Backpacking: The New Face of Tourism.
By Shashank Sharma
Published in Yugshilpi, Sept. 2016-Mar. 2017, Vol. 11(23), pp. 53-56. An International Referred Journal; ISSN No. 0975-4644
Introduction:
Although the term ‘backpacker’ has been used in the travel literature since the 1970s, the backpacker phenomenon has only more recently been widely analysed by academic researchers, the travel industry and governments. Research studies on backpacking have shown that backpacker market has grown rapidly in recent years, and governments around the world are now actively seeking to develop this market. The growth of the ‘backpacker industry’ has been particularly marked in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and other long haul destinations, but backpacking has also become a core market in many European countries as well. The growing number of hostels aimed at backpackers and other budget travellers is evidence of this trend. The young independent traveller market is also an extremely important segment of world tourism. Young travellers tend to travel more frequently and for longer periods than many older tourists or those taking package holidays.
Where does backpackers tend to travel?
People usually tend to travel within their own world region more frequently. The pattern of destinations also generally reflect the distribution of international tourism, which is largely concentrated in the industrialised ‘north’. As travel experience increases, so people tend to travel further afield. Europeans, for example, tend to travel within Europe initially, and then visit Australasia for their first big intercontinental trip before striking out for less developed Asian destinations.
There is some evidence of differentiation between destinations in terms of traveller types. Some destinations, such as South East Asia, Australasia and South America are dominated by backpackers, whereas in North America travellers outnumbered backpackers. This pattern may in fact be caused by travellers being socialised into a particular group during their travel. It is likely, for example, that those visiting established backpacker centres such as Bangkok or Sydney will come across the term ‘backpacker’ far more often than other travellers.
A selection of individual countries indicates that Asian destinations tend to have the highest proportion of backpackers, with the lowest proportion of backpackers are found in USA and Canada. There seems to be a link between the phase of tourism development and the travel style. Relatively ‘mature’ destinations in North America and Europe have the lowest proportions of backpackers, while relatively ‘new’ destinations such as Vietnam have the highest. This may be an indication of the ‘pioneer’ function of backpackers, who arguably blaze a trail for the travellers or tourists who follow. Backpackers also tend to visit more countries during their trips than travellers or tourists.
Features of a backpack trip:
In terms of the intensity of information use, most travellers use a range of different information sources both prior to departure and during their trip. Experienced travellers consult significantly more sources, both pre- and post-departure. Backpackers are also likely to consult more sources of information, usually because of their use of personal recommendation from fellow travellers.
Backpackers are more likely to go to specialist youth or student travel agents than other types of travellers. In terms of accommodation, however, very few backpackers book in advance. In spite of the growth of specialists offering at least one night’s accommodation as an add-on to flights it seems most people in the backpacker segment are happy to arrive in the destination and organise things themselves. In particular more experienced travellers are less likely to book in advance.
There is also some evidence against the idea that hardened backpackers tend to be more careful with their money. In fact those backpackers with more travel experience spend more per day than relatively inexperienced backpackers. This is probably because they are older and have higher incomes, and may support the idea that people who travel to countries as relatively poor backpackers travel later as wealthier travellers and spend more money.
The basic motivations for travel for backpackers are a mixture of exploration, excitement and relaxation. Though some are highly oriented towards experiencing as much as possible during their trip. This seems to be particularly true for backpackers, who tend to be motivated by experiential factors, whereas tourists were more likely to be in search of relaxation. The fact that a relatively high proportion of travellers visit friends and relatives perhaps explains the fact that they tended to emphasise visiting friends and relatives and developing close friendships than other groups. What is clear, however, is that trips usually combine at least two different main motives, often relaxation and excitement or lazing on the beach and cultural encounters.
The different traveller types exhibited significant differences in terms of motivation. Backpackers in particular tend to emphasise items related to experience seeking and are relatively less concerned about relaxation. Backpacker travellers are particularly more likely to be visiting friends and relatives, and tourists tended to emphasise relaxation-related motives.
There seems to exist four main motivating factors, which could broadly be characterised as experience seeking, relaxation seeking, sociability and contributing to the destination. In general terms the first three of these factors can be associated closely with the Leisure Motivation Scale of Ragheb and Beard. In particular the experience seeking scale includes both the intellectual and competence-mastery components of the scale, while a search for relaxation indicates stimulus-avoidance. There is a clear difference in terms of the factors that are important for each of the travel styles, with backpackers scoring higher on the experience seeking factor and tourists emphasising the relaxation factor. Travellers on the other hand tended to combine experience and relaxation seeking with sociability.
