The study of over 600 women from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia found that one in three (36%) travel alone for leisure, with 43% planning at least two solo trips this year.

The study also reveals four in five women (80%) in Southeast Asia cited the ability to do whatever they want without worrying about others as the main reason for travelling without friends or family.

When it comes to the destinations for solo travel, four in five (81%) are planning to venture within Asia, followed by exploring their home country (36%) and Europe (36%).

Of those who travelled alone, three in four (75%) women reported that the experience has changed them, with feeling more confident, learning something about themselves and becoming more aware of their surroundings as the top three changes they experienced.

The survey also found that two in five women (41%) go on leisure trips with other women, with more than half (53%) planning at least 2 trips this year. Majority of them cited the ability to enjoy the same activities, followed by bonding with other women as the motivating factors for travelling with other women. Their favourite activities when travelling with other women are shopping (76%), experiencing local cuisine (67%) and indulging in beauty and wellness activities (54%).

“Women in Southeast Asia are embracing the positive effects from travelling by themselves or with other women,” said Cindy Tan, vice president, APAC at TripAdvisor. “With female travel on the rise whether for business or leisure, it is clear that this traveller segment can no longer be ignored.”

• Photo credit (woman at China’s Great Wall): Vincent St.Thomas/Shutterstock