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Old 6th Sep 2004, 14:19
  #12 (permalink)  
compressor stall
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: 500 miles from Chaikhosi, Yogistan
Posts: 4,282
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Some of the older types here might have the wrong idea when you talk of backpackers.

It's something the Aussie tourist industry has only just woken up to (in the last 5 years). I seem to recall that the backpacking crowd actually spend more money in Oz than any other group of tourists (japanese, etc). OK, they spend it over a ~6 month period, but that fact remains.

Most backpackers are not poor types, dreadlocked hair feathers in hats and chanting wierd stuff. They are mostly well educated, at least middle class and have substantial money behind them. They are also not only 18 year old pommies and swedish babes. Many are mid 30's professionals who are taking time off in a mid carrer sabbatical.

That these backpackers try and shop around for a $10 bed instead of $12 is their mentaility - their dollar goes that bit further and they can spend that $400 on the scuba/abseiling/kakadu tour or stay in oz that bit longer before heading home into the real world of work.

The market is there, good luck.
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