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backpacker and youth travel, only 11 were published before 1990. This was the year in which the term ‘backpacker’ was first noted in the academic literature
Pearce, 1990. The growing interest in the topic is underlined by the fact that the ATLAS BRG alone now has more than 30 members in 11 countries.
At least until recently, much of the backpacker research has been undertaken in countries where the impact of backpacking is particularly evident, notably in
South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand e.g. Elsrud, 1998;Hampton, 1998; Murphy, 2001; Ross, 1997. A second factor influencing the geographical
distribution of backpacking studies has been the tendency for research to be undertaken ‘on the road’, usually in the more popular backpacker destinations in
Asia and Australasia.
2.3 The motivation of Backpacking
People are drawn to backpacking primarily for recreation
, to explore places that they consider beautiful and fascinating, many of which cannot be accessed in any
other way. A backpacker can travel deeper into remote areas, away from people and their effects, than a day-hiker can. However, backpacking presents more
advantages besides distance of travel. Many weekend trips cover routes that could be hiked in a single day, but people choose to backpack them anyway, for the
experience of staying overnight. These possibilities come with disadvantages. The weight of a pack, laden
with supplies and gear, forces traditional backpackers to travel more slowly than day-hikers would, and it can become a nuisance and a distraction from enjoying
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the scenery. In addition, camp chores such as pitching camp, breaking camp, and cooking can easily consume several hours every day. However, with practice,
much of this downtime can be purged from the day. Backpackers face many risks, including adverse
weather , difficult terrain,
treacherous river
crossings, and hungry or unpredictable animals although the perceived danger from wild animals usually greatly exceeds the true risk. They
are subject to illnesses, which run the gamut from simple dehydration
to heat
exhaustion ,
hypothermia ,
altitude sickness
, and physical injury
. The remoteness of backpacking locations exacerbates any mishap. However, these hazards do not
deter backpackers who are properly prepared. Some simply accept danger as a risk that they must endure if they want to backpack; for others, the potential dangers
actually enhance the allure of the wilderness. Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia.
2.4 Backpacking today
Technological changes and improvements have also contributed to changes in backpacking. Traditionally backpackers did not travel with expensive electronic
equipment such as laptop computers, digital cameras and PDAs due to concerns about theft, damage, and additional luggage weight. However, the desire to stay
connected coupled with trends in lightweight electronics have given rise to the flashpacking trend, which has been in a state of continuous evolution in recent
years Flashpacking?
Dont Forget you Still Need Room for Extra Socks , USA
Today. Simultaneous with a change in “what” they’re carrying, backpacking is also becoming less and less reliant on the physical backpack in its initial form
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Catto, Susan. Practical
Traveler; The Pack Of Backpacking , The New York
Times although the backpack can still be considered the primary luggage of backpackers.
One of the central tenets of backpacking is the sense of community. Whether this takes the form of staying at in a dormitory in a hostel with a self-catering
kitchen and communal TV room, sharing rides with other travelers, purchasing a bustrain pass or something else, what matters is the shared experience. This
allows backpackers to learn from one another while saving money at the same time: the first-hand account of a fellow traveler can often be more up to date than
what was published in a recent Lonely
Planet , the long cited bible of backpacker
travel. Of equal importance in backpacking is the sense of authenticity. Backpacking
is not a vacation
but rather a means of education. Backpackers want to experience the “real” destination rather than the packaged version often associated with mass
tourism, which has led to the assertion that backpackers are anti-tourist. There is also the feeling of sneaking backstage and witnessing real life with more
involvement with local people Langston-Able, Nick 2007. Playing with Fire:
Adventures in Indonesia . As time goes by, also, Backpacking as a lifestyle and a
business has grown considerably in the 2000s Backpacker Tourism
. Market Segments Backpacker Tourism. Tourism New South Wales. as the common
place of low cost airlines The Netherlands
PDF. Monthly Market Report. Tourism Australia, hostels or budget accommodation in many parts of the world,
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and digital communication and resources make planning, executing and continuing a long term backpacking trip easier than ever before.
Backpacking, like other forms of travel, remains controversial. Goes with the general history of backpacking some of these criticisms date back to travelers’
actions along the Hippie
Trail . Criticism comes from many sides, including the
host countries and other travelers who disagree with the actions of backpackers although the perception of backpackers seems to have improved as backpacking
grows more mainstream.
2.5 About the Novel
