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With our Freedom Day on the horizon, I couldn’t help but think about the enormous importance that more and more people seem to be placing on their personal freedom since the COVID pandemic. It’s almost as if this sparked something in people to want more alone time and this encompasses their personal lives, their working lives and most certainly, based on trends that are emerging, their travel choices too.
I wrote a little while ago about these emerging solo travel trends but it appears that what was just something some travellers were looking into last year is now becoming much sought after and quite a sensation. A recent article I read from the authoritative travel publication, Skift, talking about the motivation behind this growing phenomenon says “Travelers worldwide have increasingly expressed an interest in embarking on solo adventures in recent years. Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2023 Report found that 54% of U.S. travellers were looking to venture solo within the following year”.
Solo travel takes SA by storm
These are pretty impressive statistics, but make no mistake this is not isolated to the USA. Right here in SA solo travel is rising in popularity and the good news is that we seem to be growing as a preferred solo travel destination. I have evidence of this too in the requests received by our own Inbound DMC, New Frontiers Tours and requests received from both UK & US-based agents, mostly offering Immersive Guided Tours, bringing almost all solo tours of one sort or another to SA.
So, what’s the attraction?
What is behind this sensation and why? The Skift article reveals quite a lot and I think it is worth sharing the gist of it with my readers who may find this solo travel emergence interesting. They say that the most significant factors are firstly, what is known as Digital Nomadism. Because more people have become accustomed to working remotely it has become a popular choice for people to combine work with travel. Secluded destinations are preferred to give people a better sense of peace and a calm working environment.
Secondly, many solo travellers seek a travel experience where they travel alone but can make a social connection too. For example, according to the report, “about 66% of Hostelworld’s guests travel solo to meet people to hang out with. The company is even creating a brand focusing on the loneliness segment”. Make no mistake though, social connection is not always a part of it. For example, many SA travellers are also welcoming solo travel but where social connection has nothing to do with it. It is simply to be able to make our own choices of where want to go. The report says, “In December 2023 travel companies were seeing an increase in older, married women going on solo trips. Flight Centre, a travel agency that operates in dozens of countries, said the most common South African travellers booking with the company were women travelling solo, with an average age of 52”.
Additionally, many solo travellers seek more personalised tours and an example of this is that “More travellers are hiring a private driver and guide to design their unique tour. This trend is popular among young families and is seeing growth in the triple digits!’’ Finally, many want remote, off-the-beaten-track experiences but this doesn’t necessarily mean being entirely alone either. A good example would be hikers who can meet up with small groups but go to very remote and exquisitely beautiful places – much like what is experienced on our own Otter and Wild Coast hiking trails.
Let’s welcome and encourage solo travel Any form of travel that brings more travellers to our shores makes me very happy and I write about this not just to enlighten my readers but to encourage our travel and hospitality industries to be aware of this emerging trend and make the most of it. Knowing that it’s happening, let’s prepare our venues and our packages to welcome these solo travellers and work together to make South Africa one of its most preferred destinations. Whether we are welcoming it – or joining the club, let’s not just be observers of this solo travel sensation – let’s pull out all the stops – and embrace it!
