HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Solo travel could boost the growth of Ho ChiMinh City's tourism industry, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, deputy director of the city'sTourism Department, has said.

Speaking at a recent conference in the city, Hoa said the solo travel communityhad expanded greatly in the past few years.

In January last year, “solo travel” and “travel alone” were the most popularkeywords searched on Google.

According to Klook, a travel activities and services booking platform, thenumber of solo travelers on its platform increased from 31 percent to 38 percentlast year.

In a survey published by Agoda and YouGov last year, HCM City was on the listof top 10 favourite destinations of the solo travel community.

“The rapid growth of this trend brings both opportunities and challenges forthe city’s State management and travel businesses,” Hoa said.

Solo travellers make their own decisions on services and activities duringtheir trips and focus on personal experiences.

Travel agencies should learn more about solo travellers’ specific requirementsto exploit the market, Hoa said.

Paul Pruangkarn, director of Communications and External Affairs at PacificAsia Travel Association, said numerous studies have shown a large number ofmillennial travellers worldwide prefers travelling alone.

“The millennial generation is proving to be tech-savvy and more independentthan previous generations,” he said.

With mobile devices that assist planning on the go, and a constant flow oftravel inspiration and advice received via social media, millennials in Asiaare the best-prepared generation yet to travel freely, he said.

This is also fuelled by an increasing middle class in Asia, and greaterconnectivity, led by the growth of low-cost carriers, online travel agents, andother disruptive technologies.

There has also been an increase in female solo travel, with searches for"solo female travel” growing by 52 percent between 2016 and 2017.

“With both these groups, safety and security, hygiene, and access to internetare a top priority,” he said.

Preferred activities of solo travelers include discovering local heritage and traditions,visiting small shops with locally-made items, discovering local youth cultureand trends, and visiting food markets and local festivals, he said.

The freedom to explore, the rise in technology, and ability to work remotelyare factors driving the rise of solo travel that travel agents need to know,Outbox Consulting’s chief research officer, Nguyen Anh Thu, said.

“Safety is key. It’s necessary to help solo clients choose safe itineraries andaccommodations,” she said.

May, October and November are the top months for solo travel.

Marketing activities should focus on establishing an online presence,storytelling and tapping into influencers, she said.

Building great relationships with repeat customers is also needed. “Finances,flexibility and time all contribute towards the solo traveler’s ability to takemultiple trips,” she added.

The conference attracted international and local travel agencies, online travelagencies, accommodations, airlines, tourism authorities, destinationsmanagement organisations.

It was held on the sidelines of the 15th annual International Travel Expo HCMCity held from September 5-7 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centrein District 7./.