Around the world travel is not a new phenomenon by any means, but perceptions have changed. Previously it was readily associated with year-out budget travel and ‘backpacking’. In the new millennium however, Round the World travel (RTW) has taken on a more upmarket, short-duration, package-driven form. This new mainstream product is less adventurous, favouring the English-speaking continents of North America and Australasia and high-end comfort and organisation.

In comparison, the traditional perception is that backpacking holidays are taken on a low budget, staying in hostels and using the cheapest available forms of transport. This market undoubtedly still exists, but it is also dominated by the two aforementioned continents, and characterised by short-duration trips.

RTW and backpacking trips are increasingly taken by moneyed, full time professionals existing either side of the young family lifestage era. This equates to more lucrative accommodation and flight opportunities for operators and suppliers, and there is an overriding demand for comfort and the peace of mind from pre-booked arrangements. Could these most independent of markets have developed into a new, less adventurous package opportunity for the industry, or are the backpacking pioneers ready to wave off their children and get back on the road?

Backpacking remains a budget opportunity for the younger demographic groups, but third age virgins and ageing veterans alike now present new markets seeking a more comfortable and better-budgeted experience. However, there also exists a strong group of aspirational travellers who are keen to either resume the travels of their youth or make up for the lack of finance, experience or time, which hindered them from doing so when they were younger.