Backpacking (travel)

Backpacking is a type of tourism, in which as baggage only a backpack carries with it ( Backpacker ) and usually does not stay at a destination, but a self-determined travels to different places.

Term

The term backpacking ( engl am backpacking. ) Was established in German-speaking countries in the 1970s. From anthropologists and tourism scientists Eric Cohen of Backpacker 1972 as Drifter (sourced from the English to drift -. Drift, drift ) refers.

The term Backpacker comes from the American English (back pack = backpack, backpack in British English is common).

Origin

Even as a globetrotter or Globetrotter known traveled young people from the Anglo-American world with only the most necessary luggage and usually without a clear idea of the accommodation. These were explored only on site and should be as inexpensive as possible and away from the other accommodations of the package tourists, but in closer contact with the local population. Backpacking saw itself as an alternative to mass tourism.

Was known of the hippie trail - a high-traffic route from Europe overland to Asia. Southeast Asia was generally a popular tourist destination and is also referred to as the cradle of alternative tourism. An important part was the first published in 1973 Travel Guide South - East Asia on a shoestring (Lonely Planet). Through the guide routes have been mapped out, which were frequented by backpackers, and thus the establishment of tourist infrastructure ( hotels and restaurants) enabled. In this way, the backpacking often a precursor to the development of tourism of regions. In Europe, the introduction of cheap InterRail tickets by the European railways in 1972 contributed to the growth of backpacking.

Backpacking today

Backpackers traveling on a variety of ways and from a variety of motives. Some have a precise goal, just stay in one place, others only know the first location and can then drive or there is a priori a fixed route planning. Also the return date may be fixed in advance or indeterminate. The travel funds can be used for the entire duration assessed ( traveler's checks and credit cards ), or are temporarily needed on-site work activities for the maintenance backup, but occasionally longer stays in one place are quite common. First, mainly originated from the hippie movement of the 1970s, today's backpackers have very different backgrounds. Especially western teenagers after a first education degree ( Post graduate ) often embark on a long backpacking trip.

A new form of mass tourism

Started as an expression of individuality, also this alternative form of tourism, however, developed over the years into a mass movement. In many of backpackers high-traffic areas, this led to phenomena such as occur in conventional tourism, which was actually originally rejected. Sometimes the Backpacker harm the long-term target regions as well as the mass tourism. Furthermore, not every backpacker has a greener or more social ethos as the mass tourist. For an estimation of the local population, it is also mostly irrelevant whether it is backpack or conventional tourism.