Two in five now travel as solos, encouraged by free single supplements.
BOSTON – Joe Cali, president of Overseas Adventure Travel, the leader in small groups on the road less traveled, announced the Top 5 destinations for American boomer and senior solo travelers in 2016 based on bookings year-to-date. Of OAT’s 50 trip choices, the five most popular destinations for solo travelers in 2016 are Iceland, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos, India, Botswana (safari), and Italy (Sicily). Since 2012, OAT has offered Free Single Supplements on every one of its small group adventures and on all of its optional pre-and-post-trip extensions.
“Our most popular trip choices for solo travelers are as varied as our travelers themselves,” said Cali. “The diverse destinations speak to the myriad interests of the American boomer and seniors generations, while the increase in solo travelers reflects the growth of these demographics and the awareness that solos are an integral part of all of our groups.”
Of OAT’s five most popular trips for solos, Iceland leads the way in terms of bookings year-to-date, followed by Machu Picchu and the Galapagos, India, Botswana, and Italy (Sicily). Botswana has the largest percentage of solo bookings vs. total travelers (47%), followed by India (46%) and compared with Iceland (40%), Sicily (39%), and the Galapagos (32%).
More than 16,500 solo travelers have booked an OAT trip for 2016, representing two in five, or 40 percent, of all OAT travelers. By year-end, OAT anticipates 22,685 solo travelers out of a total 56,896 travelers – up from 20,046 solo travelers in 2015 (39% of all travelers), 17,318 in 2014 (38%) and 14,865 in 2013 (37%).
According to the Administration on Aging, between 2003-2013 the number of Americans aged 45-64 increased by 20.7%, while the number of Americans aged 60 and older increased by 30.7% – from 48.1 million to 62.8 million. The population 65 and older has increased from 35.9 million in 2003 to 44.7% in 2013 (24.7% increase) and is expected to double to 98 million in 2060. In 2014, 72% of men aged 65+ were married vs. 46% of women 65 and older.
OAT offers Americans aged 50 and older culturally-rich adventures in groups of just 10-16 travelers by land and 14-25 by small ship. Destinations include Botswana, the Serengeti, India, Burma, China & Tibet, Java & Bali, Vietnam, Thailand, Colombia, the Galapagos, Peru, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Albania, Turkey, Morocco, Israel and beyond. The company offers a Solo Friendly program, with Free Single Supplements on its adventures and all pre-and-post-trip optional extensions, a Free Matching Roommate Program, Free Online Travel Companion Program, and more.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
