I official. 2013 is shaping to be ‘The Year of Women Travelling Solo' with statistics proving that this trend is flying sky high.

According to the ‘2012 Female Travel & Lifestyle Report' conducted by lastminute.com.au, nearly 50% of Australian women have taken a holiday on their own, with almost two-thirds of those travelling overseas in 2012. From the remaining 50% surveyed, a quarter of the women were excited at the prospect of travelling alone but were too scared to do so, while the other quarter thought it would be lonely and depressing.

Hi I'm Zoë Watson, an Adelaide-born business woman who well understands the pros and cons of travelling alone. After sustaining serious injuries in a car accident, I persevered and pushed on with my hectic and stressful lifestyle (like most of us).

Almost at breaking point, I negotiated (not easily) a week off work and, tackling my innate fear of flying, booked a trip to Bali. I decided Bali was a relatively short trip to paradise.

Little did I know I had just booked a life-changing ticket.

Once there I quickly discovered that travelling alone was rewarding yet there were times when I felt a little isolated and self conscious sightseeing and eating alone, so I'd often stay by the pool and order room service rather than venture out. I also wanted to be able to relax and let go on my holiday but having to constantly organise everything myself – transport to where I wanted to go, who'd mind my bags, finding the best and safest places to visit, shop and eat – it became exhausting and often felt like a chore.

I soon realised that this was a common experience shared with many females travelling alone and so decided to solve my own dilemma, and that of many other women.

Less than a year after my trip, I resigned from the rat-race, packed up my life in Adelaide and Sydney and returned to Bali to launch Bliss Sanctuary for Women, a first-of-its-kind women's only Sanctuary established to offer a safe haven for women needing to restore, revive and reinvigorate. No men, no kids, no schedules.

I now (blissfully) dedicate my life to helping women find their own Bliss, whatever that may be. This involves constant research and collating feedback from my guests. Which allows me to share my latest discovery. The rising trend of ‘Women Travelling Solo'.

An ‘American Express Travel Agent Poll' revealed that 82% of women never check in with the office while on a girls-getaway

According to gutsytraveler.com, women – young, old, single, married or widowed are fuelling an explosive growth in the travel industry and they are packing some pretty impressive stats:

• 67 million females travelled alone or with a female companion in 2012
• 84% of women travelling alone are between 31 – 55
• The average adventure traveller is now a 47-year old female and is a size 12
• Women will spend $125 billion on travel in 2013
• Women-only travel companies have increased by 230% in the past 6 years

And while the ‘women travelling solo' trend may have started with business travel, The National Association for Women Business Owners revealed that 92% of women now travel for pleasure with many extending business trips with a week of leisure at the end.

So why is this trend flying high?

• More ‘professional' women with increased financial assets
• Women travel differently to men with 87% going for beautiful scenery compared to only 72% men
• Baby boomers now reaching retirement and financially independent
• ‘Girls weekends' have upscaled to longer, more active and luxurious vacations

In their own words:

• Women have reported feeling more appreciated by their partners and family when they returned from their holiday
• Women feel liberated, brave and alive when travelling alone
• Can sightsee, relax and eat whenever and whatever they want without subscribing to anyone else's wants or needs
• Don't have to look after partners or children while on holiday

So get with the trend and hit the road, sea or skies solo and enjoy the amazing benefits. Of course, if you're in Bali, swing by and say hi at Bliss Sanctuary for Women

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Research Sources:

https://gutsytraveler.com/women-travel-statistics-2/
https://magazine.fourseasons.com/travel-food-style/things-to-do/experiences/2013-global-travel-trends