• Abstract

    Tourist Security: Women’s Experience as Solo Travelers

    DOI 10.14210/tva.v27.20696
    Published date: 24/06/2025

    Purpose – This article aimed to analyze the perceptions of solo female travelers regarding safety issues during trips to Brazilian destinations.

    Design/methodology/approach – This is an exploratory and bibliographic study of a qualitative-quantitative nature, with the application of an online questionnaire. A total of 205 questionnaires were completed between May and April 2022.   

    Findings – The results indicated that solo female travelers are embedded in a context of financial independence, seeking autonomy and freedom through the act of traveling, positioning themselves as a potential group within the dynamics of tourism, as traveling represents a lifestyle for them. It was observed that fear is an emotion experienced by women during their travels in Brazil, highlighting the importance of targeted efforts to mitigate the elements that contribute to and provoke this reality.

    Research limitations/implications – The survey had a short data collection period of eight days. However, during this period, 205 responses were obtained. It is considered important to replicate this research by extending the data collection period and defining a stratification by gender, age, skin color and income, in order to gain a better understanding of the scenario of Brazilian female travelers.

    Practical implications – Interest groups operating in tourist destinations with the aim of increasing female participation must develop strategies to make the travel experience safer. This includes improving communication and public safety services, as well as improving incident recording. Investing in the training of female police officers and refining care protocols for women victims of violence are also pertinent actions.

    Originality/value – This article presents an overview that discusses women's perceptions based on data and reports of experiences when traveling alone to Brazilian destinations. The paper attempts to address a complex issue that is the relationship between feeling safe to travel and being alone from a female perspective.

Turismo: Visão e Ação

Turismo: Visão e Ação, linked to the Graduate Program in Tourism and Hospitality - Master's and Ph.D., is a scientific journal published in a continuous flow system, with an interdisciplinary and international scope. According to Qualis/CAPES criteria (2017-2020), it is classified as 'A3' in the fields of Administration, Accounting Sciences, and Tourism. Registered with ISSN number 1983-7151, Tourismo: Visão e Ação began its activities in 1998 with printed publications in English and Portuguese. In 2008, it transitioned to an online publication, expanding its reach to a broader audience. It maintains a policy of being an open-access journal without submission or access fees. The abbreviated title for the journal is Tur., Visão e Ação, commonly used in bibliographies, footnotes, references, and bibliographic captions.

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