Research
Proposal
By
Eric Kaufman
Research Question
How is increasing
access to internet technology and portable wifi devices changing the
way backpackers gather travel information from locals while traveling
in Thailand?
Overview
As technology grows
and changes, and access to it increases, the way travelers make use
of it alters their previous travel behavior. My study intends to look
at the growing use of internet technology in Thailand in two parts.
The first part will investigate how widespread the implementation of
wifi among guest-houses and hostels is. What I am looking at here is
whether wireless internet access is offered, and when this offering
began. This will also allow me to measure its growth rate.
The second part will
investigate which wifi capable devices backpackers are bringing with
them, and the increasing rate at which they’ve begun doing so.
These devices may include laptops, netbooks, tablets, and smart
phones. Although some of these devices may be capable of other types
of data connection, for this study my interest is only with devices
used for their wifi connection to the internet rather than through
roaming mobile data plans.
My hypothesis is
that backpackers, who make a lot of travel decisions from the road,
are relying more on information gathering through internet technology
rather than through direct communication with locals, such as those
operating guest-houses who have first-hand knowledge of the area. The
type of information gathering I will focus on is travel information
for the immediate area, such as directions and suggestions regarding
restaurants, activities, and guest-houses.
I aim to show how
increased use of the internet to provide this type of information may
be resulting in decreased verbal communication between people of
differing cultures, leading to a growing larger scale breakdown in
compassion and understanding for differing cultures. Through my
research study, I aim to promote further backpacker research around
social and cultural issues.
The most essential
concept to unpick here is that of the backpacker. Because behavior
and motivation are so crucial to this study, it is necessary to
understand the modern backpacker. In the following section I
reference previous studies that have contributed to an understanding
of the modern-day backpacker.
In Context
The primary focus of
my initial literary review is to use existing research to help define
the modern backpacker. Contextualizing my study requires a look into
previous backpacker research, definitions, and conceptions. I will
investigate how various definitions of “backpacker” affect ideas
of travel. After satisfactorily identifying the backpacker
demographic, I will move on to investigating wireless internet
technology as a variable and then Thailand as an environmental
variable.
The Association of
Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS), established in 1991, promotes
transnational research and education and has members in over 70
countries. In 2000, members of ATLAS formed the Backpackers Research
Group (BRG). The motivation for setting up the BRG came from the
feeling, among ATLAS members, that “backpacking was becoming an
important social, cultural, and economic phenomenon around the globe.
In spite of this, there was felt to be a lack of research dealing
with transnational or transcultural issues” (Richards and Wilson,
2004, p.6). The BRG set out to review previous research on backpacker
tourism and identify gaps in research. The Global Nomad Research
Programme was then set up to compile related backpacker research.
The question of
defining “backpacker” comes up as a consistent thread in many
studies. As described by Richards and Wilson, the backpacker
represents “an idealized form of travel as liberation from the
constraints of modern society” (Richards and Wilson, 2004, p.5).
They go on to describe Binder and Welk’s identification of one of
the key points of differentiation, “the ability to decide one’s
own itinerary, to change travel plans at will and not to be weighed
down by cultural or physical baggage” (Richards and Wilson, 2004,
p.5).
As a key element of
my study, this practice of changing travel plans spontaneously is an
essential identifying characteristic of the backpacker. This practice
is what requires the backpacker to gather information in the field,
and forces him to gather it by whatever means available. The question
that I will try to answer is whether backpackers now find it easier,
faster, and more reliable to use internet information gathering
rather than speaking to locals.
The modern
backpacker has emerged possessing elements of the ordinary tourist,
and maintaining certain ideals traditional to drifters, but with
certain motivations akin to neither. Some of the key debates
surrounding backpackers relate to how they have evolved from these
other types of travelers. Understanding who the modern backpackers
are and their travel motivation is important when understanding their
current behavior and future trends. In order to do so, I take a
closer look into what they evolved from.
“Contemporary
backpackers tend to embrace the ideology of drifting and imitate the
style or form of travel characteristic of the drifter” (Richards
and Wilson, 2004, p.46; see also Elsrud, 2001). For my purposes, it
is important to clarify the differences and similarities between
backpackers and other kinds of tourists. Backpackers have been
compared to drifters, and to understand the comparison we need to
look at how drifters have been defined.
Early thoughts on
drifters were decidedly unfavorable. “Their mobility was conceived
as a social problem, and their motivation explained in individual,
psychological terms as wanderlust” (Richards and Wilson, 2004, 64;
see also Adler, 1985).
