Many things have changed in the world since the first independent travelers ventured off into unknown a few decades ago…
When hippies were discovering the Asia, Africa, South America or even Eastern Europe, travel was harder and they were immersed in the foreign culture. They may have a small budget, but the means of international transport were no cheap thing, so they had to do it unconventionally. The communication with home and Western world was harder, local language was easier to pick up when there was no Google translate to aid their hand gestures. Most of all, almost all of the roads were less-travelled or off-the-path.
This is no longer true in majority of places around the globe, and thus backpackers evolved.
What it meant to be a backpacker
Backpackers were a different breed than what they are now. The experience was more focused on local people and learning their customs, cultures and languages. Since there were nearly no western restaurants abroad, backpackers had to eat what they’re offered. Even information on how to get from one place to another had to come from a local or fellow backpacker who has already done something similar, but it was much harder to find the latter. Lonely planet books became popular not so long ago, so preparation for such a journey took more than $20 in a book store.
People who had passion for discovery, mostly carrying huge backpacks, were proud to be independent travelers on low budget. They came up with a name backpacking and felt an instant liking for people who did what they did. It meant something to be a backpacker, so much so it became mainstream now. And all of it was true as recently as 10-15 years ago.
What backpackers do now
Technological advancements made it easy to share information, cheap international flights made it easy to travel far, and mass media including internet made it easy to share information. Foreign independent long-term travel became cheaper, faster, safer and much more common. It’s even much easier to develop online source of income to support travels.
So what backpackers tend to do now (not all, of course)? Party, and party they do. Seems like the easier access to backpacking and the fact that it became mainstream did the term no good deed. Instead of immersion in a foreign culture, young people just before going to university, or just after graduating, go on long vacation to party just like at home. The difference is that they call them selves backpackers, but instead of learning the new culture, they abuse the lesser regulation to do things they wouldn’t do at their home countries.
For example, once a peaceful island of Koh Phangan in Thailand is now a backpacking destination where thousands of young people go to drink beyond any limit. The societies of such destinations change dramatically from hospitable and welcoming to greedy and loathing Western culture. No wonder, anyone who visited Vang Vieng in Laos can see it on peoples’ faces. Money is not what these local people were brought up to value the most, but since that’s the only good thing that is left for them after the visitors leave – they’ve learned to use it.
Backpackers now are mostly people who travel to foreign countries to party and meet other backpackers. It’s only a wild break from their family and time to do things they’d be scared or ashamed to do back home. Of course I’m not saying that a traveller cannot drink, but if majority of the journey is spent drunk, it’s as good as staying at home.
What are the alternatives
Well, for one people who do this should revise what they call themselves – “drinkpacker” should work. Then again, there are already other names in use, such as “flashpacker” or “poshpacker”. I personally call myself tramp. This is a word that rarely anyone would like to be called in their city, but for me it means much more than a homeless. In the context of a traveller, it’s someone temporarily homeless so that they can have more freedom. It’s inspired by Into the Wild where the main character called himself Alexander SuperTramp.
What do you think about today’s backpackers? What other names can you suggest for independent long-term travelers?
81 thoughts on “What Is Today’s Backpacker And Why There Is a Need For New Name”
Although we still consider ourselves backpackers (because, well, we have backpacks and all), our mindset couldn’t be more different than the partygoers we’ve met in SE Asia and Central America. Those drunken buffoons (SE Asia was definitely the worst) were what inspired me to create our uninspirational quotes post – got tired of seeing backpackers wax poetic about “Explore. Dream. Discover” and then just make fools of themselves by only exploring the various alcoholic concoctions available. As you say, it’s the attitude – disrespectful, to say the least. The locals suffer because they see their native land wrecked by partygoers and other travelers suffer because they start being perceived as walking ATMs. I know I’m sounding like a grumpy old man, but it saddens me to see the devastating effects of mass drinkpackers, particularly in developing countries. There have always been people going to sunny destinations in search of a good time (those backpackers of yore weren’t all conscientious adventurers), but the issue is that there’s just so many these days… Great post, kudos! Good luck and safe travels!
It’s true we can lament the past or we can recognize that each generation longs for the ideals and environment it believes came before. The are so many places, even where the drinkers are, left to explore, we just have to put down our lonely Planet, go out and find them
Love the way you think Pedro! So true!
