Within the last decade backpacking has literally become a global youth movement. Every year millions of young people from first world countries travel the planet taking with them nothing more than their backpacks. They are hoping to find freedom, cultural exchanges and a lot of fun.
It has become a flourishing tourist industry with its distinct tourist infrastructure. In some places like Ko Pha-Ngan in Thailand, Arambol in Goa, and Vang Vieng in Laos individual or alternative traveling is no longer existing. It has been transformed into a different kind of packaged tour.