In 1973 Erik Cohen
associates drifting as the result of social alienation among youth,
and sites the Vietnam War as an example of a political contributor
(Cohen, 1973). Later, in 1988, Riley argues against Cohen’s
“earlier definitions that today’s typical youthful traveler is
not accurately described as a ‘hippie’, a ‘bum’, or an
adherent to ‘counter-culture’. Western society has undergone some
major changes and the contemporary long-term traveler reflects them”
(Richards and Wilson, 2004, 64).
An ideal that the
modern backpacker has retained from the drifter is the importance of
the authentic experience.
“The drifter would
strive more than the ordinary tourist to reach places and people that
are ‘really’ authentic, and would display considerable tourist
angst that places or events that appear authentic are in fact staged”
(Wilson and Richards, 2004, p. 46). Like the drifter in this
characterization, the modern backpacker also seeks that which is
genuine and avoids anything prepared with the tourist in mind.
In their evolution,
backpackers have become more like traditional tourists in some
respects and less like drifters, yet still maintaining some of the
ideals of the drifter. Many resemble other types of tourists
interested in entertainment or recreational experiences (Uriely,
2002).
The review of
backpacker literature by Irena Ateljevic and Stephen Doorne reveals
how backpacker definitions changed in the 1980s. “During the
1980’s, there emerged a raft of studies articulating a shift of
backpacking interest from a demarketing to a marketing concept. The
dominance of global markets and consumerism changed the guise of the
‘hippie’ drifter in favor of budget-oriented independent
travelers seeking lifestyle enhancement and travel as an agent of
personal growth” (Richards and Wilson, 2004, p.74).
It is this modern
backpacker, who is interested in personal growth that seeks out the
unfamiliar in order to enhance his understanding of the world. In the
recent past this backpacker may have embraced intercultural
connectedness by direct engagement with locals. With the rapid growth
in technology, and the convenience that it provides, my study looks
into the possibility that the personal growth that the modern
backpacker seeks is being reduced. Because the use of the internet as
a source of information has become so rapidly adopted, younger
generations of backpackers may not be aware of the shift in social
behavior that is at its roots.
The importance for
studying contemporary backpacker behavior for marketing purposes has
also evolved. What once was considered an unimportant demographic due
to an extremely low-budget travel style, is now being reconsidered.
The present-day backpackers will likely return with a bigger budget
and “their backpacking experience will have an important influence
on the destinations they choose to visit later in life, possibly with
their families and friends” (Richards and Wilson, 2004, p.8).
Also, backpackers
set travel trends for higher budget travelers and open up new
destinations to new and growing travel markets, particularly in
developing areas (Hampton, 1998).
The evolution of the
backpacker follows two parallel lines. There is the modern backpacker
we have been studying, that evolves and renews with every generation,
and there is the backpacker that ages and evolves into something
else. A newly emerged term for this aging backpacker is appearing in
travel advertising as “flashpacker.” The flashpacker, still seeks
the authentic experience but has outgrown much of the tolerance to
rough it. The flashpacker has a slightly higher budget and
willingness to afford a slightly higher level of comfort.
Although
flashpackers haven’t been fully researched or defined, we can
consider them possessing characteristics of modern backpackers as we
are growing to understand them. For this study, the important
connection is the likelihood to travel with modern technology.
Due to growing
interest in backpacker culture for marketing reasons, there is a
growing need to compile research in this field. Hopefully this
resurgence of interest will help to produce more culturally relevant
studies such as mine.
Related studies
address effects that backpackers have on local cultures. I have found
studies that measure the growth of various technologies in these
areas, but in order to gather fresh data on wifi technology usage I
will base my evaluations on independent data collection, (See
methodology). I think my focus investigates a new avenue in
backpacker research focusing on interactive affects related to a
specific technology growth –wifi, and would be of benefit to the
existing collection of work already done on this subject.
Methodology
The methodology for
gathering data will be comprised of two parts, and lead toward a
separate follow-up research project.
Stage 1 will gather
data to answer broad questions regarding technology:
Is there a growth of
internet technology implementation in Thailand? Where? How fast?
Since when? (See implementation for Stage 1)
Stage 2 will gather
data to answer broad questions regarding behavior:
If the answers to
Stage 1 show the hypothesized increase, then can the following
behaviors be traced?
Is there a growth in
usage of internet technology among backpackers in Thailand?
Is there a
coinciding decrease in verbal travel-information gathering between
backpackers and locals?
