PATA). You can also organize a guided tour for solo travelers, or just specify that it’s suitable for solo travelers. For example, some multi-day tours require visitors to sit at different tables so they can meet new people every time they have lunch or dinner.
Make a video about solo travel tips
People tend to feel scared or at least uncomfortable before traveling alone for the first time to a new place. That’s why they tend to research online, especially looking for suitable safety tips and experiences for solo travelers.
If you already use video for your marketing (which you should), it can be relatively easy to create a YouTube clip with top tips for solo travelers.
For example, you can watch this video which has more than 400,000 views and offers tips for solo travelers.
Add a dedicated page on your site for solo travelers
If someone is looking for deals, a dedicated page on your site for solo travelers can make a big difference in their decision. You can include things like special offers, tips on local experiences, and itineraries to meet solo travelers in your city.
This will make your website stand out from the crowd and give the impression that your tour or activity is specially designed for the solo traveler.
Recommend taking pictures
Adding photos as part of an offer or gift is a great idea to enhance the solo traveler experience. Well, that’s a good idea for all your customers. But keep in mind that solo travelers may not have anyone taking pictures, which adds even more value to them. Conclusion
From all the data available, it seems that solo travel is growing and is here to stay.
By knowing the solo travel market, you’ll be better prepared to capitalize on trends and respond to customer needs.
While it’s hard to label solo travelers, we do know that they’re predominantly female and are often part of baby boomers or millennials.
We also know that they are looking for unusual experiences and want to meet new people while traveling. This can help you create new offers for solo travelers and capture a larger share of that market. Things like special offers, group tours, and customizing your website can work well to attract solo travelers and make sure they leave your tour or activity happy 카지노사이트.