PhD candidate Leona Matotek, together with co-author Lana Slavuj Borčić from the Department of Geography at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, has published the scientific article Solo Female Travel: Destination Desirability, Empowerment, and the Geography of Fear in the international scientific journal Geographia Polonica.
The article explores how gender shapes the experiences of women travelling alone, particularly when choosing tourist destinations, assessing safety, and navigating space. The research is based on a survey of 818 women, most of whom were from Croatia, and 11 semi-structured interviews. The findings show that perceptions of safety strongly influence travellers’ decisions and that women adapt to potential risks through careful planning, behavioural changes, and the avoidance of places they perceive as unsafe. The authors conclude that solo travel does not eliminate fear, but it can contribute to greater independence, resilience, and a sense of personal empowerment.
The article is available at the following link:https://www.geographiapolonica.pl/article/item/14620.html