Women are the future of tourism.

Travel & Lessons on Independence

Lexie Limitless is listed in the Guinness World Records as the youngest person in history to have visited every sovereign nation. The young woman, from Nevada, California, USA, at the age of 23, has traveled to a total of 196 countries, both to satisfy her passion for travel and to challenge herself to overcome the limitations a woman traveling alone might face.

Lexie said it took her three years to visit every country and break the world record. She worked multiple jobs simultaneously to earn money, saving up since she was 12 years old, and started traveling at a very young age because her mother owned a travel company in California. Those were probably the first sparks that ignited her passion for travel.

"I grew up traveling the world with my mother on business trips, visiting over 70 countries. After more than six years of saving and graduating from college at 18, I decided to start my own adventures," Lexie said.

Of course, not every trip goes smoothly. She encountered many obstacles, such as arranging visas to several countries. Lexia spent months obtaining valid documents to enter Venezuela, Pakistan, and many others. But all the challenges were worth it, in exchange for the unforgettable experiences she gained on her journeys. "There are so many incredible experiences that you can probably only enjoy when traveling alone. You open yourself up, readily accept hospitality and interact with locals more than when traveling with a large group," she shared.

Lexie's adventures brought her together with many people and exposed her to diverse cultures, but for her, the most valuable experience of all was discovering her own independence. After years of traveling the globe, she learned a new lesson: "When traveling alone, especially as a woman, it's incredibly important to have the basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge everyday life situations."

Lexie shared that when traveling to countries considered dangerous or unstable, she learned that everything around you can change at any time, and that's something you have to accept when experiencing such trips. "The only thing you can control is your own thoughts."

For Lexie, nothing can replace travel; she loves traveling as a part of her life. "But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy moments of rest to recover from the adventures of the past few years," she added.

a future of tourism for women

In recent years, many Western travelers, especially women, have tended to "travel for experience" rather than for enjoyment. Lexie is not alone; a large number of travelers are participating in tours specifically designed for women, or traveling solo, to Asia, Africa, and other cities. They are more interested in exploring nature, spending time with locals, and connecting with the region. Coupled with the #MeToo movement, which has partly encouraged women to explore themselves more, a future of travel specifically for and focused on women seems more promising than ever.

"Women-focused tourism is one of the greatest fields ever explored. It could completely change the way we think about the tourism industry," affirms Linda Higdon, founder of Global Heart Journeys. Eighteen years ago, she gave up her career as a classical pianist to start a company that organizes tours specifically for women and supports women in developing countries in promoting tourism.

In the past, tourism focused solely on women had begun to emerge, though it wasn't given much attention. Women-only tours existed and developed from the late 1970s, particularly when the Wild Women expedition began all-female canoe trips in Ontario in 1991. However, at that time, women's participation in outdoor adventure activities generated considerable controversy.

Today, as society becomes increasingly free and open, the tourism sector for women is showing signs of "flourishing" and attracting much attention. Travel options for women continue to develop, with numerous companies and travel agencies emerging that target specific groups, such as offering travel services for plus-size women, and offering tours specifically for lesbian women.non-binary(non-binary person).

"We're working to break down barriers for women, and travel is just a small part of that. There are so many ways for women to explore the world," said Kelly Lewis, founder of Damesly travel company.

The rise of tours focused on women is a testament to women's increasing influence across all sectors. Psychological factors and safety considerations have contributed to the rapid growth of these tours, opening up a new potential tourism market and creating more jobs for women in the tourism industry. Wild Women Expeditions is committed to employing local women to guide tours around the world, and this led to Morocco having its first female mountain guide. Deborah Calmeyer, founder of the Roar Africa Women's Hunting Course in her native South Africa, has created opportunities for many women in every role, from chef and hunter to pilot.

For some, empowering women in leadership roles within the tourism industry is a form of feminist activism. Rocio Vazquez Landeta, a former traveler who escaped domestic violence, organized the Eat Like a Local walking tour in Mexico City and decided to only employ women. "That's my way of doing things. As a woman in power, I have a responsibility to create better opportunities for other women."

In conclusion

Developing tourism specifically for women not only expands opportunities for exploration for half the world's population but also contributes to changing many outdated societal stereotypes. To date, this trend remains primarily concentrated in Europe and the Americas. In many developing and less developed countries, women are largely limited to providing tourism services.

In Vietnam, there have been tours specifically for women, but they haven't developed into a movement or a specific direction. Currently, we are still mostly familiar with solo travel for women, through the inspiring trips of female travel bloggers like Bui Viet Ha, Nhi Dang, Quynh Anh Nguyen, etc.

"Solo trips always bring me so many unexpected emotions. If I had to name three things I love most about traveling alone, they would be: the surprises, the freedom..." - travel blogger Bui Viet Ha shared."...and the opportunity to discover yourself".

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