Involvement with backpacking: A research on backpackers visiting Istanbul

The concept of "involvement" has been used to explain individuals\u27 emotional attachment to specific tourism destinations and different segment of consumers in tourism. However, involvement with backpacking among backpackers has not been examined. A survey was conducted in Istanbul, one of the world\u27s largest tourist destinations. Data was collected through a questionnaire during April 2012 with 887 backpackers who stayed in hostels in Istanbul. Factor analysis showed that involvement with backpacking can be examined in four dimensions: attraction, centrality to life style, social bonding, and identity expression and affirmation. Significant differences were also found in involvement with backpacking according to age, self-definition, travel experience and number of information sources used. Our findings demonstrate that Turkey is more preferred by European backpackers at the beginning of their travel career, thus supporting the importance of the Pearce\u27s (1993) Travel Career Ladder in tourism research