Why not travel alone?

The "Double Eleven" festival, or Singles' Day, originates from the calendar date November 11, with the four ones referencing being single. Google searches for "solo travel destinations" are up by more than 60 percent year over year. Travel is not only for families or romantic experiences for two, it has become a perfect time to be with the one you love the most: yourself.

Solo travel data report 2019

According to the Solo travel data report 2019 released jointly by online travel agency Tongcheng Yilong and Tongcheng Travel, the most popular domestic destinations for solo travel are Dali, Lhasa, Urumqi, Guilin and Sanya. The most popular overseas destinations are Bangkok, Osaka, Tokyo, Paris and Dubai. 

Solo travelers prefer more localized elements, such as local food and cultural experiences, while being less interested in popular scenic spots with heavy traffic.

According to the report, more young people prefer to travel alone, with "Generation Z (born after 1995)" accounting for the largest proportion at 24.6 percent, followed by the "80s generation" and "90s generation," at 16 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively. Less than 10 percent of people born in the 60s and 70s prefer solo travel.

Alone and safe: Plan ahead

Safety is a significant factor in deciding where and how to travel, especially if you're on your own. But as veteran solo travelers know, chances are you'll be able to stay out of harm's way if you take a few simple precautions.

Whether you want to go to a sunny beach, experience foreign culture or explore a new city, plan before you go. How do you want to travel? Where do you want to stay? What's your budget? If you are too busy to plan, or you prefer to go to a sparsely populated place, join a tour group led by a guide; this is your safest bet.

Familiarize yourself with local customs and neighborhoods, and be sure to have the numbers and addresses of local hospitals, police stations and your embassy or consulate handy. That's not the sort of thing you want to be hunting for in an emergency.

Might you feel lonely on the way, technology can help. Search for travel website and download applications on your phone in advance. Now many scenic spots offer solo travel services like group guides or crawls to local hot spots, and you will find solo travel clubs to meet more people from across the globe.

Finally, update your social media status and share your great moments on the way. It's very important to let people back home know where you're supposed to be.