Several recent studies have examined the interaction of backpackers and innovations in information and communication technology (Mascheroni, 2007, Paris, 2008, Paris, 2010a and Sorensen, 2003). The two key characteristics that are used to differentiate backpackers from flashpackers are travel expenditure and technology use.
The purpose of this study is to examine the emerging flashpacker sub-culture in relation to the backpacker culture with a particular focus on the differences between flashpackers and non-flashpackers. In order to do this, Cultural Consensus Analysis (CCA) is employed to examine the potential cultural divergence between flashpackers and non-flashpackers by determining if there is a shared cultural understanding among backpackers and if flashpackers and non-flashpackers have a shared cultural understanding of backpacking.