Backpacking is a term that historically has been used to demonstrate the form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and / or travel budgets are often used interchangeably with backpacking. The factors that traditionally differentiate backpacking from other forms of tourism, including but not limited to the following: the use of public transport as a means of travel, preference of youth hostels to traditional hotels, the length of the trip vs. conventional vacations, use a backpack, an interest in meeting people local people and see the sights.
The definition of a backpacker has evolved as travelers from different cultures and regions participate and will continue to do so, preventing an air-tight definition. Recent research has found that, “… backpackers is a heterogeneous group related to the diversity of reasons and meanings attached to their travel experience … They also demonstrate a shared commitment to. Non-governmentaltionalised form of travel, which is central to their self-identification as backpackers. “Backpacking as a lifestyle and as a business has grown enough in the 2000s as an ordinary low-cost airlines, hostels or budget accommodation in various parts of the world, and digital communication and resources make planning, implementation, and continued long-term backpacking trip more easily than ever before.