This document discusses the history of backpacker tourism in Italy from the 1950s to the present. It describes different eras and types of backpackers, including "drifters" from the 1950s-1970s who avoided connections with the tourist industry and tried to live as locals do. Starting in the 1970s, more organized mass tourism developed through guides and companies catering to backpackers. Today's backpackers in the 1990s-present are described as seeking budget accommodations, flexible independent travel, and opportunities to meet locals and other travelers, while still distinguishing themselves from mass tourism. The document also examines the interactions and perceptions between backpackers and locals, including misunderstandings that can occur across cultures.

1. DISCOVERING ITALY BY
BACKPACKING

2. Drifters & Hippies (1957-1970)
DRIFTER:
“…the type of international
tourist who ventures furthest
away from the beaten track…he
shuns any kind of connection
with the tourist
establishment….He tries to live
the way the people he visits
live…The drifter has no fixed
itinerary or timetable and no
well-defined goals of travel”.
(E.Cohen, 1972:166)

3. From the Counterculture to the Mass-drifter
tourism (1975 – 1990)
SOPHISTICATED
TRAVELLER:
Interessi economici e guide
turistiche come Project London e
Europe Under 25 aprono la strada
al Mass-drifter tourism. La figura
del drifter inizia lentamente a
scomparire per lasciare il posto ad
una sua controfigura post-
moderna, distorta, lontana dal suo
prototipo iniziale: un sophisticated
traveller.

4. Backpackers & Lifestyle Travellers (1990 – 2015):
BACKPACKER:
“Young, budget tourist on
extended holiday. More
structured than drifter travel but
purportedly different from mass
tourism, backpackers supposedly
displayed a preference for budget
accommodation, an
independently organised and
flexible schedule, longer
holidays, an emphasis on meeting
other travellers and locals..”
(Loker-Murphy & Pearce, 1995).

5. TOURIST BACKPACKER
OUTSIDEROUTSIDER

6. TOURIST BACKPACKER
ADVENTURE

7. TOURIST BACKPACKER
CHEAPNESS

8. THE OTHER’S GAZE
BACKPACKER
TOURIST
Cultural
Heritage
Cultural habits
& beliefs
Hidden
cultural
values &
behaviours

9. Cultural habits
& beliefs
BACKPACKER’S GAZE
REVERSED GAZE
(Interaction of the native)
STEREOTYPES
Hostage of the Hostile Hostel
BILL : “…Signore, per favore, I have to catch a bus at
seven in the morning so I need to leave a little
earlier[…]….
RECEPTIONIST: ‘IMPOSSSSIBLE’ !!!
(he waved his raised hands vigorously, as if he were
trying to keep an airplane from landing on the counter
between” ). (Italy from a backpack, pp. 167)
GESTURING

10. Hidden cultural
values &
behaviours
BACKPACKER’S GAZE REVERSED GAZE
(Interaction of the native)
THE CULTURAL SHOCK
Backpacker’s gaze
“... ‘That’s strange’ I
thought….I expected him
to pull out a travel
pillow..but what emerged
from his worn bag were
heavy-duty ropes, rubber
bungee straps, and long
lengths of welded steel
chain..” (Italy from a
Backpack pp. 72).
Reversed gaze
…They both began
gesturing at me while the
younger guy attempted in
broken English to convey
their intent: ‘Night.You.
Train.Man.Bad.Ok?Ok?
(Italy from a Backpack
pp. 73)
CULTURE SHOCK
My curious composure turned
into alarm, then panic…’No
this is not OK! What’s going
on! (Ivi,pp. 73)