Amenities

Many works cite the role of internet in improving destination competitiveness (Buhalis, 2000; Dwyer & Kim, 2003; World Economic Forum, 2017). This research confirms its importance from the perspective of the market. Field observation notes that internet is an essential facility for most backpackers, but not an absolute need. There are practical reasons identified behind this tolerance: cost, availability of internet in public spaces, ease of getting a sim card, and the converging expectation on internet into the accommodation. It is observed that in most Southeast Asian destinations, many budget travelers purchase a SIM-card during their first days. The process is hassle-free and the price is affordable. However, that doesn’t happen in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea whereas the price of SIM-card is relatively much higher even though they have a tourist package, or in China whereas the procedure of obtaining a SIM-card is difficult due to its paperwork and language barrier. Budget travelers also might expect there will be many public places offering free WiFi services especially in developed nations, e.g., fast-food restaurant chains and coffee shops.

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Besides practical reasons, it is also noted that some backpackers might have an idealism of being disconnected from the familiarity. The tolerance on the absence of internet is often found higher in the drifters who have outward-orientation, characterized by the focus to seek novelty in the host destination. Many of the drifters are not driven by

“recreational” mode, of which internet facilitates it best, but more of an experiential or existential one (Cohen, 1979). It is indicated by the case of drifters staying at places that usually don’t provide internet connection such as monasteries or ashrams. Thus, some drifters don’t see internet is necessary since what is more important for them is the journey or the “pilgrimage” per se. Even more, at the extreme point, internet can be seen as a distractor and the journey without it is seen as a chance to travel authentically. This is not to say all drifters share the same view, but it states that the drifters or particularly the

“adventurers” have a higher probability to be tolerant o the absence of internet.

As for the financial infrastructure, the concern is found higher in Laos and Tibet, implying the concern of accessing financial service in less-established destinations.

Autoethnography result supports the finding that backpackers don’t have much concern in well-known enclaves as they assume there must be financial services available. ATMs and banks are a preferred option to withdraw money from, due to its lower risk and fair rate. However, money changers still exist in most destinations because not all destinations are covered by ATMs, sometimes the rate offered by money changers is better than banks, and tourists might be encouraged to exchange it at money changers, either by the officials, the hostel staffs, etc. In addition, this attribute also absorbs another attribute, ‘exchange rate’, to be incorporated. As observed in the online forum, most of the users discussing exchange rate are asking about the financial infrastructure.

Tourism infrastructure is constituted of ‘accommodation’, ‘food service’, and ‘tour operator’. Accommodation is the attribute with the strongest presence. Just like other

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tourists, backpackers need accommodation to stay in, but not all destinations have the options for budget accommodations. This precariousness drives the online users to discuss this topic intensively, which usually happens in less-known or high-living cost destinations. As mentioned in the previous chapter, it is noted that the ideal characteristics of accommodations for backpackers are: affordable, close to the main attractions, and have the backpackerish ambiance. These preferences are coherent with the first two characteristics of backpackers according to Locker-Murphy and Pearce (1995), which are a preference for budget accommodation and an emphasis on meeting other travelers or locals. It also provides an insight that the presence of common room in a backpacker accommodation is very crucial since it radiates the backpackerish ambiance and functions as a hub where backpackers gather and share information.

The encounter with other travelers often results in the formation of travel group.

The activities done by the group varies from sightseeing, stories or transportation sharing, having meals together, etc. The group is usually based on similarities shared by the members, either its nationalities, cultures, languages, etc. The preference of travelers prefers to interact with people with similar nationality or language is also found in other studies (Maoz & Bekerman, 2010; Murphy, 2001; Paris et al., 2015) and particularly Asian travelers would mingle with other Asians (Bui et al., 2014; Huang, 2008). Adopting Cohen’s (1973) typology, this behavior is evidently seen especially on inward-oriented and part-time travelers. The reason for inward-oriented travelers is because they do travel in order to experience the sub-culture of backpacking itself. They want to meet fellow backpackers more than the host society. Meanwhile for part-time travelers, group formation would enhance their planning and travel experience efficiently considering they have limited time to travel. On the other hand, it is observed that the authentic drifter or the “adventurer”, often separate themselves from the mainstream backpackers or

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drifters. It doesn’t imply that the drifters are always a lone traveler, but there is a higher chance that a drifter is a lone traveler compared to other types of drifters.

As for food service, backpackers do need options of budget food services, but the attribute works in a unique way that explainable through four points. First, usually restaurants thrive around tourist attractions or backpacker enclaves. Second, many budget accommodations provide meal services or even some hostels are a hostel-restaurant in one place. Third, budget catering services are often incorporated into attractions or events and activities such as night markets, cafes, bars, etc. Fourth, some accommodations provide kitchen facilities, allowing travelers to cook by themselves. This is even observed to be one unique characteristic that distinguishes budget accommodations from others since they need to save expense including on food. A further note is taken whereas many backpackers perceive that the ideal place to eat is the place where locals eat, which might be another distinctive characteristic of backpackers. The reason is similar to the preference to use local transportation options which are: price, unique experience, and opportunity to get immerse into local culture. This is consistent with backpacker characteristics according to previous works (Locker-Murphy & Pearce, 1995; Muzaini, 2006; Riley, 1988; ten Have, 1974).

The last attribute is ‘tour operator’, that found to be insignificant by both approaches. Backpackers are associated with freedom, independently organized, and tend to differentiate themselves from “regular” or “institutionalized” tourists (Cohen, 1972;

Locker-Murphy & Pearce, 1995; Richards & King, 2003; ten Have, 1974). Thus, they would avoid any organized activities which are seen as a threat to their freedom – something offered by the organized tour or travel agent. However, an exception should be made in special situations, where independent travels are not possible or too costly. As an illustration that coherent with the CTA result on Tibet, travelling independently and

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legally to Tibet is currently impossible because tourists must join an organized tour.

Another case is usually found where some experiences or services require the exercise of economies of scale. In other words, more people are practically needed to reduce the retail price. Hence, joining a tour package would be a cheaper option since the tour operator organizes and gathers more people, making it affordable for individual backpackers who can’t find or form a group. It can be seen in the case of snorkeling or diving operator, safari tour, etc. It is also noted that many accommodations act as a broker or as a tour operator itself in order to diversify its offering and increase its revenue – that underlines the importance of accommodation in this factor.

As a conclusion, the importance of amenities is often neglected. The main reasons are that it is often perceived as something that exists by default (i.e., financial service), the attributes are often incorporated into other factors (i.e., communication, food facilities), and the attribute’s importance is often to be situational (i.e., tour operator). The most prominent attribute in this factor is the accommodation since not all destinations have the options of budget accommodations and it incorporates many other attributes, including to provide a common room that functions as a hub where backpackers gather and a means of cost-reduction on food expenses through its kitchen facility. In addition, the upper segment of backpackers like “flashpackers” might treat accommodation as an attraction in a destination itself since it facilitates them to publicize their holiday activities on social media, such as found in the case of budget resorts, which is consistent with the characteristics of flashpackers that are higher budget and orientation on communication devices (Hannam and Diekman, 2010; Jarvis & Peel, 2010).

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