Exploring International Backpackers' Motivation in Overseas Countries from Travel Career Perspective

Abstract

According to the World Travel Organization (Tourism, 2003), 20% of all tourism worldwide is from the youth and student market. The Hostelling International maintains that there are approximately 35 million hotel beds connected to their network worldwide (Chandresekaran and Paterik, 2002). The number of international backpackers in 2015 was 89,100. Until 2016, the number of backpackers was 192,400. This purpose of this study is to explore what constitutes international backpackers' motivation from travel career perspective. In this study, the number of participants was 300 (males:146; females: 154). In Table 4.1.2, 83 participants would like to broaden their world views; 280 participants experienced exotic culture, and 278 participant enjoyed enriching their life experience In addition, 260 participants would like to get to know friends from different countries. The above factors show the reason why they would like to be international backpackers. Tables 4.1 and 4.1.1. show that international backpackers' motivations and traveling in overseas were statistically significant because of p-value (p=.000) <.05. Results suggest that motivations of independence, budget travel, experiential, and personal/social growth are dynamic throughout the backpacker's travel career, which is based on Maslow's needs analysis. Overall, this study provides valuable insight into what is at the core of all backpackers' travel motivation.