Female solo travel has grown rapidly recently, becoming a more prominent section of the tourismindustry. Although female solo travelers represent the rising segment of the global tourism market,many places continue to fail to target this demographic effectively. Despite its growing popularity,this phenomenon remains underexplored. The present study seeks to expand the existing body ofknowledge by investigating rather understudied issues of destination selection, activity preferences,and perceptions of loneliness on female solo journeys. An additional goal was to determine the mainbenefits and challenges of traveling alone as a woman. For this purpose, a qualitative approachwas applied, with 36 interviews conducted in November 2023. The findings revealed four differentfactors influencing urban destination choice by female solo travelers. A variety of activity preferencesand perceptions of loneliness across four distinct aspects were further discussed. The findingsalso revealed the link between loneliness and selected activities and highlighted key benefits andchallenges associated with women’s solo travel. The insights contribute to the understanding of thebehaviors of this rising market segment, allowing destinations to develop and tailor products andexperiences that will meet their needs and target this demographic effectively. The article concludeswith theoretical and practical implications and future research suggestions.
This study explores how tourism experiences can cultivate inner peace through the interaction of environmental, emotional, and cognitive factors. Using qualitative data from 30 solo tourists in Da Lat, Vietnam, the research integrates the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model with Attention Restoration Theory (ART), flow theory, and mindfulness to explain the psychological process behind eudaimonic well-being in tourism. The findings indicate that inner peace emerges through the resonant interaction of four experiential conditions: the restorative qualities of natural environments, the calming influence of cool climates, the mindful rhythm fostered by slow tourism, and the self-reflective capacity enabled by conscious solitude. Together, these conditions constitute a therapeutic experiential context that facilitates emotional restoration, sustained presence, and heightened self-awareness. Building on these insights, the study advances the Resonant Inner Peace Pathway framework, conceptualizing inner peace as a multilayered and processual psychological phenomenon rather than as a transient or purely affective state. Practically, it provides insights for developing nature-based, mindful, and slow-paced tourism models that enhance tourists' mental well-being and promote sustainable destination design. This study therefore reframes tourism not as an escape from reality, but as a conscious process oriented towards inner harmony and existential balance.
Tourism is frequently portrayed as a catalyst for intercultural understanding and peace, yet empirical evidence remains inconclusive. While some studies highlight tourism’s potential to reduce prejudice and foster harmony through interpersonal contact, others question whether tourism actively promotes peace or merely benefits from its presence. This study examines the role of personal contact in advancing intercultural understanding within the peace-through-tourism framework. Data were collected from 1,300 visitors to the Canary Islands through a two-wave longitudinal design: pretrip and posttrip surveys. Bayesian mixed effects models were employed to capture temporal changes in satisfaction and attitudes while accounting for individual heterogeneity. Results reveal that both the type and quality of contact significantly influence tourist satisfaction and attitude change, with negative encounters exerting disproportionately stronger effects than positive ones. These findings offer theoretical insights into contact-mediated mechanisms and practical implications for leveraging tourism as a tool for promoting positive peace.
This study investigates the transformative role of stakeholder education in conflict-affected tourism landscapes, focusing on Nagaland, Northeast India. Utilizing an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, this research draws on in-depth interviews with local tourism stakeholders, including guides, homestay operators, and cultural facilitators, to explore how education reshapes narratives, fosters intercultural understanding, and promotes peacebuilding in regions historically misrepresented as remote or unsafe. The findings reveal that education enables tourism professionals to act as cultural ambassadors, dismantling entrenched stereotypes and bridging communication barriers through storytelling, digital platforms, and experiential encounters. Festivals such as the Hornbill Festival serve as living classrooms, where shared learning and identity negotiation build mutual respect and resilience. Respondents consistently highlighted education not merely as a tool for skill development but as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy and bottom-up peacebuilding, culminating in the idea of education-as-andragogy in tourism. By positioning tourism as a relational and educational process, this study contributes to the discourse on sustainable tourism and the narrative justice. This aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), affirming that inclusive education and stakeholder empowerment are pivotal in fostering sustainable development and long-term peace in conflict-affected regions. The insights from this study offer valuable guidance to destination management organizations and policymakers in addressing gaps in tourism planning and policy formulation in conflict-prone areas.
