Backpackers as Mobile Consumers in Hospitality Industry: Focus on Korean Backpackers

초록

In this paper, experiences of Korean backpackers as mobile consumers are brought up as a main focus for a possible beneficial market segment in the hospitality industry. The research has been conducted based on three distinct backpacker groups in different stages of travel with ethical consideration, the first backpacker segment was evaluated while they were traveling Europe between 2008 and 2010, the second backpacker segment was evaluated post trip in 2009, and the third segment of veteran backpackers from 2009 and 2016. Korean backpackers are highly ‘mobile people’ who seek for authentic experiences of the global world in the experience economy and they can be considered as stay-over consumers in the hospitality context. This research meant to explore the niche area of hospitality in the experience economy on Korean backpackers’ overseas backpacking hopefully can be contributed to the understanding and learning as a business activity. Backpackers are mobile people traveling from place to place, human beings who have to