Centre for South-East Asian Studies, SOAS, University of London, 14 December 2010. Research Seminar. ‘Hippies, Intrepids or Travellers?’ Backpacker Tourism and Economic Development in South-East Asia. Dr Mark Hampton Kent Business School University of Kent Canterbury CT2 7PE UK. Tel: +44 1227 827726 Fax: +44 1634 888890 Email: m.hampton@kent.ac.uk Website: http://kent.academia.edu/MarkHampton Abstract. Backpacker tourism is now common across much of South-East Asia with key destinations such Bangkok’s Khao San Road or the Perhentian islands of Malaysia attracting significant numbers of young tourists. The region hosts the longest-established, and arguably largest, backpacker trail in terms of numbers travelling. This paper - based upon fieldwork in the region since the mid 1990s - examines this niche form of international tourism and begins by introducing the scale and scope of backpacker tourism. First, the origins are discussed, particularly the overland trail to India in the 1960s and 1970s, and the link to the subsequent emergence of backpackers in the 1980s and their diffusion across South-East Asia. The main part of the paper considers the economic development impacts of hosting backpacker tourism in South-East Asia including economic leakage and linkages, employment, local ownership and participation. Brief case studies of the local development of backpacker tourism are presented from Indonesia and Malaysia, before the paper ends by examining recent changes to the backpacker market, the implications for host countries in South-East Asia, and further research challenges. Structure of Paper *Introduction *Origins & Diffusion *Economic development impacts *Recent changes © 2010 Mark P Hampton. If you wish to cite this draft paper please contact the author: m.hampton@kent.ac.uk 1