Solo travel is becoming a major trend in the global travel market, with searches having increased by 230% over the past decade and the US market on track to double by 2030.
Solo travel is on the rise worldwide, with solo travel now evolving from a trend into a strong, growing, high-value market for tourism. According to recent market data, global searches for “solo travel” have increased by 230% over the last decade, with 1.6 million searches recorded globally in January 2026 alone.
According to data from Google Trends and Glimpse, interest in terms related to solo travel has been rising steadily since 2004, with the only significant decline occurring during the pandemic in 2020. This suggests that solo travel is not a cyclical phenomenon, but a market that is maturing and gaining increasing prominence in global tourism.
The momentum is particularly strong in the US , where the solo travel market was valued at $95 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $190 billion by 2030, according to Research and Markets. This essentially represents a doubling of the market value over six years, which demonstrates the importance of this specific audience for hotels, travel agencies, tourist destinations and experience companies.
In the US, the highest number of searches for solo travel was recorded in June 2025, whilst forecasts indicate that June 2026 will break last year’s record, with more than 8,000 monthly searches. The greatest interest is found in states such as North Dakota, Vermont and Arkansas.
At the same time, relevant searches show that the solo travel audience is not homogeneous. Terms such as “solo travel tips”, “female solo travel” and “group solo travel” reveal different needs and traveller profiles, ranging from women travelling alone to travellers who want the independence of solo travel, but within an organised group setting.
This trend is also confirmed by Go2Africa’s internal data, which shows that solo travellers now account for a growing proportion of the company’s customer base. Requests for individual travel rose from 13,07% in 2024 to 15,42% in 2025, whilst requests from couples, families and groups of friends fell slightly as a percentage over the same period.
The US is the largest source market for Go2Africa’s solo travellers, accounting for over 50% of solo travellers. Bookings for solo travel from the US market increased by 26.26% between 2024 and 2025.
43% spend more than couples
What is even more interesting for the tourism industry is the spending profile of these travellers. According to data from Go2Africa, solo travellers spend an average of 42.8% more per person than couples . This makes them a particularly attractive audience, as they appear to be seeking higher-quality, often higher-value experiences, without being constrained by the needs or compromises of a travelling companion.
In terms of trip length, 30.1% of solo travellers prefer trips of around 10 days, a length of stay that is also popular with couples, families and groups. However, solo travellers are more likely to opt for either short trips of less than a week or longer holidays of more than two weeks.
The way they plan their trips is also a key factor. In 2025, 81.18% of solo travellers already had a clear destination in mind before booking, an increase from 72.83% in 2024. At the same time, the percentage of those who carried out research before booking rose from 7.16% in 2024 to 17.20% in 2025, representing an increase of 189.29%.
This behaviour shows that solo travellers are among the most informed and research-oriented groups in the market. In fact, they carry out a greater amount of pre-trip research than couples, groups of friends and families.
Source: tornosnews.gr