Solo female travel – experiences and spatial practices of female travellers

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the key aspects of solo female travel highlighted in previous scientific research, with a particular focus on the motivations of solo female travellers, the relationship between gender and space, limitations and safety concerns, and strategies for mitigating risks. The analysis draws on relevant academic literature from the fields of tourism, gender studies, and feminist geography. Although motivations for solo travel are often linked to personal development, empowerment, and the desire to explore new places, female travellers face numerous spatial and social constraints. In response to these challenges, they develop various coping strategies aimed at resisting fear and gender stereotypes. However, there is a noticeable lack of research focused on analysing the perception of tourist destinations as either desirable and safe or undesirable and unsafe for solo female travellers, as well as on identifying the key factors that shape these perceptions. For a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, it is important to include sociodemographic data, along with the spatial context, which opens up opportunities for further research from geographical perspectives. Future studies may contribute to shaping a tourism offer that better meets the needs and ensures the safety of solo female travellers.