Travel safety perception of solo female travelers: An evaluation within the framework of five factor personality theory

Solo travel is increasingly gaining attention as a niche tourism area preferred by many people around the world. Today, women also frequently engage in solo travel activities. Travel safety, on the other hand, stands out as a priority for women traveling alone. However, the concept of safety is considered a subjective phenomenon that may differ from person to person. The aim of this study is to understand the security perceptions of women traveling alone in depth. In the research, the "Five Factor Personality Theory" was adopted as the theoretical framework to evaluate this perception. Topics such as women's motivations for traveling alone, travel preferences and risk perceptions regarding solo travel have been frequently discussed in the literature. The original contribution of this study is related to investigating how women's security perceptions when traveling alone are affected by their personality traits. In this direction, phenomenology design, which is one of the qualitative research methods, was used and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 women who experienced solo travel. The results of the research revealed various relationships between security perception and personality traits. As a result of the analyzes, it was determined that pre-travel measures were taken in two basic dimensions: combating anxiety and preparing for security; It has been determined that the precautions taken during the travel are gathered in three main dimensions: situational, technological and communication related. Finally, post-travel decisions are examined, especially in terms of social life and how they are shaped depending on personality traits. It is anticipated that the results obtained will contribute to a better understanding of women's solo travel experiences and to shed light on issues related to travel safety from a different perspective.