Asian Solo Female Travellers

This research study explores female travellers, with a particular focus on Asian women. Asian female travellers represent a considerable part of the Asian travel market. In recent years, under the influence of globalisation and experience economy, an increasing number of single Asian women tourists are seeking meaningful travel experiences. However, existent research is mainly from a Western perspective, and research on Asian women’s solo trips is rare in the tourism research discourse. For the purpose of filling this gap, this study conducted exploratory qualitative research to observe this particular group. Data collection involved the independent travel experiences shared online by ten Asian female bloggers, focusing on their travel motivations, constraints and challenges during their individual journeys, and the significance and meaning of solo travel to them. The findings from the research reveal that many different elements can affect the travelling decisions of single Asian women. The general factors driving Asian women's travel can be categorised into three areas: travel passion, freedom, and life-altering experiences. Through travelling, they mostly have the feeling of freedom and independence from Asian gender norms and cultural identities. Meanwhile, Asian women encounter safety risks and socio-cultural constraints more frequently than male tourists and Western female tourists. Even when faced with such severe situations, they express a profound, meaningful reflection about self-improvement, broadening their horizons, and risk management