By the end of Stage
2 I will have the answer to the following question: Are backpackers
becoming more independent and less reliant on Thai locals for
travel-information gathering while traveling? (See Implementation for
Stage 2)
The answers to Stage
2 will lead to assessing the need for a completely separate research
project to uncover the potential long term social affects that this
change might be having on the cultures involved.
Implementation
for Stage 1
In order to answer
the questions for Stage 1, I will gather statistical data directly
from internet service providers serving Thailand. First I will
compile a list of ISPs currently serving Thailand, beginning with the
leaders – Maxnet, True, and KSC.
From that list I
will track when each company began serving Thailand, dating back to
1995. I will ask for the following information directly from the
current ISPs:
-Aggregate data
showing numbers of subscribers by cities from 1995 (or start of
company if more recent) to 2010.
Evaluation of this
data should show growth trends for internet subscribers across
Thailand.
Implementation
for Stage 2
In order to answer
the questions for stage 2, I will gather data from questionnaires
given to backpackers and guest-house owners. (See Appendix 2 for
examples)
To begin
implementation of stage 2, I will write two sets of semi-structured
questionnaires. The first set will be targeting backpackers who
travel in Thailand. Its purpose will be to find out from them:
- Whether they bring wifi technology with them
- Specifically which devices
- At what point they started bringing wifi devices with them
- If and how their travel habits have changed
The second set of
questionnaires will be targeting hostel and guest-house owners or
managers. Its purpose will be to find out from them:
- The guest-house name and location
- Whether they offer wifi
- When they began offering it
- Whether their customers request it
- Whether their guests ask for information about Thailand
- Whether they are talking to their guests
- Whether they give travel information to their guests, and in which
forms
- Whether they give as much travel information as they did before
wifi
The questionnaires
targeting backpackers will be placed into web forums on internet
sites that contain a strong backpacker community presence, such as:
www.lonelyplanet.com
wikitravel.org
www.tripdvisor.com
The questionnaires
for the Thai guest house owners will be implemented through a casual
interview process managed by backpackers in the field. Backpackers
currently traveling or planning to travel will be commissioned to
implement questionnaires to guest-house owners. Backpackers will be
selected who are members of backpacker internet communities and
regular contributors to the growing knowledge-base.
In order to avoid
data corruption from unmotivated backpacking data collectors, only
those with a proven history of dedication to the backpacker community
will be selected. When the questionnaires are ready, a debriefing
meeting will be held with the field team to explain the study in
greater detail and to clarify best field practices. This meeting will
be conducted over the internet using a simple voice-over-IP chat room
to accommodate remote attendees.
In order to keep
guest-house owners from giving false information in an attempt to
promote their business, it will be important to impress upon them
that their answers will be kept anonymous and not linked to their
business. To incentivize them to participate I will offer to add them
to the list of businesses that graciously participated in this study
and place it online.
The backpacker,
equipped with the questionnaire will conduct brief casual interviews
with guest-house and hostel managers as they come in contact with
them through their travels. The backpacker will be able to clarify or
note any questions the guest-house manager may have. The backpacker
will record the answers provided and submit them electronically at
his convenience. The data can be quickly and conveniently submitted
from the field through the internet.
I will prepare a
blog and give account access to the assisting data collectors. This
way they can easily post their findings and noteworthy experiences so
everyone involved can track the findings and begin analyzing it as it
comes in. This will also help to time-stamp data. The blog will also
help contribute to the sense of backpacker community and motivate
further research.
As the data from the
web forums and the field interviews comes in, I will monitor and
manage it by compiling and sorting it for later evaluation.
Evaluation
My Evaluation
process will involve taking data collected from three primary sources
– ISP statistics, backpacker behavior questionnaires, and
guest-house questionnaires/interviews. I will put these data sources
in triangulation with each other to check for patterns, trends, or
any other unforeseen information that may lead to understanding what
kinds of behavioral change may be occurring between backpackers and
the Thai people.
I will have to
compare dates connected to ISP growth with dates connected to wifi
implementation in guest-houses. I will need to evaluate whether the
hard data (dates and quantities) has a relationship with the softer
data (reports of behavioral change).
Based on the results, I will
evaluate the need for development of an additional research project
to look further into the social effects related to behavioral changes
noted in this study. I will include this assessment and notes on the
direction of the supplemental study in my output report.
Timeline
Outputs
Output from my
research will take the form of an academic report that could be
included with a collection of other backpacker related studies as
found in The Global Nomad (Richards and Wilson, 2004).
