CHARACTERISTICS OF BUDGET TRAVELERS: THE CASE OF BACKPACKERS IN THE CAPE COAST-ELMINA AREA, GHANA

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to examine the characteristics of backpackers in the Cape Coast-Elmina area, Ghana. In all, 184 backpackers were contacted through questionnaire administration. The data was analysed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and the Chi-Square test for independence. The study found that backpackers were mostly, young European students, who organised their trips independently. Also, backpackers used ‘trotro’, the cheapest form of public transport in Ghana; and preferred group tours. Further, their background characteristics had an effect on their travel characteristics. It is concluded that there are difference between the background characteristics of backpackers and their travel characteristics. It is recommended that public transport owners in Ghana should improve on the quality of services, especially in the areas of cleanliness and safety, so as to increase the patronage of their services while positively projecting the image of Ghana as a tourist destination. It is also imperative for local travel intermediaries/consultants to cash in on the growing backpacker segment in the country, by packaging tailored tours for backpackers.