Really interesting post! It feels like the shift has been a slow one, but we’ve definitely reached a point where heavy drinking seems to be associated with being a backpacker. It’s unfortunate that a lot of countries are bending to the desires of backpackers (offering Western food, Western-style bars etc.), rather than backpackers working to immerse themselves in the countries they’re traveling to. At the risk of sounding pretentious, I try to avoid calling myself anything. If I give myself a label, it creates this need to live up to the image of that label, and I don’t want to feel that pressure.
I totally agree Jessica. I don’t want to feel that pressure either.
I can understand a short trip to a tropical destination with friends where people would want to spend most of it partying. These people shouldn’t be calling themselves backpackers, even if they brought all their clothes in one! And while I can’t blame these people, it still has a negative effect on the locals.. :/
Since travel has become something I do frequently, the last thing I want to do is go out every night. Sometimes, I don’t even want to be expected to be social!
I’m not creative enough at the moment to think of another name, so I guess I’ll just have to be a tramp too :)
True Jessica. I totally agree!
I agree with everything you wrote Agness, and a lot of the comments too. I don’t think the average modern “backpacker” (note the quotation marks!!) is a particularly open-minded person, or culturally sensitive; but then were they ever? Maybe foreigners were always getting ugly-drunk in Southeast Asia and taking culturally-inappropriate photos in front of Buddha statues, but now there are so many more people travelling, and it’s so eel-documented through all forms of media. I’m really not sure – maybe it’s partly rose-coloured glasses, and maybe it’s true!!
Either way, it’s not nice, and for many people who don’t fit into that ideal, “backpacker” has become almost a dirty word. I was determined never to travel with a backpack, even before I first went overseas at the age of 20, simply to avoid being stereotyped as a “backpacker”. I travelled with a suitcase, and actually developed a liking for it – I still travel with one! But I refer to myself a “traveller” (and occasionally a “citizen of the world” – I’m only partly joking!!). I think that fairly describes what it is I am and what I do. I still wouldn’t call myself a backpacker, because I’m still travelling with my case (I love it!) and I am distinct from the large hoardes of people who ARE referred to (rightly/wrongly/for better/for worse) as “backpackers”!! :D
Interesting read! I don’t really care about the specific name, but I agree with you regarding the attitude of some younger folks drinking and partying their way through SE Asia. Personally, I feel they are not interested in learning and experiencing the culture. Khao San Rd. in Bangkok is proof of that! But with that being said, there are a large majority of people who really, truly want to immerse themselves in the culture of a place and you can usually pinpoint those type of people as well!!
So true Constance, thanks for sharing! Backpacking always fails in Bangkok… :)
I agree that the term “backpacking” brings up a certain image: hostels, alcohol, and gap years are the top 3 words that pop into my mind. I associate backpackers with being of the younger generation (30 and below), and anyone doing similar things after that…a vagabond perhaps? Absolutely nothing wrong with not setting up roots, but I agree that they should hopefully be adding more to the communities they’re visiting and spending time in than just empty Jack Daniels bottles and bad impressions:-)
I often use the term vagabond and adventure hunter and people are like “What!? Who are you?” :)
I think with the new generation of backpackers there is becoming a positive transformation and evolution to what I consider “Poshpackers”. We like to think of them as more respectful, boutique-minded, creative independent travelers with a larger budget, who appreciate quality, design and social + local interaction. #Poshpacker
Hey Anna! I’m not familiar with the term of “poshpackers” but I’ll add it to my travel dictionary.
About “poshpackers”: I don’t hide the fact that I’m looking for a hostel on-line I pay attention to design and style. The name “poshpacker” sounds irritating, though.
It sounds like this “drinkpacker” attitude is restricted to South East Asia. I have seen some of them only in restricted parts of Europe, and they tend to stick to a few hostels. It’s not that people travelling with a backpack or exploring freely (even without a backpack) shouldn’t call themselves backpackers, but these drinkpackers should stop to call themselves backpackers or even travellers!
Stefania, to be honest, I have never heard of the term “poshpacker” and I must admit it does a bit negative.
I found this article on Vang Vieng. The questions they raise are very interesting and important. In my opinion, it’s the same mechanism that keeps the long-neck tribe from Myanmar in northern Thailand. The government isn’t likely to do anything, as long as it’s so lucrative for the country to have this kind of tourism.
http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/vang-vieng-backpacker-heaven-or-tourist-hell-994621/
It always makes us sad to see people (not always young) who focus solely on being drunk and disorderly on their travels. They are wasting time they could be learning, sharing and giving back to the places they’re visiting. Some may say live and let live, but it seems truly disrespectful to both the places/people visited and anyone else in the general area. In many cases there is a true danger to those involved by being so out of control too. There are so many healthier ways to have fun. Anyway, the planet is still filled with amazing places to explore, and avoiding those who don’t share the same passion and priorities you do is possible. Try and surround yourself with people of like interests and keep focusing on the positive!
