Solo traveling is no longer a niche sector, it’s growing fast. According to Global Rescue’s survey of the world’s most experienced travellers, the percentage of solo travelers has more than tripled in the past 12 months. In the spring of 2023, only nine percent of women and 12 percent of men planned any solo trips. A year later those percentages skyrocketed to 37 percent for men and 32 percent for women.

A driving force fueling the independent travel trend may be an after-effect of the pandemic’s enforced isolation, which emboldened people with a YOLO (You Only Live Once) or FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) attitude, rendering them more confident than ever about spending time in solitude.

Another factor behind the solo travel increase is that people are taking time for themselves to recharge.

A third influence on the rise in independent travel is the individual’s desire to travel overriding the need to go with a travel partner. Many travellers don’t want to waste any time, especially after the pandemic ended. If no one wants to travel with them, they are going alone. Travellers aren’t delaying while their travel partners dither, they’re just going.

Dinette Wells, a 56-year-old world traveller, says she started traveling solo after a friend suddenly bailed on their Austria skiing vacation. “I had gotten my first passport and already invested the money. So, I went anyway – alone, and I’m so glad I did. I learned early it’s not worth it to give up on these amazing travel experiences just because you think you need someone to go with you.”

Solo travel demographics

Solo travel is fueled by young adults with more than 40% of independent North American travellers aged 18-to-34 years old, according to Allianz. But it’s not only younger travellers embarking on solo travel. Older adults do not hesitate to travel alone.

A recent survey by the travel organization Road Scholar, a leader in educational travel for older adults, reported that up to 30% of their 100,000 travellers each year choose solo travel, and many were 65 and older.

Divorcees are contributing to the solo travel trend, too. One survey revealed that 78% of divorced adults ranked highest demographic ready to embark on a solo vacation.

And it’s not only single people travelling solo. Some independent travellers are happily married yet choose to travel alone. The Road Scholar survey revealed that at least 60% of solo travelers were married but travelling without their spouse. Why? Four-out-of-10 respondents said their spouse wasn’t interested in travelling while a nearly equal percentage said they have different travel interests than their spouse.

Solo travel risks?

“Any type of travel can be risky. But, if you do your research, follow customs, and take the proper travel safety measures, you can bring down the risk level,” says Amanda Burrill, a global adventurer, travel writer and food connoisseur.

Researching the destination before travel is one of the first things any traveller should do to assess the level of safety and familiarize yourself with customs and traditions. That can include any number of resources, from simple Internet searches and travel blog reading to consulting a travel risk management services company. It’s also a good idea to tap into other travelers who recently have been to the destinations you’re considering.

“Every traveller should practice their situational awareness skills by getting familiar with their surroundings, establishing a baseline of activity for your area, paying attention to people’s attire, body language and behaviour and more,” adds Harding Bush, associate director of security operations at Global Rescue.

Burrill endorses using a travel agent and meeting with other solo travellers while travelling. “That can take off some of the first-timer anxiety because you’re not alone.”

YOLO triggers solo travel

Call it YOLO travel or FOMO travel – the idea of seizing the moment and exploring new places without waiting for companions aligns with an increase in solo travel experiences, which are often spontaneous, adventurous trips. Spawned by the pandemic and the stay-at-home, work-from-home arrangements contributed to a surge in solo travel. With people feeling more comfortable with the idea of traveling alone, seeking personal space, and avoiding crowded places, solo travel has become a popular choice for many.

(Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, a leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce)