Am I a Backpacker? Factors Indicating the Social Identity of Chinese Backpackers

Abstract

The question of what constitutes backpacker identity has been one of the central topics of backpacking tourism research. With the economic boom in China, the last two decades witnessed the proliferation of Chinese backpackers. By adopting quantitative methods, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of what makes one a "backpacker" in China. Comparing results from t-tests, binomial logistic regression, and multiple linear regression, it is found that Chinese backpackers' social identities are mostly associated with external-oriented motivation, work alienation, and detachment from home centers. Behavioral characteristics, which have up until now been widely used to define backpackers, have very limited relationship to their identities in China. This finding calls for future research to rethink what is a backpacker. The research makes an important contribution to the understanding of this growing market and its particular identity factors.

Backpacker Identity: Scale Development and Validation

“…This indicated that the benefits of personal development, as well as perceived contributions to local communities, have been perceived to be the most important element in backpacker identity construction. This finding is in line with some previous narrative studies which confirmed that backpackers' identity stories powerfully consisted of their experience of self-change and responsible travel behaviors (e.g., Zhang et al 2018;.…”

“…Recently, identity has gained increasing attention in travel and tourism research (e.g., , particularly in backpacker studies (e.g., S. Cohen 2011;Elsrud 2001;Zhang, Morrison, Tucker, and Wu 2018;Zhang, Tucker, Morrison, and Wu 2017).…”

“…Furthermore, as Social Identity Theory (SIT; Tajfel 1982;Tajfel and Turner 1979) posits, individuals have a fundamental need to belong to a specific, readily labeled, and self-selected group (i.e., self-categorization); therefore, their social identities are constructed through their identification with a particular social group and the evaluative (i.e., group self-esteem) and affective (i.e., commitment to a group) consequences of such a grouping (e.g., Hornsey 2008;Tajfel 1982). According to SIT, it is reasonable to argue that certain travelers identify themselves as backpackers not only because they meet some tangible criteria, but more importantly also because they accept and manifest the socially constructed meanings and values of backpacking and thus may have a sense of belonging and emotional commitment to backpacking and the backpacker group (e.g., Liu, Zhang, Wu, and Morrison 2018;Zhang et al 2018). important questions like "what are the dimensions of backpacker identity" and "how could backpacker identity be effectively measured?"…”

“…unique travel culture (e.g.,Liu et al 2018;Zhang et al 2018;.With regard to backpackers' self-value perception, recent research has focused on personal growth and development as a consequence of backpacking travels. In this regard, Chen and colleagues (G. Chen, Bao, and Huang 2014b; G. Chen and Huang 2017) identified five backpacker personal development (BPD) domains; namely capability, emotion, self-consciousness, skill, and worldview.…”

Understanding the place-making practices of backpackers

“…Backpackers have had a profound influence on the character of various places around the world, as their desire to travel ‘off-the-beaten-track’ has brought new destinations to the attention of the tourism industry (Hampton, 2013; Pryer, 1997; Westerhausen and Macbeth, 2003). Scholars have provided industry and community perspectives of backpacking (Hampton, 2013; Pryer, 1997; Welk, 2010), engaged with backpacker identity formation and experiences (Bui et al, 2014; Chen et al, 2019; Zhang et al, 2018), and considered the everyday practices of other tourist types (Edensor, 2007; Obrador, 2003). Yet, little is known of how the practices of backpackers contribute to place-making processes.…”