Why going it alone makes for a happy holiday

As single-person breaks get more popular, industry leader claims they are a boost for mental health

MORE people are embarking on solo holidays in a bid to preserve their mental health, the chief executive of the Association of British Travel Agents has claimed.

Over the past seven years, the proportion of people going on holiday on their own rose from 6 per cent in 2011 to 15 per cent, or nearly one in six, in 2018, a study by Abta found.

Mark Tanzer, Abta’s chief executive, said many people were going on holiday alone to boost their mental health.

He told the organisation’s annual convention in Seville, Spain, that one of the most common reasons for going on holiday is “getting away from everyone”. He added: “The holiday has become a major part of our strategy for staying sane.”

Factors attributed to the increase in people holidaying alone include greater availability of Wi-fi, making it easier to keep in touch with people back home, and the growth of smartphones and travel apps, which means navigating the world is less daunting.

To accommodate the growing demand, travel firms are expanding their options for people who want to travel alone, including STA, Saga, G Adventures and Costsaver.

Traditionally, most holidays are sold based on two people travelling together, with solo travellers penalised by higher rates. But many companies have now scrapped so-called “single supplements”, which can add anything from 10 to 100 per cent to the cost of a trip.

The move comes after this newspaper launched a “Safer, Fairer Better” campaign, calling for the eradication of unfair solo travel supplements.

Mr Tanzer added: “Going on holiday by yourself means you don’t have to compromise on your choice of destination, your itinerary or the activities you take part in.

“Whether they’re single or just want some ‘me time’, people now have an incredible choice of holidays and destinations to choose from, and it has become so much easier to explore the world.”