Did COVID-19 make backpacking a thing of the past?

October 17, 2021 Güzin Mut

I backpacked through Southeast Asia for five months in 2017-18. It was one of my most profound experiences.

Backpacking is for many a rite of passage. A milestone that marks the end of one era and the beginning of another. Young people who are just about to start out in adult life after high school or college and the ones who hit a rut at a certain point in their lives go on a journey, where they hop from place to place, stay in hostels, pick up temporary jobs here and there, and bond with fellow travelers with only a few belongings carried on their back. It is a spiritual adventure. Backpacking broadens one’s horizons, creates cultural awareness and empathy while discovering one’s own strength but also boundaries. Very popular among young people with limited budgets, its grandest appeal is that it's uncomplicated, accessible, and affordable.

But with airlines raising prices and many popular destinations like Thailand, Bali, and Australia requiring PCR test plus expensive, mandatory quarantine in state-appointed, self-paid hotels upon arrival, the backpacking way of travel cannot fulfill its basic principles anymore and ends up being rather costly. And if you do get to make it into the country, your mobility is widely restricted. Such limitations shake the core of backpacking. The rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is no doubt a deep breath of relief, albeit we are far away from a reset to the former status quo.

The economic cost of the global tourism freeze is immense. Airlines are set to see combined losses of $157 billion in 2020 and 2021, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Association expects net airline industry losses of $47.7 billion in 2021, which is notably an improvement on the estimated net industry loss of $126.4 billion in 2020. A UNWTO report, published with the UN Conference on Trade and Development at the end of June, forecasts a loss of more than $4tn to global GDP by the end of 2021. Developing countries are predicted to take the biggest hit, with Central America suffering the most, despite Mexico keeping its borders open to most countries to attract travelers, in stark contrast to the rest of the world. Many workers in the tourism industry, especially in the global south, say that they are “living by chance, not choice.” “[My work meant] I could afford to buy basic necessities and pay school fees for my brothers and sisters and support my parents. I have been taking care of my seven children from that money; now there is nothing. International tourism is completely gone.” says Harry Dickson, 40, chair of the Cape Maclear tour guide association in Lake Malawi, whose 62 members run activities such as hiking, village tours, and traditional dances.

Although backpacking is a relatively cheap way to travel independently, it brings in a huge amount of revenue to the tourism industry. According to figures from WYSE Travel Confederation, 45 million backpacking trips are taken each year, with the average amount of money spent per trip at around $4,000 (in 2017). Backpacking and hostels go hand in hand. With backpackers staying out, the hostel industry has been struggling big time. Hostel booking company Hostelworld plunged into the red last year as profits fell €57.3 million and revenues declined by 81% due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel and tourism. Many hostels were forced to close and the ones who are still operating feeling the change of time. Owners try to stay afloat by creating side businesses like food pick-up services, close their dorms temporarily, or even permanently. Singapore's Mitraa Inn fell into the latter group, shutting its doors after 15 years in business. "Covid-19 is decimating. It's putting a lot of hostels out of business," says Kash Bhattacharya, founder of BudgetTraveller.org and author of "The Grand Hostels: Luxury Hostels of the World". "The hostels that are struggling are the smaller, independent hostels, which in many ways represent the soul of the industry. […] These hostels aren't just a place to sleep in. They represent communities in each and every city."

Socializing, bonding with fellow travelers and feeling like you're part of a local community is the spirit of backpacking and the essence of staying in hostels. Now it is required to keep people apart by law. Activities like big dinners and cooking classes are very limited and restricted.
According to WYSE Travel Confederation, hostel buyers' priorities changed in 2021. Cleanliness and safety are more important than communal facilities, such as kitchens and socializing spaces. Private rooms and more flexible cancellation policies were other crucial changes. The provision of co-working spaces is paramount, which indicates a shift in focus on digital nomads and remote workers. In regards to remote workers, a look at social media shows that destinations like Mexico, Portugal, and Dubai were very popular amongst digital nomads, with the hashtag #Workcation becoming a household term.

To complete the circle of impact to the travel industry: The travel goods retail sales in the US fell by 36% up to 62% in 2020. It became really hard to sell backpacks and travel accessories if traveling was put on hold altogether.

Adapt, Adjust. Change?

