Exploring Motives Associated with Solo Travellers

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Family and Community Resource Management, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
  • 2Department of Family and Community Resource Management, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Res. J. Family, Community and Consumer Sci., Volume 14, Issue (1), Pages 30-35, January,27 (2026)

Abstract

Solo travel has emerged as a significant phenomenon in contemporary tourism, attracting individuals seeking independence, self-discovery, and authentic cultural engagement. Unlike traditional group travel, solo travel is motivated by deeper psychological, social, and experiential factors, ranging from personal growth to exploration and freedom from routine. The present study aimed to explore the motives associated with solo travellers. A descriptive research design was adopted, with purposive sampling of 321 solo travellers from Vadodara and Ahmedabad cities. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that more than half of the respondents relied on social media as the primary source of information before undertaking solo travel. Leisure travel was the most preferred type of tour (53%), followed by adventure, cultural, and heritage tours, while religious travel was least chosen. Weighted mean analysis highlighted that curiosity to explore new places, boosting self-confidence, engaging with people from diverse backgrounds, stepping beyond comfort zones, and enjoying one’s own company were the strongest motivational factors. The study concludes that solo travel in India is largely intrinsic and self-exploratory in nature, driven by personal development, exploration, and mental well-being. The implications suggest that tourism service providers and stakeholders should design inclusive, personalized, and experience-driven travel products catering to the needs of solo travellers, thereby supporting sustainable tourism aligned with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

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