(Representative image)

Key Highlights A report published by the ministry of statistics and programme shows that 60 per cent of all single-member overnight trips are by women

Punjab leads country in number of women making overnight trips, says report

Experts opine that families in southern states are broad-minded enough to send women on solo trips as compared to other states

Hyderabad: After Udta Punjab, it is Udta Telangana, at least for singlewomen travellers in the state, with a recent survey suggesting that the Telugu state accounts for the second highest number of such travellers in the country after Punjab.

A report published by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation on June 29 shows that 60 per cent of all single-member overnight trips are by women.The report titled 'Key Indicators of Domestic Tourism in India' provides interesting data on women travelling alone in the country.

The survey was conducted from July 2014 to June 2015 in which nearly 86 lakh households in Telangana were surveyed. It was found that out of 11 lakh persons who took overnight trips in Telangana during the year-long period, 60 per cent of them were single women travellers. In Punjab, this figure stands at 66 per cent.

Experts opine that families in southern states are broad-minded enough to send women on solo trips as compared to other states. "We have observed that families in other parts of the country are more conservative about sending women out for solo trips. In southern states such as Telangana, families are open to the idea of single woman travelling alone," said Hetal Doshi, founder of the Wander Girls, a women's only travel company.

Standing testimony to this are figures provided in the report which show that after Telangana, Kerala (58 per cent), Tamil Nadu (55 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (53 per cent) have the highest number of single-women travellers.

Women in Telangana don't need any company when comes to domestic tourism. The study says single-women travellers spend more on travel for health and medicine related issues as well as shopping and holidaying or leisure. The study reveals that on an average, single-women travellers in Telangana spend Rs 17,470 yearly on travel for health and medicine, Rs 12,122 on travel for shopping and Rs 7,311 on holidaying leisure.

"Shopping is a priority for many women. Mostly single women form a group and travel to places such as Kerala and Goa for leisure as well as shopping," said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of travel agents' federation of India.

For trips that are all about leisure and recreation, the summer season (i.e. May-June) is the peak period, the report said. But for shopping trips, winter (December-February) is preferred. Pilgrimage and religious trips are undertaken more frequently in July and August. A majority of trips for shopping (nearly 80 per cent) are for a short duration, up to two to three nights on an average from rural and urban areas. For trips with purpose holidaying a majority (nearly 55 per cent) are of a longer duration (four nights or more). Whereas, the average duration of trips was between six and seven nights for holidaying and medical purposes.

Solo women travellers from Telangana look for support from local residents, better transport and other facilities, the study says. "While travelling alone, it is very important to know how friendly the residents are to single women travellers as they are the ones who will help you explore the city. Apart from this, facilities such washrooms, transport and accommodation are other things that matter while travelling," said Pallavi Kolluru, senior project manager, Microsoft, who has been on solo trips to nearly 20 cities in India.

