Evolution of the Backpacker [Infographic]

In this infographic, we track the evolution of the Backpacker, from the traditional 1960s hitchhiking Hippies, to the 1980s Inter-Railers, and finally the modern ‘Glampacker’

Since the 1960s, there have been major changes in attitudes and habits within the backpacking community. People are travelling more frequently, taking advantage of low-cost accommodation and flights, plus using technology for travel advice, bookings and guides to their destination – creating the new ‘glampacker’.

Glampackers are redefining the meaning of international travel, looking for quick meaningful experiences, but, unlike previous generations, they want to experience locations and are older and take shorter trips. The average age of a backpacker in 2013 was 25 years old, but in 2016 this has risen to 32 years old. The average duration of a trip has also dropped, from 217 days in 2013 to only 179 days in 2016. The older traveller is often taking a few months off for a sabbatical rather than the traditional image of a student taking a break between their studies.

Today’s glampacker is seeking a broader range of activities and experiences than the traditional backpacker and instead of simply ‘going with the flow’; they gather information before and during the trip via the internet and mobile devices. Glampackers are independent travellers with a high adaption rate and are driven to experience new things.

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