Have you ever travelled alone for a holiday? How did you cope with eating solo in restaurants or paying extra for a single room? These are questions being asked in a new study by QUT business academic Dr Connie Bianchi.
Dr Bianchi, from the QUT Business School, is researching the motivation of solo travellers in a series of studies on the changing nature of tourism.
"Going alone on holidays is regarded as a bit strange and solo travellers are certainly not catered for by hotels and tourism operators," Dr Bianchi said.
"However, solo travel is on the rise - there's even a blog for solo travellers - but the hospitality and tourism industries are only slowly coming to terms with this.
"Solo travellers can be married or unmarried, travelling on their own for leisure and are thought to be part of the substantial change in travel and leisure demands resulting from an ageing but active population, a rise in childless couples and singles and a trend towards later marriage.
"The little research on solo travel has shown solo travellers are mostly either young or female, and/or have a relatively high preference for adventure and back-packing tourism.
"There is also some evidence that solo travellers' spending is rather high."
Dr Bianchi said tourism operators will need to understand the motivations and needs of solo travellers and adapt to this important segment.
"Although solo travellers enjoy freedom and flexibility they do want to meet other people and interact with locals.
"For instance, lone travellers have reported feeling awkward around eating alone in restaurants - restaurateurs could provide round tables or large communal tables where people could sit naturally among others."
If you have travelled solo recently for a holiday and would like to take part in the study, please contact Dr Bianchi at constanza.bianchi@qut.edu.au.
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au
** High res pic of Ms Bianchi available for media use.
