Backpackers and mainstreamers: Realities and Myths

This paper addresses the issue of the budget traveler (backpacker) as compared to mainstream tourists, highlighting travel motivations, subjective judgments of risk, tourist worries and tourists’ self identifications. A total of 1880 tourists to Norway participated in the study, of which 211 were budget travelers.Few motivational differences were found between groups, but budget travelers were less motivated by needs for luxury and relaxation and they judged travel related hazards (including food risk) to be less risky. Their overall travel related worry was similar to other travelers’ although they worried less about terror and foreign cultures. Budget travelers also perceived themselves to be less typical tourists than mainstream tourists perceived themselves to be.

Research highlights► Few differences between backpackers and other tourists. ► Backpackers more motivated by social and knowledge/cultural awareness motives. ► Both groups equally worried, but backpackers less risk apprehensive. ► Both groups judge food risks abroad to be higher than at home. ► Backpackers see themselves as being more individualistic.