Alone on vacation and eating alone by choice or by necessity?

It is true that the one who eats alone at a restaurant table or the one who goes on a holiday alone causes commentary of all kinds and directions.
Or admiration: “Well done, I envy you for being able to” or of regret: “wow, loneliness”.
But things have changed as more and more people, especially when it comes to restaurants, are choosing to dine alone.
This is according to data from restaurant booking platform OpenTable, in the US where online bookings for one increased by 8% between June 2023 and May 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year.
In fact, an online survey of 2,000 consumers in June found that 60% of respondents had dined out in the past year alone, including 68% of respondents from the Gen Z and Millennial age groups.
According to surveys, restaurant owners and industry observers, Millennials and Gen Z have been leading this trend, CNN reports.

Why they eat alone

Some people prefer to dine alone because it is convenient.
As they don’t have to cook, wash dishes etc.
Others see it as a way to try new restaurants.
Meanwhile social media has made it easier for those interested to find restaurants suitable for dining for one and demographic trends are reinforcing this.
However, typical of the situation according to reports is that a record 30% of Americans live alone.
At the same time an earlier survey of 1,200 consumers found that 60% of respondents felt comfortable eating alone.
OpenTable’s survey also showed that time to be left alone was the main reason people dined alone.
“Much needed time to be alone” was also the main reason cited for dining alone in the 2023 survey commissioned by restaurant booking app Resy.

And holiday alone

The solo traveller, i.e. the person who chooses to holiday alone, is a growing trend in the tourism industry.
According to data from the Bókun platform, solo travellers have increased significantly in recent years, indicating a shift in travellers’ preferences.
In particular, modern travellers are seeking the freedom and autonomy offered by solo travel, where they can tailor their itinerary, explore new destinations at their own pace and focus on their own preferences without compromise.
In addition, solo travellers often seek experiences that enhance their personal development, such as meeting new people and cultures, improving their skills or discovering new interests.
With improvements in technology and travel services, solo travel is becoming safer and more accessible, making it easier for travellers to enjoy their adventures in greater comfort and safety.
Notably, Google searches for “Solo Travel” doubled in 2023 compared to 2018, while on TikTok the hashtag #solotravel has grown tenfold in the last three years.
On Instagram, the hashtag #solotravel has surpassed 7.9 million posts.