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Backpackers: The next generation?
1 Introduction
Since the mid-1990s, the tourism industry has become aware of the economic
‘phenomenon’ of backpacker tourism and the extent to which it contributes
financially to both developed and developing countries (1995; Richards &
Wilson, 2003; Scheyvens, 2002, 2006). In New Zealand, for example, backpackers
contributed some $642 million to the tourism economy in 2005, statistically
similar per capita expenditures to other international tourists, though with a
lower daily spend (Ministry of Tourism (MOT), 2005).
To date, most backpacker research has focussed on reviewing the experiences
and choices in travel of the 18-29 year olds who constitute the bulk of the
market. Pearce (2006) however, has called for the need to produce research with
a wider scope, research that is both relevant and pragmatic. He suggests
numerous new topics for consideration, including the relationship between
backpacking and life span / life courses. Cohen (2003, p. 57) agrees, asking that
future research move away from assuming that backpacking is a “homogenous
phenomenon” and should instead review “its diverse manifestations, in terms of
differences in age, gender, origins, and particular subcultures”.
The growing presence of older backpackers within the market has been noted
(Hecht & Martin, 2006; Scheyvens, 2006). “Older” is defined within the literature
as backpackers over age 30. Several quantitative studies about hostels and
backpackers’ accommodations have recorded the preferences of older travellers
(Cave, Thyne, & Ryan, 2007; Hecht & Martin, 2006; Thyne, Davies, & Nash,
2004). This thesis seeks to amplify the existing literature through a qualitative
study of older backpackers’ self-perceptions, motivations, needs and
expectations during their travels in the well-developed backpacker destination
of New Zealand.
Additional backpacker research in this country has focused primarily on the
growth of the backpacking industry and its related suppliers (Ateljevic &
Doorne, 2000b; Doorne, 1994; Vance, 2004). Newlands (2004) examined the
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