Conclusions:
This paper provides some interesting insights into the profile, behaviour and attitudes of the ‘backpacker’. Most clearly, the research indicates that many people who would fall within the widely accepted academic definitions of backpackers do not identify themselves with the term and that the boundaries between ‘backpackers’, ‘travellers’ and ‘tourists’ are far from clear. It would be safe to say that ‘Backpackers’ are a heterogeneous group, with different motivations, attitudes activities and reactions to the term ‘backpacker’.
Backpackers seek experiences and adventure, but usually end up visiting the same places as other backpackers. Rather than ‘real’ adventure, what most backpackers seek is a form of ‘safe danger’ or ‘controlled edge’ which can be provided not only by exotic destinations in Asia, but also by cosmopolitan cities in Europe. The existence of a relaxed, tolerant and socially permissive atmosphere is a sought after touristic commodity among backpackers worldwide. This is arguably one of the major reasons for the development of backpacker ‘enclaves’ in different parts of the world. The concentration of backpacker-related services and the congregation of predominantly young people with time on their hands looking for fun give these places an atmosphere of their own. The enclaves created by backpackers take on a central function in the maintenance of backpacker (sub)culture. The enclave is the quintessential ‘refuelling station’ where road-weary travellers can take a hot shower, get an imported beer, use the Internet and watch the latest movies. Most importantly, however, they are also places to meet fellow travellers. These encounters have become crucial to the maintenance of the (sub)culture, because as the global nomad surveys show, the most important source of information ‘on the road’ is fellow backpackers.
The growth of backpacking has undoubtedly had an impact not just on the places that backpackers visit, but also on the nature of backpacking itself. The backpacker literature is sprinkled with nostalgia for the decline of ‘real’ backpacking. There is often a feeling that backpacker travel is ‘not what it used to be’ or has been spoilt by the onslaught of conventional tourism. There is no doubt that backpacking is a lot more organised than it used to be. The backpacker ‘industry’ now exists as an organised phenomenon in a number of countries. As suppliers of travel, accommodation and activities begin to work together to provide a comprehensive service, backpacking may also become more packaged than the package tour. In countries such as Australia and New Zealand the backpacker travel industry is becoming a force to be reckoned with. The growth of the backpacker industry is one sign that backpacker travel is now beginning to have a significant economic impact on the destinations they visit. A number of recent studies have pointed to the economic benefits that can be derived from backpacking tourism. The impact of backpacking has been a relatively under-researched area in the past and more research needs to be done to gain greater insights into the subject.
References:
Although the term ‘backpacker’ has been used in the travel literature since the 1970s, the backpacker phenomenon has only more recently been widely analysed by academic researchers, the travel industry and governments. Research studies on backpacking have shown that backpacker market has grown rapidly in recent years, and governments around the world are now actively seeking to develop this market. The growth of the ‘backpacker industry’ has been particularly marked in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and other long haul destinations, but backpacking has also become a core market in many European countries as well. The growing number of hostels aimed at backpackers and other budget travellers is evidence of this trend. The young independent traveller market is also an extremely important segment of world tourism. Young travellers tend to travel more frequently and for longer periods than many older tourists or those taking package holidays.
Where does backpackers tend to travel?
People usually tend to travel within their own world region more frequently. The pattern of destinations also generally reflect the distribution of international tourism, which is largely concentrated in the industrialised ‘north’. As travel experience increases, so people tend to travel further afield. Europeans, for example, tend to travel within Europe initially, and then visit Australasia for their first big intercontinental trip before striking out for less developed Asian destinations.
There is some evidence of differentiation between destinations in terms of traveller types. Some destinations, such as South East Asia, Australasia and South America are dominated by backpackers, whereas in North America travellers outnumbered backpackers. This pattern may in fact be caused by travellers being socialised into a particular group during their travel. It is likely, for example, that those visiting established backpacker centres such as Bangkok or Sydney will come across the term ‘backpacker’ far more often than other travellers.
A selection of individual countries indicates that Asian destinations tend to have the highest proportion of backpackers, with the lowest proportion of backpackers are found in USA and Canada. There seems to be a link between the phase of tourism development and the travel style. Relatively ‘mature’ destinations in North America and Europe have the lowest proportions of backpackers, while relatively ‘new’ destinations such as Vietnam have the highest. This may be an indication of the ‘pioneer’ function of backpackers, who arguably blaze a trail for the travellers or tourists who follow. Backpackers also tend to visit more countries during their trips than travellers or tourists.
Features of a backpack trip:
In terms of the intensity of information use, most travellers use a range of different information sources both prior to departure and during their trip. Experienced travellers consult significantly more sources, both pre- and post-departure. Backpackers are also likely to consult more sources of information, usually because of their use of personal recommendation from fellow travellers.