Additional outputs
might include a critical commentary on the state of social change
using information from the study as a backbone. Such a piece of
writing might be suitable for publication as a social interest piece
either as a print feature or radio piece. Shows like NPR’s Human
Kind or Morning Edition would be appropriate outlets that
would suit a study of this nature.
The results from
this study could be transformed into an interview presentation
format, either recorded for audio or video. It could also be used as
the basis for a piece of fiction, where the underlying message
repeats the results from this study.
Bibliography
Citations
Adler, J. (1985)
Youth On the Road: Reflection on the History of Tramping. Annals
of Tourism Research 12, 335-354.
Elsrud, T. (2001)
Risk Creation in Traveling: Backpacker Adventure Narration.
Annals of Tourism Research 28 (3), 597-617.
Cohen, E. (1973)
Nomads From Affluence: Notes on the Phenomenon of Drifter Tourism.
International Journal of Comparative Sociology 14 (1-2), 89-103.
Hampton, M.P. (1998)
Backpacker Tourism and Economic Development. Annals of Tourisma
Research 25 (3), 639-660.
Richards, G. and
Wilson, J. (2004) The Global Nomad: Backpacker Travel in Theory
and Practice. Clevedon: Channel View.
Riley, P.J. (1988)
Road Culture of International Long-term Budget Travelers. Annals
of Tourism Research.15 (2), 313-328.
Uriely, N., Yonay,
Y., and Simchai, D. (2002) BackpackingExperiences: AType and Form
Analysis. Annals of Tourism Research 29 (2), 520-538.
Other References
Cohen, E. (2006) Pai
— A Backpacker Enclave in Transition. Tourism Recreation
Research, 31, 3, pp. 11-27.
COHEN, E. (2008)
Southeast Asian Ethnic Tourism in a Changing World. Asian
Anthropology (Chinese University Press), 7, pp. 25-56.
Howard, R.W. (2005)
Khaosan Road: An Evolving Backpacker Tourist Enclave Being
Partially Reclaimed by the Locals. International Journal of
Tourism Research, 7, 6, pp. 357-374.
Huxley, L. (2004)
Western Backpackers and the Global Experience: An Exploration of
Young People's Interaction with Local Cultures. Tourism Culture &
Communication, Vol. 5, Iss: 1, pp. 37-44(8).
Kontogeorgopoulos,
N. (1998) Roughing it in Phuket, But the Jones’ Haven’t Been
There (Yet): Reconceptualizing Tourism and Community Development in
Southern Thailand. University of British Columbia.
Malam, L. (2008)
Geographic Imaginations: Exploring Divergent Notions of Identity,
Power, and Place Meaning on Pha-ngan Island, Southern Thailand. Asia
Pacific Viewpoint, 49, 3, pp. 331-343.
Maoz,D. (2007)
Backpackers’ Motivations: The Role of Culture and Nationality.
Annals of Tourism Research 34 (1), 122-140.
Palasri, S., Huter,
S. and Wenzel, Z. (1999) The History of the Internet in Thailand.
University of Oregon.
Sahadev, S. and
Islam, N. (2005) Why hotels adopt ICTs: a study on the ICT
adoption propensity of hotels in Thailand. International Journal
of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 17 Iss: 5, pp.391 –
401.
Thammo, T. (2009)
The Internet in Thailand: An Alternative Means of
Communication. Knowledge, Technology & Policy, 22, 2,
pp. 125-131.
Trends in
Traveler Technology: Social Media and Mobile (2010) Phocuswright
Innovation Edition, pp. 1-43.
Xavier, P. (2008)
Fostering competition in Thailand's telecommunications sector,
info, Vol. 10 Iss: 1, pp.79 – 96.
WiMAX Trial for
Alcatel-Lucent in Thailand 2008, Microwave Journal, 51, 7,
p. 69.
Organizations
Backpacker’s
Research Group (BRG) Found At:
http://www.atlas-euro.org/sig_backpackers.aspx
Association of
Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS) Found At:
http://www.atlas-euro.org/
Appendix 1 --
Review of 3 Key Texts
A1.1
Richards, G. and
Wilson, J. (2004) The Global Nomad: Backpacker Travel in Theory
and Practice. Clevedon: Channel View.
