Murphy, Laurie (2005) I heard it through the grapevine: understanding the social interactions of backpackers. In: West, Brad, (ed.) Down the Road: exploring backpackers and independent travel. API Network, Perth, WA, Australia, pp. 109-127.

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Abstract

Social interaction and meeting other travellers is an integral part of the backpacking experience. Backpackers' preference for budget accommodation means that they often stay in communal hostel rooms, facilitating this social interaction. The exchange of information about travel experiences as a product of the social interaction between backpackers throughout their travels has important implications for where they stay, what they see and the meanings they derive from their journeys. While word-of-mouth promotion is consistently identified as a key characteristic of backpacking tourism and an important source of information used in travel decision-making, there has been little research done in an effort to investigate this phenomenon. While social situation analysis has been employed to examine tourist-guide interaction, as well as interactions between hosts and guests, it has not been used to examine interactions between travellers. This chapter uses social situation analysis as a framework within which to systematically analyse social interactions between foreign backpackers in Australia, providing an understanding of both the role and nature of social and tourist interaction.

Item ID:	7343
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	978-1-920845-14-8
Keywords:	backpackers; tourism
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2010 05:01
FoR Codes:	15 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 1506 Tourism > 150606 Tourist Behaviour and Visitor Experience @ 100%
SEO Codes:	90 COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM > 9003 Tourism > 900302 Socio-Cultural Issues in Tourism @ 100%
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