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Backpackers: The next generation?
average (59 years versus 52.8 years) and were here for significantly shorter
holidays. Their average length of time in New Zealand was 23 days (Figure 2).
Days
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70
60
50
40
30
20
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Figure 2: Comparison of older backpackers (BP) (n ~ 14) with baby boomer
tourists (BB) (n ~ 54): holiday timeframes
These findings generally reflect Ministry studies that indicate backpackers stay
longer in New Zealand (an average of 30.5 days) than do non-backpackers (an
average of 19.4 days) (MOT, 2005). However, the older backpackers interviewed
averaged 76 days in country, more than twice as long as their younger
backpacking counterparts.
Of the non-NZ subjects, 71% of the older backpackers interviewed had been here
before, whereas only 18% of baby boomer respondents had been to New
Zealand previously. Both these data sets differ from the Ministry’s findings that
51% of international arrivals are return visitors (MOT, 2007b). As 8 of the 14
backpackers were also staying with friends or family at some point on their
holiday, it implies there might be a cross-over opportunity between traditional
VFR markets and backpackers’ accommodations.
Perceptions of self
One of the most significant opportunities presented by qualitative research is to
hear the actual voices and opinions of the interviewees – how they perceive of
themselves, of the world around them, and their own places within it. Distinct
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