Backpacker ethnography

This paper presents an ethnographic study of the travel culture of international backpackers. Their sociodemographic characteristics are described, the contours of a concept of tourism culture are delineated, and on that basis, that of backpackers is outlined, with particular focus on the key phenomenon of road status. The analysis of backpacker tourism as a culture furthers the comprehension of change within the phenomenon. Examples of factors of change include the guidebooks, the short-term backpackers, and in particular the internet. This study demonstrates the merit of a dynamic concept of culture where culture takes place whenever activated by social circumstances.     

Harmony rules in Chinese backpacker groups

Despite recognition that Chinese backpackers travel in small, self-organised groups, studies have yet to examine how group dynamics affect the travel experience. Multi-sited ethnography and netnography were deployed to follow Chinese backpackers in Europe to explore their group dynamics. The findings reveal that Chinese backpackers sustain hierarchical group relations by applying cultural attributes of ‘respect for authority’ and ‘keqi’. A conflict-free status is achieved by following the codes of ‘guanxi’ and ‘conformity’. Harmony is practiced to either develop harmonious relationships or resolve potential discord. This study contributes to the literature on harmony by synthesising relevant cultural attributes to understand their applications in group dynamic. It furthermore contributes to the literature on backpacker tourism and self-organised travel group dynamics.     

山岳型旅游地背包客旅游动机研究——以陕西秦岭地区为例

文章以西安周边户外俱乐部会员为主要调查对象,对其到陕西秦岭地区进行背包旅游的14项旅游动机进行了问卷调查,运用SPSS17.0统计软件,通过因子分析将该地区背包客的旅游动机划分为以下4类,即交流与求新型、文化与探索型、从众型、健康与放松型,在进一步分析后,得出山岳型旅游地背包客的主要旅游动机为文化与探索型、健康与放松型。同时对背包客性别、收入水平等人口学特征与旅游动机之间的差异进行了分析。     

Travel motivation for Taiwanese hearing-impaired backpackers

Why do hearing-impaired people desire to undertake outbound travel as backpackers despite their hearing and speaking limitations? To investigate the reasons, this study applied the push and pull model of travel motivation as the framework. A total of 30 hearing-impaired backpackers participated in face-to-face interviews and responded to questions concerning their motivation to travel overseas. The results of this study reveal many unique motivation themes in the push and pull groups; specifically, five push themes (constraints of group tours, self-challenge, independence, different experience, and invitation by hearing-impaired friends) and two pull themes (enjoy local culture and lifestyle and the “I have been there” feeling) were identified. Furthermore, the participants’ desire to travel as backpackers is based on their previous negative experiences in group tours. Moreover, they prefer backpacking with hearing-impaired partners than with normal-hearing partners. Furthermore, for them, their independence enables them to their parents that they can travel alone. In addition, the study findings suggest that “communication negotiation” should be considered for inclusion in the motivation typology as a new dimension for hearing-impaired backpackers. Finally, the current study provides valuable insights into the behaviors of hearing-impaired backpackers and recommendations for tourism operators.     

Adding Psychological Value to Tourism Products

The motives of tourists are deeply rooted in their pattern of expectations, goals and values. The laddering technique is used in order to investigate this pattern. It provides a basis for positioning strategies. The promised experience has to be realized by means of concrete activities on the shop floor. Existing goals and values serve to motivate employees to adopt activities required for meeting the tourists' expectations. If, after the purchase of a package, the members in the production chain with which the tourist is confronted, differ in mentality, each individual orgainization appropriate goals must be introduced. Then successful product differentiation will be possible.     

基于国内背包客旅游动机的营销策略研究：以黄山为例

背包客作为现代时尚而富于个性化的旅游消费群体,其自助、经济、灵活、便利的自由行方式得到越来越多业界和学界的关注,近年来呈现积极的发展态势。本文基于推拉理论的视角,对黄山国内背包客的旅游动机进行了实地调研,发现影响背包客出游的推力因子主要有社交结友、自我价值、求新求奇和休闲放松,影响其出游的拉力因子主要有旅游费用经济、地域文化特色和旅游地形象,进而为促进背包客市场良性循环和理性发展提出适宜的营销策略。     

Exploring heterogeneity among backpackers in hostels

This study’s goal was to validate the core dimensions of hostel service quality and to test whether each dimension has a different impact on behavioural intentions across guest segments defined by age, gender and nationality. This research targeted guests staying at Lisbon hostels (N?=?313). Both covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) and variance-based SEM were used to meet this study’s exploratory and confirmatory objectives. The results confirm that service quality in this sector is a multidimensional construct comprising four core dimensions: quality of staff, social atmosphere, hostel tangibles and city connection. These four aspects are relevant when explaining levels of satisfaction, recommendation and revisiting intentions. Moreover, these dimensions allow the identification of differences across market segments in regards to responses to marketing outcomes, thus providing useful insights into how best to meet guests’ needs.     

The evolution of backpacker destinations: the case of Zipolite,Mexico

Despite the growing literature on backpacker tourism, little is known about the evolutionary patterns of the places that cater to such travellers. This paper analyses, first, the way in which established and current models of tourist development conceptualise backpackers and their destinations. In addition, it offers some specific suggestions that will allow them to explain the evolution of backpacker destinations in a more detailed manner. Then, results of field research conducted at Mexico's largest backpacker resort are presented, to illustrate its particular socio‐spatial evolution. The paper concludes that, when fuelled by an increasing number of arrivals and a growing demand for comforts, what were once drifter‐dominated peripheral places may evolve gradually into well‐established ‘resorts’ that satisfy contemporary backpackers' demands for infrastructure, natural settings and ambience. Developer‐tourists with an affinity to backpacker culture are likely to become key actors as they come to gain control over land use and local economic development. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Backpackers in the Northern Territory of Australia—motives,behaviours and satisfactions

This paper reports the findings of a study of 475 backpackers in the Northern Territory of Australia. It finds that backpackers tend to visit many of the same locations as other tourists, and like those tourists, are attracted to the natural sights of the Territory. It is also found that the backpackers can be divided into various groups. For example, of this sample about one‐third had left their previous career to travel, and about 12% had just completed studies. On the other hand about one‐quarter were holidaying during periods of normal paid holiday leave. It is argued that the market is not solely comprised of ‘life change’ or rite de passage holidaymakers. Additionally, differences are found between national groupings. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

环境感知因素对旅华背包客旅游决策行为影响研究--以西安为例

通过对2005年9月西安旅华背包客旅游决策行为调查的第一手资料,从行为分割空间角度初步研究了环境感知因素对旅华背包客决策行为的影响,研究揭示:现阶段,旅华背包客决策行为主要受个人相关因素影响,旅游目的地环境感知因素传递受旅游客源国环境感知因素影响,当旅游者确定国际旅游后,旅游目的地感知因素对旅游者决策行为影响高于客源国环境感知因素.