Comments on: Of Backpackers and Tourists

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:02:03 +0000

pretentious drivel

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:55:48 +0000

I agree. it’s a stupid argument. Many travelers always make this judgment. It’s common “talk” among the backpacking trail.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 02:30:54 +0000

I am proud to be a tourist! I’ve always got my phrase book out, trying to decode the language, maps spread out trying to get a picture of the city. And I wouldn’t knock all the “touristy” sites, either – there’s a reason people love them!
When we were living in China, though, I would sometimes try to draw a distinction between tourists or students and me as a working resident. I also was proud of being a math teacher, and not an English teacher. I’m not sure why I was so stuck up about that, but I really didn’t want to be mistaken for a student!

By: Ashman

Ashman — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:09:43 +0000

I never understood why the so-called ‘travelers’ have to compare themselves all the time to ‘tourists’
Why can’t we just travel for the sake of TRAVEL. People shouldn’t even care about how others travel, what’s the point?!
My sister would NEVER do the hostel or traveling solo thing, and on the other hand I’m done with the packaged resort stuff – but I never compare my way of travel to hers. At the end of the day, what’s important for me are our stories. A good travel is the one filled with great stories. If someone comes back from a vacation and all they can talk about was the beach and how they partied so hard they got drunk on many occasions…THAT to me, is bad travel. It’s like comparing the Machu Picchu trail – there are 2 ways of getting there: by hiking for days or by train; some travelers think that THE BEST experience is by hiking – but dude, even the Peruvians don’t hike to Machu Picchu, they take the train! So whoever said the REAl experience is by hiking is obviously wrong.

By: LeslieTravel

LeslieTravel — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 01:02:21 +0000

Interesting article. The simple truth is that backpackers are tourists, although we like to think of ourselves as a special breed of enlightened traveler. Even the most well intentioned “nomad” or backpacker who strives to get a taste of the local culture isn’t going to have the same experience as a local. It’s easy to criticize package tourists (and I’ve done it before), but we have to ask ourselves: are we somehow contributing more to the countries we visit than other types of tourists? I’m not so sure. As a backpacker and RTW vet I think it’s time we stop criticizing other travelers and focus on our own journeys (and impact).

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:12:18 +0000

I think 95% of tourists/travelers like to have a safety net… whether it’s staying in their resort or staying somewhere where there are heaps of other travelers.

I guess this is why fewer than 5% of all tourists to Thailand venture out to the rural North East….

By: bibliotraveler

bibliotraveler — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:18:40 +0000

I like the best of both worlds – to save money, taste the food, speak the language with local people, and, take tons of pictures! because someday I’m going to come home, and they’ll trigger all kinds of memories.
The best trips are when you can visit people that live there and get a glimpse into their lives.
And sometimes, backpackers ARE the other culture that I got to visit.

By: note

note — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:21:59 +0000

@ Kai L – backpackers may not need as much infrastructure as tourists – but what about the social effects of their rampant drug and alcohol use and easy sex? In so many places the local guys think all western women are easy, and its not just from western media – its from the behaviour of travellers.
Imagine you are dirt poor, and every day you see filthy rich foreigners drinking and taking drugs? How tempting would it be to start selling to them – risking addiction, social censure and imprisonment?
Don’t get me wrong, there is ugliness and beauty from both ends of the spectrum, and I’ve certainly been guilty of this kind of behaviour.
But as someone who lives in a backpacker haven (St Kilda Australia), I see people who’s sole aim is to get smashed and score and who show zero respect for the people that live there.

By: Cubbies

Cubbies — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:37:18 +0000

Dude,

Can i borrow your images from this post? I’ll link it up to your website… Promise.

Let me know via email.

Cheers
Cubbies

By: jan

jan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:19:30 +0000

when i traveled i notices there is a strong hierarchy among backpackers. usually the first conversation will check out how long one is already traveling. Of course the longer, the higher one will be in that hierarchy.
next is the localization factor. if you stay at places, you can see how eager backpackers try to localize. staying at a place for a long time is a +. befriending with the locals is the next +. found a job in a bar, even just for cleaning +. having a relationship with a local +. speak their language fluently = you are the travel god.

for locals it does not make any difference if someone is backpacker or suitcase traveler. usually backpackers have the reputation that they don’t care too much about clean clothes or body smell. Hard to say, but there is some truth about it. another thing is imho the way they dress. i can see so many backpackers, specially the girls who just dress so offensive. for a thai it woud be impossible to go without bra and smuggle peanuts. yet i see it so often with tourists and feel embarrassed for these girls. most locals you will never talk to, so they don’t see how much you try to speak their language or how good your knowledge about buddhism is. they just see you appearance.
And backpackers have the reputation not to spend too much money. so don’t think you are the perfect traveller for the people living in the country you visit.

i found that the kind of luggage someone carries more or less unimportant. the most interesting ppl i met are business travelers, visa runners, people working somewhere, etc. i don’t think wearing a backpack makes you an interesting person.