Girlfriend getaways and well-being: A closer look at the female tourist experience

Study examines how women travellers find meaning and empowerment through all-female travel

Research Corner | A partnership between Macau Business and the Macao University of Tourism (UTM)

A team of researchers from the Macao University of Science and Technology the Macao Polytechnic University, and the Macao University of Tourism have studied the underexplored relationship between female bonding trips, commonly known as girlfriend getaways, and deeper forms of well-being. While these trips have long been popular in the tourism market, this new study shifts focus toward the psychological transformations taking place during such experiences and the underlying factors that influence them.

The study, led by Yan Feng, Ivan Ka Wai Lai, and Sharleen Xiaolian Chen, surveyed 322 women who had recently participated in a girlfriend getaway. The findings reveal that these journeys are more than just escapes from routine, as they offer what the researchers refer to as “liminal experiences”, moments where everyday roles and identities are temporarily suspended, allowing the women involved to explore freedom, empowerment, and authenticity.

The research team identified four key elements that shape these liminal moments: gender dynamics, escapism, existential authenticity, and empowerment. Among these, existential authenticity (the feeling of being aligned with one’s true self), and gender dynamics (experiencing social spaces free from male judgment or authority) were particularly influential in contributing to women’s eudaimonic well-being, a term used to describe deep fulfilment and personal growth.

While the notion of escapism often brings to mind ideas of short-term relief or relaxation, the study found that on its own, escapism did not significantly impact long-term well-being. Instead, it was most powerful when it indirectly contributed to travel satisfaction, which in turn led to feelings of meaning and accomplishment. The researchers argue that satisfaction with the travel experience acts as a critical bridge between the liminal experiences and lasting well-being.

Tourism as a tool for personal transformation

The findings suggest that girlfriend getaways serve as an important platform for women’s psychological development, self-expression, and renewal. The research builds on previous qualitative work by developing and validating a new measurement scale that quantifies the four dimensions of girlfriend getaways liminal experience. This paves the way for future studies and destination marketing efforts to better understand the emotional and psychological journeys of female tourists.

The study emphasises the role of intentional design in female-focused travel. For travel to genuinely contribute to well-being and empowerment, particularly in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals, it must move beyond surface-level relaxation and actively cultivate experiences that allow women to express agency, bond authentically, and feel emotionally safe.

The researchers recommend that destination management organisations and tourism providers tailor experiences that tap into women’s desire for personal growth, authenticity, and social connection. These may include wellness-focused retreats, women-led adventure trips, and cultural immersions that highlight self-discovery and empowerment.

It is also highlighted the importance of marketing narratives and policies that reflect these deeper values. Showcasing all-female spaces, celebrating diversity in women’s identities, and ensuring emotional and physical safety, seen as foundational to building sustainable and inclusive tourism environments.

By framing travel not just as leisure but as a path to meaning, the study calls for a shift in how we think about tourism, recognising and respecting the multifaceted needs of women on the move.

– The researchers

Yan Feng is a Program Director and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Macau University of Science and Technology. Her research focuses on niche tourism, well-being tourism and relationship quality.

Ivan Ka Wai Lai is a Professor at the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies, Macao Polytechnic University. He is a leading figure in research on smart tourism, tourist-resident relations, niche tourism and MICE management.

Sharleen Xiaolian Chen is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Creative Tourism and Intelligent Technologies, Macao University of Tourism. She focuses her research on diaspora tourism, spiritual tourism, digital exhibitions and inclusive tourism.

– The paper

Feng, Y., Lai, I.K.W. and Chen, S.X. (2025), Exploring the Impact of Perceived Liminal Experiences on Female Tourists’ Eudaimonic Well-Being Through the Mediation of Travel Satisfaction. Int J Tourism Res, 27: e70044.