Women today are exploring the world more than ever before, whether with family, friends or on their own, shaping key travel decisions and preferences.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Trip.com has released new insights and research data that reveal how women are driving global travel and what matters most to them when it comes to their travels.
Changing the way women travel
Globally, flight bookings for female travelers are up 13% year-on-year. This trend is particularly evident in Southeast Asia, where in Indonesia, bookings by female travelers have more than doubled compared to the previous year.
This means that women are crossing borders more than ever before. The average female traveler took one to two international trips in 2025, with South Koreans the most active group, followed by Chinese travelers.
At the same time, women are traveling more spontaneously with less planning time. The global average travel booking window in 2025 ranged from two to six weeks, and internal data shows that women in Europe are planning their trips later rather than earlier.
What Female Travelers Are Looking For
Female travelers are expanding their horizons, but on their own terms. While short-haul flights and closer destinations are still preferred, female travelers are also exploring more remote locations for their adventures. Long-haul flights are gaining ground at a faster pace, with Asia experiencing the fastest growth.
European women are looking to destinations as far afield as Bangkok and Shanghai, suggesting a stronger desire to step outside their comfort zones to explore a wider range of experiences.
While domestic travel remains a top choice for European women, interest is shifting to culturally diverse destinations such as Istanbul and Bangkok. Exotic cities such as Cairo, Buenos Aires and Lima are among the top destinations sought by European female travellers in 2026.
Safety and familiarity are also key factors that women consider when choosing a travel destination. How safe they feel when arriving late at night, walking and exploring a city or using public transport, whether travelling alone or in a group, is the most important factor for women in the UK when it comes to making travel-related decisions.
The Rise of the Solo Female Traveler
More and more women are choosing to travel alone, whether to embark on a journey of self-discovery or to have the flexibility to explore at their own pace.
This trend is seen across all age groups, but the strongest demand for solo travel is coming from women aged 25 to 34, with Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam leading the way. It is worth noting that solo travel is also seeing significant gains in Italy and France among older women, where almost one in five are 50 or older.
For millennial women, travel cost is a key consideration, with most choosing to book hotels in the 3-star and below range, especially those from Southeast Asia. On the other hand, slightly older women (aged 35 to 49) in markets such as China, South Korea and Singapore are choosing to spend more money on their solo trips, a trend that is seen from flights to hotels.
Women are shaping the future of family-friendly travel
Across all households, women are often the ones who lead travel decisions, whether it’s traveling with children, parents or grandparents. Planning a trip with the family can be stressful.
This has led to a growing demand for family travel, with women hoping to have a less stressful experience during family trips, even if it means paying more.
Finally, when it comes to family travel experiences, the data shows that guaranteed family seats on a plane, all-inclusive family packages, as well as larger family suites or connecting rooms are what women in the UK are most willing to spend more on when going on holiday with a child.
Source: tourismtoday.gr