‘responsible backpacker tourism’: contradiction or ... · ‘responsible backpacker tourism’:...
TRANSCRIPT
‘Responsible Backpacker
Tourism’: contradiction or
contribution? Small-scale
tourism and local impacts
in South-East Asia
Dr Mark HamptonUniversity of Kent, UK.
Backpackers
Outline of talk:
• Who are they & where do they go?
• What do they contribute? Economic
impacts
• So what? Conclusions
Backpackers: who are they?
• No single accepted definition!
• Data problems: no international
figures
• Gov. of Australia estimate: 10% of
international arrivals are
backpackers
• For Thailand (major gateway) if
use 10% figure for arrivals �
possibly between 1 & 1.3 million
backpackers in SE Asia in 2007
• Main routes: SE Asia, Latin America
'Gringo Trail', Australasia, minor routes in
South Africa etc.
SE Asia changing routes:
• Mature (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore)
• Emerging new routes (Vietnam, Cambodia,
Laos)
• Declining (Indonesia)
• Arrival at main air hubs (Bangkok,
Singapore) then overland travel
• BUT increasing backpacker use of LCCs
Backpacker trails: SE Asia
Arrivals
Arrivals
Backpacker trails: SE Asia
MatureMature
Declining
Arrivals
Arrivals
Backpacker trails: SE Asia
EmergingEmerging
MatureMature
Declining
Arrivals
Arrivals
Defining Backpackers
• Enclaves (Khao San Road,
Bangkok) & parallel infrastructure
• Often Europeans: in SE Asia 70-
80% (UK, Germany, Netherlands,
Scandinavia)
• BUT growing Asian backpacker
market
• Young: 70-80% are 20-29 yrs old
• Not just students. Some studies:
only c 20%, professionals c 40%
• Usually educated to university
level
Economic impact
a) Foreign exchange
earnings & leakage
• Although lower foreign
exchange earnings
compared with mass
tourism
BUT
• Longer Average Length
of Stay (ALOS) � higher
spend in country per
tourist!
Economic impact
AND
• Minimal foreign exchange needs for building & operations: local materials (wood, bamboo, cement) for simple chalets
• Or for conversions of existing properties
• Lower economic leakage: conventional tourism c 70% leakage from country
• Backpackers only c 30% leakage
Economic impact
b) Linkages with local economy
• mass tourists demand imported goods (familiar brands) BUT
• backpackers consume local goods & services (food, transport etc)
• Stronger linkages to local economy than conventional tourism
Economic impact
c) Employment
• Although mass tourism more
direct employment per tourist
than small-scale tourism (e.g.
large hotels staff : bed ratio)
� Question of job opportunities
i.e. own guest house or cleaner
at Sheraton?
Economic impact
d) Local ownership/
participation
• backpacker tourism -
lower entry costs (low
capital needs): more
local ownership
• often higher returns
than agriculture,
fishing or informal
sector
Social & cultural impacts
• Trends: ‘mass backpackers’,
‘hardcore backpackers’ &
‘backpacker plus’
• Issue of ‘massification’ of
backpacker market. Little
difference with mass youth
travel?
• Small numbers of ‘hardcore’
backpackers (decline?)
• Small but growing ‘backpacker
plus’ segment
‘Responsible’ backpacker tourism?
• Clear economic benefits for
developing countries from
backpackers
• Lower economic leakages &
stronger linkages than mass
tourism
• Longer ALOS: substantial spend
per PAX
• Some developing countries
(Malaysia, S. Africa) govt
encouragement � backpackers in
strategic tourism planning
BUT. . .
• Better dialogue needed between
industry & government
• More detailed research needed
on backpackers & market
characteristics
• Segmentation: what effect on
industry? Different needs?
• Also on impacts (spend,
multiplier & economic linkages)
• New Asian backpackers?
• Social/cultural impacts: mass
backpackers some costs for
host country
• Question: are backpackers
really ‘responsible’ tourists?
• Or just young tourists?
• How to manage this sector?
• Challenges for host country:
they are mobile, educated
(consumerist!),
technologically aware. . .
• Difficult to manage!
• Backpackers:
important tourism
sector.
• Not full solution BUT
useful part for
tourism-led
development
Thank you!
References
Cohen, E. (1982) ‘Marginal Paradises. Bungalow Tourism on the islands of Southern Thailand.’Annals of Tourism Research, 9: 189-228.
Hampton, M.P. (1998) ‘Backpacker Tourism and Economic Development.' Annals of Tourism Research, 25 (3) 639-660.
Hampton, M.P. (2003) ‘Entry points for Local Tourism in Developing Countries: evidence from Yogyakarta, Indonesia.’ Geografiska Annaler B: Human Geography, 85 (2) 85-101.
Hampton, M.P. (2005) ‘Heritage, Local Communities and Economic Development.’Annals of Tourism Research, 32 (3) 735-759.
Hampton, M.P. (2009) ‘Researching backpacker tourism: changing narratives.’ Kent Business School Working Paper 194, March. University of Kent, Canterbury.
Hamzah, A. (1995) ‘The changing tourist motivation and its implications on the sustainability of small-scale tourism development in Malaysia’ Paper read at World Conference on Sustainable Tourism, Lanzarote, Spain, 24-29 April.
Hamzah, A. and Hampton, M.P. (2008) ‘Tourism development in small islands: the case of Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia.’ Paper read at the ‘Islands of the World X’ ISISA conference, Jejuisland, South Korea, 24-30 August.
Hannam, K. and Ateljevic, I. (eds)(2008) Backpacker Tourism: Concepts and Profiles. Channel View Publications, Clevedon: England.
Howard, R. (2007) ‘Five backpacker tourist enclaves.’International Journal of Tourism Research 9(2) 73-86.
Ministry of Tourism (2007) Study on the Contribution and Potential of Backpacker Tourism in Malaysia. Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia.
Rogerson, C. (2007) ‘Backpacker tourism in South Africa: challenges and strategic opportunities’South African Geographical Journal, 89(2) 161-171.
Visser, G. (2004) ‘The developmental impacts of backpacker tourism in South Africa.’ GeoJournal60, 283-299.
Contact author details:
Dr Mark Hampton
Kent Business School
University of Kent
Canterbury CT2 7PE
UK.
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.academia.edu
Tel: +44 (0)1227 827726 (General office)
Tel: +44 (0)1634 888862 (Direct)