A new survey by Global Rescue reveals that women and men have different preferences when it comes to choosing their dream travel destinations.
According to the Global Rescue Summer 2024 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, 35% of experienced travelers place a high value on visiting places with breathtaking scenery, while 31% favor destinations that offer adventurous activities. But interestingly, the company noted a clear difference between the preferences of women and men.
For women, stunning natural landscapes, such as mountains, jungles, savannahs, deserts, reefs, canyons and glaciers, are the top priority when choosing a destination. In fact, 37% of women surveyed indicated that these scenic features are the most important factor in their travel choice. At the same time, the same percentage of men surveyed (37%) indicated that adventure activities, such as scuba diving, skiing, mountaineering and hiking, were their top concern.
“Understanding travelers’ preferences is critical for the travel industry, and our survey highlights the differences in priorities based on gender,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, a leading global provider of safety, medical and evacuation services, and a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Travel and Tourism Advisory Council. “While women tend to prioritize beautiful scenery and cultural experiences, men are more likely to seek out adventure. This knowledge can help travel providers tailor their offerings to meet the diverse needs of their customers,” he added.
Beyond the splendor of nature, women also tend to place a high value on cultural experiences when making travel decisions. About 15% of women surveyed highlighted the importance of learning about local language, clothing, customs, and traditions, indicating a desire for authentic, immersive experiences and forging deeper connections with their destination. However, only 3% of women consider factors such as events, natural phenomena, architecture, cuisine, and shopping to be essential when planning a trip.
Men, on the other hand, seem less concerned about cultural elements: only 10% of them consider cultural diversity as a primary factor in their decision-making process. They tend to favour not only adventure, but also, like women, landscapes. In fact, 33% of male respondents also cited scenic beauty as an important aspect of their ideal travel destination.
The survey also revealed notable gaps between men and women's favorite dream destinations. Female travelers expressed a strong interest in visiting places like Antarctic,
New Zealand, Iceland,
the Galapagos Islands, Egypt
And AustraliaMeanwhile, humans gravitated toward Australia (especially the Great Barrier Reef), Antarctica, New Zealand, Patagonia, Mongolia, and various parts of the Africa.
“The survey results highlight the importance of scenery and adventure in travel choices, but they also highlight the changing preferences of travelers,” Richards said. “As more women embrace adventure sports and explore remote destinations, we may see a shift in these preferences in the future.”
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