I am currently doing my dissertation on backpackers' motivation, and I would love to have your opinions.
Hi !
I am currently doing my dissertation on backpackers' motivations and I would love to hear your view:
What motivates you to go backpacking ?
What destinations are you attracted to the most ?
How long are you travelling for ?
If any of your parents went backpacking, does it have an influence of your motivation to go backpacking ?
Are you male or female ? What is your nationality ?
Any other thoughts are welcome ! And thanks for answering !
Nadege
Reply to this Just curious, what degree are you working on and what is the title of your thesis?
The following are personal thoughts and opinions. I'm from the US and female.
I think the decision to go backpacking is two fold.
1. It's an economic decision. It is much cheaper so backpacking around the world allows you to stay on the road longer and see more things.
2. It gives you an opportunity to meet other travelers.
I've traveled for many years and in 2007 my husband and I sold our house, put everything in storage and traveled for several months. Two months across the US, three months in SE Asia, one month in NZ, two months in Australia and a couple of weeks in Europe on the way back.
Motivation is restlessness and a NEED to see the world, experience new cultures, meet new people and relax and experience the moving around the world.
After you have been on the road for a little while you wake up each day asking yourself which country you are in.
As you enter each country you exchange money, learn to do those calculations in your head, begin to practice the language, figure out the public transit system and create the plan for what you want to see.
Reply to this Hi
Thank you very much for your answer.
Im doing a BA Tourism Business Management in the UK and my dissertation is : the backpackers' motivations which I analysed through blogs.
Thanks again, it is very useful.
Reply to this I only feel at home when I'm somewhere else.
Central Asia at the moment.
I just got back from India.
My parents moved country every 3 years since I was born. It's ingrained in me.
Male, British. Traveller, not backpacker.
Reply to this Female Aussie, Traveller not backpacker also.
To satisfy an endless need to see, smell, taste the world. Curiousity.
Most attractive destinations - destination unknown.
Born travelling (in a tent at Ningaloo) - so yes, ingrained, however interestingly my own children have no desire to travel YET and think my travelling is "wierd".
Nowdays my travel times are limited by work but roughly 4 x 3 week trips per year.
Longest trip 17 months - that was a backpacking trip due to youth and economics.
Hope this helps!
Reply to this Hello Nadege 😊
What motivates you to go backpacking ?
I like variety in life.
What destinations are you attracted to the most ?
India is the one that attracts me most. I also am attracted to places such as the ones in Central Asia, because not so many people go to them. ie They are mystery countries.
How long are you travelling for ?
I travel in spurts these days, rather than a very long trip, mostly because I have a kid with school requirements, and also because I now enjoy being at home as well as being away. I used to want to travel all the time. I have been travelling on and off for 22 years.
If any of your parents went backpacking, does it have an influence of your motivation to go backpacking ?
My mother hates backpacking, and is horrified that I did not give it up at 22 or some young age. My father is romantic about it, but never tried it. I dont see my parents anymore. The objections and sometimes obstacles my mother put up about the travellings has a bit to do with that decision, but not everything to do with it.
What is your nationality ?
Irish
Mel
Reply to this Nadege, will you dissertation be available on the internet some time, so we can read it? I think, it will be interesting.
Reply to this Thanks for all your comments, it is much appreciated.
I am not sure if my dissertation will be available online, perhaps I can ask..
Thanks again 😊
Nadege
Reply to this I skipped the question about parents.
No my parents didn't backpack and rarely traveled. Once a year my mother took us kids to visit her family in another state for a couple of weeks and then we would go to the beach for a week.
I mother would have stayed in nothing but 5 star hotels if she could have afforded it. We always stayed in hotels.
Reply to this I am 49, from Argentina, female. I love travelling. I travel because there´s some kind of inner need to explore and know different people, mainly people and places. My parents didn´t travel, but my mother used to read books about trips when she was pregnant. I am an only child. I am very much interestd on Asia and places which are different to those where I live. I like any place on earth. I consider myself as a true citizen of this world. I am a traveller, not a tourist, of course. Now I am planning a trip to Middle East. When I travel I can understand human beings, nature, politics, mysteries of human minds. I can have a better understanding of my own country. I don´t "belong" to the country where I live and where I was born, I just belong to this amazing world.
Love from Argentina.
Graciela.
Reply to this Oh, I forgot 1 question: I have been abroad for about 2 months (Latin America and Asia), not more than that.
I travel with my backpack, although I never sleep in tents, but hostels or guesthouses. And hotels as well, of course.
Reply to this hm I am form everywhere (seriously, have lived in 5 countries so far moving around every max 5 years)
am 31
motivation:
- I have done it all my life (with my parents and later friends etc) motivation, mainly is money wise. I rather travel 5 months than have 4 weeks in a hostel. and it is different, you meet different kind of people, you might have to work your way, live cheap and I am very lazy moving from one place to the next and rather stay long times at one place and get to know people etc (which again is cheaper).
destination:
- comes and goes how I feel sometimes it is an empty place, sometimes a town with lots of history. the other day I went surfing in el salvador and hated it because there are all these posers.... so it comes and goes...familial non familiar... anything is possible
how long for backpacking:
- anything from a weekend or week hitch hiking around to months. currently I am on the road for 5 months and will keep going for some more...
parents:
- big influence. started backpacking with my parents and brother and auntie, camping all around the world, hiking etc. my dadès still big into mountaineering etc. so yeah, they showed me the way 😊
- nationality:
it is complicated 😊
good luck with your thesis. it is great when it is over and then stop writing about travelling and do it!
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