Large-scale Survey Reveals Solo Travelers Undaunted by Coronavirus

Solo travelers have the money and the desire. Here's how they'll travel post-pandemic.

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Nov 10, 2020, 09:00 ET

TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst a backdrop of COVID-fueled travel restrictions, solo travelers are forging ahead with plans to travel more often and more sustainably. Solo Traveler, the preeminent publication for those who travel alone, announced the results of their 8^th annual reader survey with the support of Overseas Adventure Travel, the leader in solo-friendly tours. Nearly 3,000 respondents shared their thoughts regarding solo travel and the Coronavirus, making it clear that they have the desire, the financial means, and intentions for their return to both domestic and international travel.

"The response to this year's survey was overwhelming," said Janice Waugh, publisher of Solo Traveler. "We received more than double the responses compared to previous years with 80% of the respondents being women. This demonstrates a huge pent-up desire for travel."

"Solo travelers are by nature independent and bold, and that's reflected in their need to get back out into the world," said Brian FitzGerald, CEO and president of Overseas Adventure Travel. "Solo travelers are also telling us how important it is to make travel sustainable and supportive of local communities. They don't simply want to see the world – they want to shape it too."

When they will travel and what will be different
More than three-quarters (77%) of solo travelers are willing to travel internationally as long as they do not need to quarantine at their destination. The survey, with 2,915 respondents, indicates that a Coronavirus vaccine is not the most important factor affecting when solo travelers will travel internationally again. Sixty-one percent (61%) said they would travel internationally once a vaccine is available. Respondents also revealed that travel will take a higher priority than before.

46% will travel more often
25% will take longer trips
16% will opt for greater luxury

Financial means to travel
Survey results suggest that many solo travelers will spend more on travel than they have in the past. Fortunately, the majority of solo travelers continue to have the financial means to fulfill their travel desires. Seventy-one percent (71%) of respondents overall reported that the pandemic has had no impact on their financial ability to travel, while 14% noted they now have more money and 15% reported having less. It should also be noted that respondents over 45 years of age are in a better financial position than those under age 44. However, overall, 43% of respondents indicated that they will set a new priority for travel in their personal budgets.

How they will travel
The survey also asked how solo travelers will travel differently once they can go internationally. More than half (53%) of respondents indicated that they are likely to take escorted tours when they can travel internationally again. This is three times the number who are not likely to take a tour.

The survey also revealed that:

40% will travel more consciously and sustainably
40% favour Europe and the UK as a destination, outstripping every other destination
26% will take more road trips

For more information, visit the Statistics page on Solo Traveler.

About Solo Traveler
Founded in 2009, Solo Traveler is a website and online community with a mission to inspire, inform, and advocate for those who travel alone. With over a quarter million active members in the Solo Travel Society on Facebook, Solo Traveler serves a large, diverse, and engaged community of solo travelers around the world. New content is published twice a week and weekly newsletters provide 55,000 subscribers with additional content, including 100+ solo travel tours and cruises with no or low single supplements from a wide array of providers.

About Overseas Adventure Travel
Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel. In 1992, owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation to support communities in which Grand Circle works and travels, including some 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwide—among them, 100 schools, in 50 countries. The Foundation is an entity of the Lewis Family Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $200 million since 1981.

SOURCE Overseas Adventure Travel