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Backpackers: The next generation?
indicates that location is ranked as “very important” to 43% of respondents,
more important to them than price, cleanliness or security (p. 15). By 2007,
location is considered the most important influence (NZTRI, 2007). Cave et al.’s
study mentions the importance of a “pick up service” from bus/train stations to
the accommodation.
Location did not appear to be a significant factor for these older backpackers,
even though five of them were travelling by public transport. The balance had
rented or bought a car, so were perhaps more flexible in their location choices.
However, nine interviewees specifically mentioned the importance of not being
in the city or town centre.
Here it’s clean and you can feel a little bit at home and it’s not so big. I
don’t want to stay in the middle of Paihia; I really don’t want to stay
there (Ingrid).
It was in [a neighbourhood of Auckland], which has a reputation for being
more bohemian, and not in the city centre, which is probably kind of dead
at night. It’s nice out here (Edward).
When asked the open ended question, “What’s most important to you in
choosing accommodations?”, feeling “safe” was referenced several times in
responses from women. They used the language in the sense of wanting a
“warm, dry safe bed”, or for the lodging to be “safe and comfortable”, or to have
a “safe and dry place to sleep”.
When asked the open question, “Why did you choose New Zealand?”, five
women also referred to this country as perceived to be a particularly “safe”
place.
I chose New Zealand because it’s the other end of the world. I think it’s
good travelling as a woman by myself, and it’s the nature, and it’s very
easy to meet people (Ingrid).
I knew from 20 years ago that New Zealand was a very easy place to
travel, and very secure, so I did very little research before coming
(Louise).
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