Same here. We often feel so embarrassed and ashamed of being Westerners :(!
I think I’m more of a flashpacker because I need all my gadgets with me and I need a little comfort when I travel. Backpackers aren’t the only party people though, there are those Aussies on bachelor parties in Bali too. *shudder* I guess it’s a broader term than it used to be, but that’s the way language is, it will evolve with the times.
I believe I’m a kind of a flashpacker as well. Can’t travel without my electronics :).
I’ve always been an old school backpacker, but for most of the times without a backpack (I can’t remember how I carried my cloths ’cause till now I don’t own a backpack).
I’ve traveled without any technology till the very end of 2013, and in many cases no camera because I couldn’t afford to develop the photos (so the very few old ones I have I cherish like gold).
When I travel, I tend to avoid the flocks of tourists at all costs and I don’t identify with the flashpackers at all. People who spend too much of their traveling time on FB, twitter and so on make me wonder why the heck do they even go somewhere if all they do is being online…?
I got so frustrated in Southeast Asia and couldn’t even handle being around other backpackers for some of the time, even though I am one. The focus was on partying and occasionally getting out to see some things. Getting treated like one of these stereotypical backpackers by the locals is even worse, especially in places like Vang Vieng. The state of travel in the countries you mentioned really needs to change.
Had the same feelings when travelling and living in Cambodia and Thailand… :(
I bet a lot of the backpackers of yesteryear were also engaging in a lot of drinking and drug use on the road but because there were a lot fewer travelers (because of the difficulties and cost of getting places, like you mentioned) and they didn’t (couldn’t) plaster the photos of themselves shit faced on Khao San Road on the Internet, it’s not as obvious.
But I completely agree with you on the lack of respect and interest in other cultures that permeates the backpacking crowd today. I stayed at a hostel in Siem Reap that was a lot of fun, but I swear half the people never even left the grounds except to see the Angkor sunrise one morning. I like to have the occasional big night out when I’m on the road, but it’s definitely not an everyday thing and don’t think it should be the sole focus of someone’s reasons for traveling.
So true Amanda!
If we’re labelling things, we’re probably flashpackers – mid 20s, not partiers, not trying to save a buck at any cost, but still on a budget and still with our backpacks!
Good point!
Hi Agness, this is quite an interesting read. I agree that those party-ers are giving “backpackers” a bad name. I don’t think there is a a need to change the name. Backpackers for me are real travelers, who want to learn about and to immerse in whatever culture they travel to. And there’s still a lot of real backpackers out there. If people travel just to party and without any regards to other’s culture, then they do not fall into backpackers category. They are exactly what you say they are – “drinkpackers.”
Thank you Marisol for speaking your mind. I guess “drinkpackers” is a good name for these who do not appreciate locals’ hospitality and drink way too much! :)
I must agree that the term ‘backpacker’ has seriously changed over the years.
I hear the term and think back to the movies of an odd traveler looking to go where no other of his countrymen have ever been before. To experience not only the poverty and destruction in so many developing countries but also the kindness and open hearts of the locals. To truly get in touch with the world and learn what it means to stop labeling yourself as one nationality or another and simply understand what it means to be human.
OR, as more common in modern times,
It is the image of a group of friends who look up ‘backpacker’ on the internet to discover the well trodden path of such places as Bangkok, Koh Pi Pi, Hanoi, Vang Vieng, etc… and decide to go and drink more than any man has ever drank before to see if they can still escape the risk and troubles that are bound to ensue.
Not saying these places are all bad though. I have been living in Chiang Mai for a bit now and absolutely love it. Sure there are plenty of disrespectful drunks but there is still plenty to discover. A quick chat with some locals away from the old city area and you quickly discover just how much the city is still unique and traditional even with all the crazy tourism.
In the end, though, I think the easiest course of action to truly get that ‘backpacker’ feel in modern times is to simply avoid any destination that you have heard of before. Go to a small village in the middle of nowhere and get lost in the culture :)
Happy Travels.
Mmm I have to say that this is one of the things I have been slightly worried about travelling through SE Asia, after Australia and New Zealand where the prices are prohibitively high. I guess I’ll see, but I’m expecting the worse!
Where there is a will, there is a way. SE Asia is so cheap, nothing to worry about!!
Very Informative points. It is very important to know about Backpacker. Thanks :)