Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Just ahead of the International Women’s Day, TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site revealed the findings from its annual Women Traveller Survey 2015, collected from 1300 female respondents in India.

As per this survey, Ahemdabad has emerged as the safest city for women traveller followed by Pune and Mumbai, while Delhi/NCR has been emerged as the most unsafe city amongst the top 10 Indian cities polled followed by Jaipur and Koklata. Banglore has dropped to 5 spot this year from 3 last year.

Ahmedabad retained the title of the ‘safest city’ for women travelers with 91% votes followed by Pune (90%). Mumbai dislodges Bangalore to claim 3rd spot with 88% votes.

The survey, now in its third year is aimed at understanding the travel sentiment and preferences of Indian women while travelling solo or as part of an all-women group.

For the first time this year, the survey draws comparison across 9 other geographies apart from India that includeAustralia, US, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia and Southeast Asia. 10,481 female travellers participated in the survey globally (including India).

According to Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager, TripAdvisor India “It appears that lesser Indian women now perceive travelling alone in India as unsafe (only 11% this year versus 33% last year).However, foreign destinations are still perceived to be safer with only 1% of Indian women indicating nervousness about travelling alone abroad.”

Among the 59% respondents who have never travelled alone, only a 10% felt it was unsafe to travel in India. Other reasons include:

-They prefer having a companion (42%)

-22% have not had the opportunity to travel alone so far

-10% felt it was outside their comfort zone

-However, one cannot completely negate the safety aspect. 41% female travellers who have travelled alone polled: Delhi/NCRas the most unsafe city amongst the top 10 Indian cities polled followed by Jaipur and Kolkata. Among the safest cities polled, Ahmedabad leads the way followed by Pune and Mumbai. Bangalore drops to 5 spot this year from 3 last year.

-When asked about the precautions Indian women take when travelling alone,majority of women avoid going out late at night (79%),they tell or text someone where they are going (45%) and avoid quiet streets (41%)

-They also want to feel safe with their choice of accommodation (72%) with hotel chains being the most popular choice when travelling on their own (63%)

Travel Sentiment Of The Solo Women Travellers

The majority of Indian women travellers say that they travel alone because it gives them the freedom of doing whatever they want (47%), they like the independence and challenge of travelling on their own (39%) and their family or friends do not have the time or resource to travel with them (28%).

Travelling alone has helped them to be more independent and self-reliant (59%), to be more confident (42%) and to learn something about others or other cultures (39%).

Exploring Their Own Backyard Is On Top Of The List

Of the 41% Indian women travellers who have travelled alone:

-70% plan to take up to 4 solo holidays in 2015

-79% are planning to travel alone in their own country i.e. India is the favorite, followed by Europe (38%) and Asia (28%)

More The Merrier – Travelling In A Group

In addition to solo travel, women’s getaways i.e. women travelling in groups are also popular amongst Indian women. Out of the 40% who polled that they travel in a group, majority say they have been on such trips because“they want to re-connect with their friends” (56%) and “they enjoy visiting cultural, arts attractions and doing the same things on a holiday” (51%). 36% disclosed such trips gave them “a break from family life”.

When holidaying with friends, staying in hotel chains is the most popular choice of accommodation (67%) for such trips.

Indian women are also seeking luxurious holidays with close to half (47%) of women admitting that they indulge themselves by – going to an international or exotic location (61%), taking customized tours and experiences (58%) or staying in hotel suites with their female counterparts (27%).

How Indian Women Travellers Match-Up To Their Global Peers

-The sense of adventure (22%) and confidence (22%)is much higher amongst Indian women solo travellers as compared to the global averagesfor both.Only 9% global solo women travellers said their trips gave them a sense of adventureand confidence (15%)

-18% Indian women travellers polled that travelling solo helped them save money v/s the global average of just 3%

-29% Indian and 22% South-East Asian women travellers polled that travelling solo has changed the way they think about life as compared to the global average of 15%

-16% of Indian and South-East Asian solo women travelers also feel that their journeys have changed the way they live their life v/s just 11% globally

-Indian solo women travellers love their shopping (59%) way more than their global peers (43%)

-Indians solo women travellers are way more cautious than their global peers on their journey with 79% saying they avoid going out late at night v/s the global average of 64%

-Among the top international destinations for solo women travellers globally (according to TripAdvisor review data), India ranks a dismal 53 behind countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Peru, China etc.

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