Dear Reader,

Does the world feel like a safe place to you? In our latest reader survey, most women said that safety is an essential part of travel planning. Safety is a deeply personal issue — it's influenced by individual circumstances, your own experiences, global events and environmental realities. On my recent trips to Morocco and South Africa, I felt safe because I had planned ahead and taken precautions, but there were still things out of my control that emerged. We must take steps to empower ourselves with information and knowledge to understand the risks.

With new technologies like AI, it's time to re-evaluate who we trust. Our most recent survey shows that most women over 50 don’t trust AI, with 75 per cent expressing concern about how AI is being used in travel. As you'll read in the article about AI below, researchers at UC Berkeley Haas, Stanford, and Oxford/Autonomy University​ documented extensive age and gender distortion across online media, and found that common algorithms used for AI are amplifying bias. There's so much to talk about — and we must do it together. At our annual Women's Travel Safety webinar on October 21, we'll be going into more detail on these topics, with three recognized experts in the field of women's safety. I hope you can join us and learn how we as women can advocate for positive change.

Speaking of how women can create change, I was in Morocco travelling with my daughter when I heard the heartbreaking news about Dr. Jane Goodall. In our last reader survey, she was without question the woman most of you wanted to meet. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to see her speak last year near Toronto. What I remember most is how she talked about following her dreams and never giving up, saying, “You will find a way to make them happen.” She also spoke about her mother always being by her side, an inspiration for me as a mom to support my own daughter on her journey of life. I love her story of wanting to go to Africa and her mom going with her - what an act of great love and courage. Please read and comment on our tribute to Dr. Jane here.

With gratitude,

Carolyn Ray
CEO, JourneyWoman, carolyn@journeywoman.com

Featured Editorial

Undertourism: Why Less-Crowded Jordan Needs Our Love

by Jennifer Bain

When Jennifer went to Jordan last month for World Tourism Day in September, she found it disconcertingly deserted, with many saying tourism is down by 90 per cent.

How does Artificial Intelligence in Travel Affect Women’s Safety?

by Carolyn Ray

If you're not sure if the photo above is real or AI-generated, read these expert tips from Canadian AI expert Avery Swartz.

Is it Safe to Use a Rideshare Service When You Travel?

by Carolyn Ray

For many women, when we think of a safe way to travel in a foreign country, ridesharing services come to mind. But there's more to be aware of.

How Women Can Protect Their Online Privacy

by Paige Hanson

Advancements in AI and other technologies are making it easier for strangers to learn details about us. Take steps to protect your online privacy.

12 Practical Women-Centred Tips for Hotel Safety

by Evelyn Hannon

These hotel safety tips from JourneyWoman founder Evelyn Hannon never get old - make sure you read through to the comments at the end and add your own!

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JourneyWoman Events - Save the Date

Women’s Travel Safety Webinar on October 21, 2025, 2 pm ET: Technology, AI and Cybersecurity

Upcoming trip information sessions

• October 16, 2:00 pm ET: 2026 South Africa Conservation Trip with Blue Sky Society Trust. 12 spots available. Learn more and sign up here.​
• October 23, 7:00 pm ET: 2026 Norway Northern Lights and Svalbard Trips with Hurtigruten. Learn more and sign up here.​
• 2026 Uganda Trip with Gorilla Conservationist Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and MoonLion Safaris. Only 4 spots left! Watch the recording from October 7 here.​

JourneyWoman Book Club

October 15, 8:00 pm ET: "The Bordeaux Book Club" by Gillian Harvey.
​Read more and sign up here. ​

November 19, 8:00 pm ET: "Saltblood" by Francesca de Tores. Sign up here.​

JourneyWoman Salon Community Calls, hosted by Tania Carriere

Friday, October 24, 12 noon ET and Friday, November 21, 12 noon ET. Sign up here.​

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