Dating holidays for singles – the next big thing?

Travel agencies should work with dating agencies to organise ‘dating holidays’ a new report suggests.

The idea came as the UK travel industry was warned that it is missing a lucrative trick because of the underdeveloped nature of the singles holiday sector.

As the number of single people in the UK continues to grow and holidaying alone is becoming increasingly socially acceptable, the ‘singles’ holiday sector represents a gap to be filled.

Statistics show that singles represent a major consumer group in the UK, representing 30% of all households, with the average age of first marriage rising to 28 years for women and 30 years for men in 2005 compared with 22 for women and 24 for men in the 1980s.

According to the World Travel Markets Global Trends Report 2006, produced by Euromonitor International for WTM,  career-minded singles are more inclined to spend their higher than average disposable income on treating themselves, rather than on family life. They are looking to indulge more while on holiday and are willing to pay the price for a higher-end service.

More so than couples and groups, singles also feel the need to do activities where they gain a sense of achievement; ones which they couldn’t do if they had to take into account another person’s opinions or tastes. They are more inclined to consider adventurous holidays and extreme sports, for example

The report predicts that those operators who respond to the financial, social and emotional needs and interests of different singles groups will reap rewards.

Euromonitor International global travel and tourism manager Caroline Bremner said: “Broadly speaking, single travellers fall into two camps – independent travellers that seek adventure and new skills and those looking to find their potential partner on holiday.

“Themed or educational holidays linked to hobbies, such as trekking, surfing, bird watching, horse riding, cooking and sport are all niche markets that would do well to cater to singles looking for adventure and new skills. 

“Dating holidays also hold great promise and would appeal to those singles looking for their potential partner. There is a great opportunity here for tie-ups between travel retailers and dating agencies.”

She added: “Single people today are currently being turned off from holidaying alone by the financial penalties they face, such as surcharges on accommodation. They also have concerns over safety and security abroad and some feel uncomfortable with the social stigma of dining alone on holiday.

“If the UK travel industry addresses these concerns and tailors holidays to suit the interests of single people, the market for individual travel represents a vast and as yet, relatively untapped market.”

Report by Phil Davies