Backpackers to become 'obsolete'

The term 'backpacker' could soon be obsolete, or at least out of fashion, as the Australian travel market, one of the top destinations for young travellers, is changing its branding policy.

Many companies across are Australia recognising a change in their markets and to meet the different needs of overseas tourists are rebranding and refocusing what is on offer, the Courier Mail reports.

According to Philip Pearce, a professor in tourism at the James Cook University, in Australia the term backpacker has developed increasingly negative connotations among the youth market, with terms such as "independent traveller", "youth traveller" and "adventure tourist" gaining popularity.

Stephen Welsh, president of the Tropical North Queensland Backpacker Hostels Association, commenting on the term 'backpacker' said: "The main angst about changing the name is that the travellers themselves don't identify with that."

"(Other names are) about settling on a term that covers the type of people we're trying to attract. It (backpacker) will phase out, it will just be used as slang terminology."

Cairns tour operator and company owner Fred Ariel commented that the term backpacker was very 20th century and "the proper term now is an adventure-seeker".

The Australian tourism industry, which is worth around £1.85 billion, saw the number of travellers staying in hostels drop by 6.6 per cent nationwide last year.

Posted by Carrie, 15 July 2006 15:28

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