Exclusive: Survey Finds All UK Women Under 25 Feel Unsafe Travelling Alone
Appetite for solo travel among women isn’t showing any signs of slowing – last year, tour operator Jules Verne said solo travellers accounted for 46% of bookings, with almost 70% of these bookings coming from women.
But while appetite is clearly there, that’s not to say women feel safe when they do travel alone. Far from it.
A new survey conducted by hospitality company The Social Hub, along with Opinion Matters, as part of their “Room For Her” campaign, has found that 100% of women aged 18-24 from the UK say they worry for their safety when travelling alone.
The study polled 2,000 women from eight countries in the UK and Europe.
What else did the survey find?
Their data also showed:
- Only 12% of women aged 45-54 travelling for business said they felt “very safe”.
- 40% of 18-24-year-old women say they “don’t feel safe at all” after it gets dark on their travels,
- 29% of women surveyed reported being “followed or watched” while solo travelling (that figure rose to 41% for women age 18-24).
- 16% of women surveyed said they’d experienced physical abuse or assault while solo travelling.
- 57% of women said 24/7 hotel staff would make them feel safer.
- 45% said better lighting would help.
These are “eye-opening” results
A 2024 National Police Chiefs’ Council report declared violence against women and girls a “national emergency” in England and Wales, with a possibly low estimate of about two million women and girls targeted a year.
Amber Westerborg, a director of sustainability and impact at The Social Hub, said she hopes the survey encourages the hospitality industry “to start talking and take action, ensuring safe travel for all”.
“The results are eye-opening and shine a light on a real problem across the industry,” she said.
“Women should not have to change their behaviour, limit their ambition or decline an opportunity because they don’t feel safe.”