Backpackers are more likely to go to specialist youth or student travel agents than other types of travellers. In terms of accommodation, however, very few backpackers book in advance. In spite of the growth of specialists offering at least one night’s accommodation as an add-on to flights it seems most people in the backpacker segment are happy to arrive in the destination and organise things themselves. In particular more experienced travellers are less likely to book in advance.
There is also some evidence against the idea that hardened backpackers tend to be more careful with their money. In fact those backpackers with more travel experience spend more per day than relatively inexperienced backpackers. This is probably because they are older and have higher incomes, and may support the idea that people who travel to countries as relatively poor backpackers travel later as wealthier travellers and spend more money.
The basic motivations for travel for backpackers are a mixture of exploration, excitement and relaxation. Though some are highly oriented towards experiencing as much as possible during their trip. This seems to be particularly true for backpackers, who tend to be motivated by experiential factors, whereas tourists were more likely to be in search of relaxation. The fact that a relatively high proportion of travellers visit friends and relatives perhaps explains the fact that they tended to emphasise visiting friends and relatives and developing close friendships than other groups. What is clear, however, is that trips usually combine at least two different main motives, often relaxation and excitement or lazing on the beach and cultural encounters.
The different traveller types exhibited significant differences in terms of motivation. Backpackers in particular tend to emphasise items related to experience seeking and are relatively less concerned about relaxation. Backpacker travellers are particularly more likely to be visiting friends and relatives, and tourists tended to emphasise relaxation-related motives.
There seems to exist four main motivating factors, which could broadly be characterised as experience seeking, relaxation seeking, sociability and contributing to the destination. In general terms the first three of these factors can be associated closely with the Leisure Motivation Scale of Ragheb and Beard. In particular the experience seeking scale includes both the intellectual and competence-mastery components of the scale, while a search for relaxation indicates stimulus-avoidance. There is a clear difference in terms of the factors that are important for each of the travel styles, with backpackers scoring higher on the experience seeking factor and tourists emphasising the relaxation factor. Travellers on the other hand tended to combine experience and relaxation seeking with sociability.
Conclusions:
This paper provides some interesting insights into the profile, behaviour and attitudes of the ‘backpacker’. Most clearly, the research indicates that many people who would fall within the widely accepted academic definitions of backpackers do not identify themselves with the term and that the boundaries between ‘backpackers’, ‘travellers’ and ‘tourists’ are far from clear. It would be safe to say that ‘Backpackers’ are a heterogeneous group, with different motivations, attitudes activities and reactions to the term ‘backpacker’.
Backpackers seek experiences and adventure, but usually end up visiting the same places as other backpackers. Rather than ‘real’ adventure, what most backpackers seek is a form of ‘safe danger’ or ‘controlled edge’ which can be provided not only by exotic destinations in Asia, but also by cosmopolitan cities in Europe. The existence of a relaxed, tolerant and socially permissive atmosphere is a sought after touristic commodity among backpackers worldwide. This is arguably one of the major reasons for the development of backpacker ‘enclaves’ in different parts of the world. The concentration of backpacker-related services and the congregation of predominantly young people with time on their hands looking for fun give these places an atmosphere of their own. The enclaves created by backpackers take on a central function in the maintenance of backpacker (sub)culture. The enclave is the quintessential ‘refuelling station’ where road-weary travellers can take a hot shower, get an imported beer, use the Internet and watch the latest movies. Most importantly, however, they are also places to meet fellow travellers. These encounters have become crucial to the maintenance of the (sub)culture, because as the global nomad surveys show, the most important source of information ‘on the road’ is fellow backpackers.
The growth of backpacking has undoubtedly had an impact not just on the places that backpackers visit, but also on the nature of backpacking itself. The backpacker literature is sprinkled with nostalgia for the decline of ‘real’ backpacking. There is often a feeling that backpacker travel is ‘not what it used to be’ or has been spoilt by the onslaught of conventional tourism. There is no doubt that backpacking is a lot more organised than it used to be. The backpacker ‘industry’ now exists as an organised phenomenon in a number of countries. As suppliers of travel, accommodation and activities begin to work together to provide a comprehensive service, backpacking may also become more packaged than the package tour. In countries such as Australia and New Zealand the backpacker travel industry is becoming a force to be reckoned with. The growth of the backpacker industry is one sign that backpacker travel is now beginning to have a significant economic impact on the destinations they visit. A number of recent studies have pointed to the economic benefits that can be derived from backpacking tourism. The impact of backpacking has been a relatively under-researched area in the past and more research needs to be done to gain greater insights into the subject.
References:
- Richards, Greg and Wilson, Julie. (2005). Backpacker tourism: the contemporary face of youth tourism [Unpublished paper]
- Bambi Majumdar. (2014, March 20). Backpacking is the latest modern travel trend [Blog post] Retrieved from http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/backpacking-is-the-latest-trend-in-modern-travel/travel-hospitality-event-management