Backpackers: The next generation? - Scholarly Commons Home

Backpackers: The next generation?
4 Perceptions and motivations
The main focus of this study is older backpackers. The research is primarily
concerned with how these travellers perceive of themselves, what are their
motivations for choosing backpackers’ accommodations, and what are their
needs and preferences in lodging (and why). Additionally, the research
continues the conversation about whether the nomenclature of “backpackers”
limits or distorts perceptions of the actual product and its users (Richards &
Wilson, 2004a; Welk, 2004).
The thesis expands on existing quantitative studies (Cave et al., 2007; Hecht &
Martin, 2006; Thyne et al., 2004). By taking an emic and reflexive approach, the
research follows Cohen’s (2003, p. 107) advice to reflect on “the manner in which
[backpackers] themselves construct, represent, and narrate their experiences”.
The findings are then compared and contrasted to existing writings in the
literature to delineate areas of potential similarity and dissimilarity between
older and younger backpackers.
Demographic profiles
As Gray (2004) suggests, due to the limited scope of qualitative research, the
demographic information gathered for this thesis cannot be extrapolated to
represent the population as a whole. However, certain basic data are presented
here by way of introducing the participants and creating context for analysis
against other literature.
Table 1 reviews the older backpackers. Their names have been assigned by the
researcher. In subsequent discussions, these individuals are referred to as “older
backpackers”, “older travellers”, “guests”, “interviewees” or “subjects”.
52