The Global Nomad
aims to fill in the transnational and transcultural gaps in research
identified by the Association of Tourism and Leisure Education
(ATLAS). They formed the Backpackers Research Group (BRG) to research
backpacker behavior relating to social, cultural and economic
effects. The Global Nomad examines backpacker attitudes and
motivations, and maps backpacker growth as a demographic. The studies
mostly focus on Asia and Australasia. The body of work helps to
identify who backpackers are in relation to other types of travelers.
Methods
The combined
research studies of 2300 travelers in eight countries were analyzed
in terms of the “behavior, motivations and profile of backpackers
across destinations worldwide” (Richards and Wilson 2004). Many
different methodologies were used to gather data for many different
studies in this research collection. Significant quantitative data
was collected and graphical output tables were created. They gathered
data on Origin/Destination, visa category, trip planning lead times,
pre-booked components, length of stay, activities, daily spending,
modes of transport, and many more.
Relevance to My
Study
Much of the data was
collected via interviews and surveys. Also, statistical data was
gathered from travel bureaus. My research methods will very similarly
match this format. I will be using the same combination of
statistical data gathering (ISP Data) and survey data
(questionnaires). Following the collection methods used in many of
The Global Nomad’s studies, I will aim to compile a balance
between hard and soft data for evaluation.
A1.2
Huxley,
L. (2004) Western Backpackers
and the Global Experience: An Exploration of Young People's
Interaction with Local Cultures.
Tourism Culture & Communication, Vol. 5, Iss: 1, pp.
37-44(8).
This study
investigates how backpackers are engaging with other cultures. It
looks at backpacker motivations for doing so, and difficulties
surrounding achieving their goals. The search for authentic
experiences rather than one prefabricated for tourists is isolated as
a chief obstruction in the backpacker search. Huxley investigates the
relationship between Western travelers and foreign hosts.
Methods
Semi-structured
interviews were employed with Western backpackers to determine the
degree to which they engaged with the locals and how deeply they
immersed themselves into the local culture.
Relevance to My
Study
I will be using this
method of data collection during my second stage concerning hostel
and guest-house information. The field assistants will be conducting
semi-structured interviews that will collect answers from specific
questions as well as questions that may result in some explanation.
The field assistants will guide the interviews and manage the focus
of the interviewee.
A1.3
Thammo, T. (2009)
The Internet in Thailand: An Alternative Means of
Communication. Knowledge, Technology & Policy, 22, 2,
pp. 125-131.
This study
investigates the changing use of the internet in Thailand. As an
alternative means of communication, the internet is being used to
replace other traditional technologies. This is a look at how people
are using it to avoid restrictions of information and governmental
controls over other media and communications.
Methods
The study was
conducted using surveys and in-depth interviews. They used a bulletin
board web site called pantip.com to gather data. This site, with
approximately 100,000 daily visitors, is a forum for voicing concerns
around social issues. In a short closed-end questionnaire, the
following questions were asked:
– How do people
compare the Internet and mainstream media?
– What is the
advantage of the Internet in the context of Thailand?
– What are their
main reasons for using the Internet?
– How and in what
ways do they use the Internet?
– What is a
drawback of the Internet?
They also chose ten
internet users to interview. They picked users who frequented the
site regularly as information gatherers.
Relevance to My
Study
This study points
out several possible reasons for the adoption and greater use of
internet technology. It also provides some insight into cultural
issues that the Thai people face relating to mass communication. Some
of these issues could relate to inter-cultural communications and be
motivators for various forms of expression. Primarily, this study
focuses on Thai social and political concerns regarding restrictions
of voice, and strategies that they’ve employed to alleviate their
limitations. The data collection methods used here are my primary
influence for gathering data from backpackers. I will be resourcing
online backpacker communities in the same way.
Appendix 2 -- Example Questionnaires
Stage 2
Questionnaires
For Backpackers
- Do you travel with internet technology? (yes/no) List devices ________
- When did you start traveling with it? ________
- Do you talk to locals for
( information / to be friendly / to practice language / I don’t
talk to locals )
- Would you say that your interaction with locals has changed since traveling with technology?
( yes, less / yes, more / no change )
- If yes, how did your travel habits change? ________
For Hostels and
Guest-houses
- Guest-house name and location ________
- Do you offer wifi?
- When did you add it?
- Do your customers request wifi?
( none / few / most / nearly all )
- Do your guests ask for information about Thailand?
- Do you like to talk to your guests?
- Do you give travel information to your guests? In what forms?
- Would you say that you give as much travel information to your guests since adding wifi?
( less/same/more )
- Additional notes or comments of interest ________
