Report on Solos’ Women-Only Tours and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This report analyzes the new women-only tour itineraries launched by tour operator Solos. The analysis places significant emphasis on how these initiatives align with and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning gender equality, economic growth, and sustainable communities.

Core Strategy: Integrating Sustainable Development

Solos has developed a travel product targeting female travelers aged 50 and above. The core strategy is built on providing safe, culturally immersive, and empowering experiences that directly support several key SDGs.

Gender Equality and Empowerment (SDG 5)

The fundamental concept of women-only tours is designed to create a supportive and confidence-building environment for female travelers. More significantly, the itineraries are structured to directly empower women within the host destinations by engaging with and supporting women-led enterprises and social initiatives.

Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The tours prioritize economic benefits for local communities by channeling funds to small-scale, women-owned businesses, cooperatives, and artisans. This approach fosters inclusive and sustainable economic growth, providing decent work opportunities for women and contributing to local economies.

Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)

A key policy of these tours is the elimination of single supplement fees. This makes the travel products more financially accessible to solo women travelers, directly addressing economic inequalities often faced by individuals traveling alone. Furthermore, by supporting programs for low-income women, the tours contribute to reducing inequalities within host communities.

Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

The itineraries demonstrate a commitment to cultural preservation by including visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites and facilitating interactions that support traditional arts and customs. This focus helps protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

Itinerary Analysis: SDG Implementation in Practice

The following tour itineraries serve as case studies for the practical application of SDG principles in tourism.

India: The Golden Triangle & Rajasthan

This 12-night tour is structured to provide deep cultural immersion while delivering measurable social and economic impact.

• Support for Social Enterprises: A visit to Sheroes Hangout, a café run by survivors of acid attacks, provides direct economic support and raises awareness, aligning with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Economic Empowerment: The tour includes a rickshaw ride in Jaipur with women drivers trained by Access Development Services. This initiative empowers low-income women with skills for economic independence, contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Cultural and Community Engagement: Excursions to Bishnoi villages and sunrise yoga at the Taj Mahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) promote the preservation of local culture and heritage, supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Morocco: Medinas, Mountains & Coast

This 12-night journey through Morocco focuses on direct engagement with women entrepreneurs and traditional communities.

1. Fostering Female Entrepreneurship: The itinerary facilitates meetings with women entrepreneurs in Fes, providing a platform for cultural exchange and economic support, directly addressing SDG 5 and SDG 8.
2. Supporting Rural Cooperatives: A visit to a rural women’s cooperative specializing in embroidery, pottery, and argan oil production ensures that tourism revenue benefits the local economy and empowers women in the Atlas Mountains. This directly supports SDG 5 and SDG 8.
3. Preserving Traditional Lifestyles: Encounters with Berber women offer insight into traditional customs, contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage as outlined in SDG 11.

Greece: Ancient Wonders & Island Hopping

This 10-night tour combines historical exploration with support for local female artisans.

• Promotion of Traditional Arts: A pottery lesson on Paros Island taught by a local female artisan provides her with direct income and supports the transmission of traditional Greek arts, aligning with SDG 5, SDG 8, and SDG 11.
• Heritage Conservation: Excursions to significant archaeological sites, including Mycenae, Epidavrus, and Olympia, highlight the importance of protecting cultural heritage (SDG 11.4).

Market Context and Future Outlook

Rising Demand for Responsible Travel

Industry data indicates a growing demand from female travelers, particularly those over 50, for travel experiences that prioritize safety, cultural integration, and meaningful social impact. Solos’ new offerings are strategically positioned to meet this demand.

Commitment to Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

Solos has expressed plans to expand its women-only itineraries. This expansion includes developing new partnerships with local women’s groups and community organizations. This collaborative approach is a clear example of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), demonstrating a commitment to working with local stakeholders to create travel experiences that generate positive and sustainable change.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article’s central theme is the empowerment of women through travel. It describes “women-only tours” designed to create safe, supportive, and confidence-building environments. These tours facilitate connections with women-led businesses and community projects, such as the Sheroes Hangout for acid attack survivors and cooperatives run by Berber women, directly promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article highlights how the tours contribute to local economies by supporting sustainable tourism. It mentions specific initiatives that create economic opportunities, such as the program in Jaipur that trains low-income women to become rickshaw drivers for “economic independence” and visits to rural women’s cooperatives in Morocco that sell local products like argan oil and fine embroidery. This aligns with promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The tours address inequality in several ways. They focus on empowering women from low-income backgrounds, as seen in the Jaipur rickshaw program. Furthermore, the article explicitly states that the tours have “no single supplement,” making them more “cost-effective” and financially accessible for single women travellers, thereby reducing economic barriers to participation.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article demonstrates a connection to this goal by emphasizing the protection and promotion of cultural heritage. The itineraries include visits to “a UNESCO World Heritage Site” (the Taj Mahal) and “important archaeological sites, such as Mycenae, Epidavrus and Olympia.” Additionally, the tours support the preservation of intangible cultural heritage by including activities like a pottery lesson with a local female artisan in Greece, which helps in “conserving and transmitting Greek traditional arts.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life.

   The tours actively support this target by creating opportunities for travelers to “meet with women entrepreneurs in Fes” and visit a “rural women’s cooperative” in Morocco. These interactions showcase and economically support women in leadership and entrepreneurial roles within their communities.

2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.

   The initiative in Jaipur, where women are “trained under Access Development Services” to become rickshaw drivers and “attain economic independence,” is a direct example of creating decent work and employment opportunities for women.

3. Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

   The entire business model of Solos’ women-only tours described in the article aligns with this target. The itineraries are designed to be “culturally immersive,” support the “local economy” through visits to cooperatives, and promote local products like “fine embroidery, pottery, and celebrated argan oil.”

4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex… or economic or other status.

   The article points to this target by highlighting the tours’ focus on women, particularly those “from age 50 and up,” and by empowering “low-income women” through economic programs. The policy of having “no single supplement fees” is a concrete measure to ensure financial inclusivity for solo female travelers.

5. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

   This target is addressed through the tour itineraries that include excursions to significant cultural sites, including the “Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” and ancient Greek ruins. The pottery lesson on Paros Island also contributes by supporting a “local female artisan” and underscoring “the role of women in conserving and transmitting Greek traditional arts.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of women-led businesses and cooperatives supported: The article explicitly mentions partnerships with and visits to “women entrepreneurs in Fes,” a “rural women’s cooperative” in Morocco, and the “Sheroes Hangout, run by acid attack survivors.” The number of such partnerships is a clear indicator of progress.
• Number of women provided with economic skills and opportunities: The program that trains women to be rickshaw drivers through “Access Development Services” implies that the number of women trained and employed can be tracked as a measure of economic empowerment.
• Implementation of inclusive pricing policies: The stated policy of “no single supplement” is a direct and measurable indicator of making travel more financially accessible and equitable for solo travelers, contributing to reduced inequality.
• Number of cultural heritage sites and traditions included in itineraries: Progress towards safeguarding cultural heritage can be measured by the number of UNESCO sites, archaeological sites, and activities promoting traditional arts (like the pottery lesson) that are incorporated into the tours.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: travelandtourworld.com