Introduction

The potential for sustainability research and backpacker studies to influence one another is explored in this chapter. Each area of analysis is considered with a particular focus on the conceptual development and style of the work and its current directions. The questions about the potential for influencing future studies are asked in both directions viz. how can backpacker research contribute to sustainability discussions and how can sustainability analysis shape research into backpacking? It will be argued that there are a number of easily identified contributions in each direction, in particular more studies of the impacts of backpacker behaviour and more studies of the corporate sustainability status of backpacker businesses. The possibilities for mutual influence extend beyond these direct liaisons. In particular the kinds of insights about non-compliance behaviour undertaken in backpacker health offer insights into non-compliance in the sustainability domain. Importantly this kind of work marries two territories of backpacker studies – sociological and utilitarian or market-oriented routes. Additionally the potential to create global archives of studies for meta-analysis and data mining can also be identified as a consequence of considering the intersection of backpacker studies and sustainability research. Overall the mutual insights that a joint consideration of these two areas generates builds the promise of enlivening and even transforming future backpacker studies.

This chapter thus addresses a large and ambitious agenda. It seeks to identify the potential for sustainability research and backpacker studies to influence one another. Two large-scale questions direct this agenda – how do and can backpacker studies contribute to sustainability discussions? And, conversely, how can issues in sustainability analysis shape new research into backpacking? There are two preliminary discussions that are necessary to prepare for these questions. It is necessary to clarify and contextualise backpacker studies including contemporary directions in this area.