The Continuing Rise of Solo Travel in 2019

Among the new trends to debut in the travel world this year, one grew so strongly in 2018 travel pros predict it will continue to grow at the same rapid rate in 2019: solo travel.

Solo travel doesn’t bring the shock and awe it once did to the faces of a solo traveler’s family and friends. The concept has become more mainstream during the past few years and is no longer wrought with concern over an individual’s safety or wellbeing. The stigma around traveling solo used to hint a person was lonely or couldn’t find anyone to travel with. But now, the journey has been embraced by novice and experienced travelers alike.

One reason this trend will continue to surge is due to the rise in digital nomads, or individuals who can work from pretty much anywhere. Being employed in New York but able to log into work from a coffee shop in Tokyo makes travel a lot more flexible and accessible, especially for those who don’t even have a base office.

Travelers without an immediate social network, such as one often found in a workplace, also embark on solo trips but by joining group trips on which every other attendee is a stranger, a great jumping-off point for travelers who want to go solo but need a bit of a push.

Finally, mobile apps like Tourlina and MayDay can help solo travelers stay safe while traversing the globe. Users can set up alerts for family and friends in case of emergency and share their location for an extra layer of safety.