Retired women leading solo travel trend, says Newmarket

Retired women are “leading the charge” for solo travel, according to bookings data from escorted tours specialist Newmarket Holidays.

Figures from more than a year’s worth of sales show that eight in 10 (81%) bookings for the operator’s Exclusively Solo group tours are made by women, and almost half (46%) are aged 65 to 74.

Italy is the most popular destination with a tour of Western Sicily topping the bookings chart.

India’s Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is second in the list of most-booked locations; tour exploring the highlights of the Scottish Highlands is third; with a Kenyan safari followed by a beachside getaway in fourth.

Newmarket Holidays’ Solo Traveller Collection launched in May 2023 and now includes 10 tours that are exclusive to solo travellers, plus more than 20 standard group tours with no single supplements for guests travelling on their own.

David Sharman, chief commercial officer at Newmarket Holidays, said: “In a very short period of time, solo travel has become an incredibly popular product range for us and the growth has been driven by the over-50s market, especially females who are demonstrating a determination to explore the world.

“They feel confident to go away without friends or family, but they want the camaraderie of travelling in a group and the security of knowing there are experts on hand to help them at every step of their adventure.

“Solo travel is traditionally associated with young adventurers, but our data shows that retirees are picking up the mantle, travelling to a wide range of destinations, and enjoying the huge range of experiences available with escorted tours.

“It is a trend we think will continue to offer lots of opportunities for agents.”

Pictured: Solo women travellers at Taj Mahal.

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