The history and origin of backpacker travel – from tramping to flashpacker.

Gibson, Dawn (2016) The history and origin of backpacker travel – from tramping to flashpacker. STHM, USP, Suva. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Travel has become an essential part of post-modern society, and backpacker
travel is a reflection of this trend. Described as as a “metaphor of mobility”, who is
“representative of a travel lifestyle and expression of identity”, which focuses on
freedom and mobility, the backpacker phenomenon has evolved and is now an
important tourism market. To situate the origins of backpacker travel within the broader
history of tourism, this paper discusses the following: 17th and 18th century European
Grand Tours; hiking and tramping; the youth hostel movement; non-institutionalised
travel; drifter tourism; and youth tourism.
This is not a homogenous market and can be differentiated in a number of ways
which include: nationality, purpose, organisation of trip, age, gender and lifecycle stage
(Cohen, 2004). Although predominantly Western in origin new markets are emerging
from Israel, Japan, and China. Backpacker tourism has the potential to provide
opportunities for rural and community development, entrepreneurship and the growth of
small businesses and opportunities for indigenous participation in the tourism industry.

Item Type:	Other
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
Divisions:	Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Depositing User:	Fulori Nainoca - Waqairagata
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2016 01:37
Last Modified:	08 Oct 2016 01:37
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/9378

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