Popular backpacking destinations like Bangkok or Bali took advantage of the mandatory lockdown to make improvements in infrastructure or to clean up. In Bangkok the City Hall has splashed out 48.4 million baht, approximately $1.54 million, to renovate the infamous Khao San Road within 120 days. Afterward, a total of 280 street vendors have met the district's criteria and are allowed to trade since October 2020. Although Bangkok’s Deputy Governor said that foreign tourists made up 90% of visitors to Khao San Road up until the pandemic started, City Hall had decided it will steer business along the street to draw in locals and locally living ex-pats, since tourist arrivals are down to zero.

With facing a new reality, many raise the question now: Do cities like Bangkok actually want backpackers back? Some destinations were practically overrun by tourism. With more and more borders reopening now, is the welcome wagon waiting for us or rather not?

While the spiritual and financial benefits of backpacking being somewhat acknowledged, and the economic contributions as well, the damage to local culture and historic sights were always a thorn in the side. Drunken escapades, mischievous behavior, disrespect to locals and nature were some of the many downsides to welcoming backpacking travelers into the country. "Backpackers are traditionally known for exploring destinations off the beaten track, purchasing local products and interacting with local residents, but in large numbers, they can inflict damage to the local environment, culture, and community through partying and misbehaving.", says Denis Tolkach, assistant professor at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, told CNN last year. To tackle the problem, strangle the influx of backpackers - and finance reparations -, Australia introduced a controversial "backpacker tax" in 2017, which would allow people on working visas to be taxed 15% while Australian workers have a tax-free threshold of A$18,200 (US$12,500). Yet the tax was ruled illegal for citizens of eight countries that have treaties with Australia, including the UK, US, Germany, and Japan, in October 2019.

Way before COVID-19 islands like Maya Bay in Thailand or Boracay in the Philippines had to be closed for many months due to over-tourism, to help the islands to recover. Over-tourism and an oblivious approach to traveling, taking it for granted were serious attitude problems that had to be addressed rather sooner than later. COVID-19’s silver lining is that it put a stop to a dangerous and damaging way of traveling. It gave busy destinations an opportunity to reassess their approach to tourism, especially to make their tourism industries more sustainable and eco-friendly.

The arguments are damning, yet many believe the benefits of backpacking are crucial as well.

Pre Covid, 25% of total visitors for New Zealand for example were international youth arrivals. According to Jenni Powell, chair of the Backpacker Youth and Adventure Tourism Association, these travelers have contributed about 1.5 billion New Zealand dollars to the economy. "The value that this market brings is not just economic," she adds. "They contribute environmentally and socially and they add to us culturally."

For a better world.

The human(ity) costs of the tourism freeze are horrific as well. “I miss tourists. When they came to us, we did not feel cut off. On the contrary, I felt like we were part of this world.” says Aigul Abdukadyrova, who runs a guesthouse in Tajikistan’s Pamir mountains. “[…] we sit and talk with our guests, share our experiences and learn about theirs. […] It seemed to me that we had become one family.” The loss of money is crushing. But the disconnection hurts equally.

Eliana Ampuero, Bolivia’s vice-minister of tourism, says: “To be human is to move around, to exchange with other cultures, to know other places. This pandemic does not have to change the very nature of being human.”

The spiritual, individual growth of traveling is difficult to measure yet it is indisputable that it can create a healthier, kinder, and tolerant outlook, especially in young people. The sense of connection, humanity, camaraderie and curiosity it develops within oneself are priceless benefits. In a simplified sense, traveling is essential to create a better, united world.

Backpacking also equalizes. It is a more democratic way to travel, opening the opportunity to those, who had previously seen travel as out of their reach financially since backpackers can stay in hostels for a fraction of the price of hotels.

Some industry professionals already report that travelers are engaging in "slow travel" now. People who are taking their time and experiencing in a more profound way, rather than just rushing here and there ticking off boxes.

As of right now, the fact is that traveling is cumbersome and in many cases not cheap. I even think in some instances it became elite - granting permissions to enter countries only to certain people. And that should not be happening. Everyone agrees that certain changes need to happen and rules should apply to protect local culture and communities, nature, and historic sights. Yet traveling and especially backpacking should be kept available and affordable to all.
Backpacking through countries is on mandatory timeout and only time will tell when it will restart again. Within this time we are forced to rethink our impact while traveling. The mutual hope for the future is not to take traveling for granted anymore but at the same time keep it affordable for everyone. Eventually I hope we will be traveling freely again, and I know this time consciously different.

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