by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:25 PM ET, Wed May 16, 2018
A recent survey focusing on women's travel safety found that almost half of female tourists feel less safe when traveling than they did five years ago.
According to the findings from AIG Travel's survey, 45 percent of female travelers felt less safe than in the past, and safety is the top priority for women when evaluating potential business and leisure destinations.
The study also found that while solo travel is gaining popularity among women, increased reports of violence or geopolitical turmoil around the world has forced female tourists to be more aware of individual security.
"As a travel safety advocate and as part of our organization's commitment to educate the public, we feel well-positioned to provide women, who may have unique travel considerations, with tools designed to help them be more aware, alert, confident travelers," AIG Travel head of marketing Rhonda Sloan said in a statement. "Our research findings underscore the fact that although many travelers are already quite savvy about helping to ensure their personal safety, our industry still has opportunities to provide guidance and resources to help women minimize risks and experience safer journeys."
AIG Travel's poll also found that 63 percent of women think about safety always or frequently while traveling, the safety of a destination is a woman's most important consideration and 84 percent of respondents said their employers either did not provide travel safety tips and resources or that they weren't aware of any such tools.
To help minimize risks females face while traveling, AIG recently launched a Women's Travel Safety initiative. The program shares advice on how to research travel destinations, become familiar with local laws and customs and leverage tools in the event of adverse situations.
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