Backpackers and mainstreamers

Abstract

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.