title: Travel health advice for backpackers.
abstract: There has been an increasing trend for people to travel internationally, further afield, but fewer people are now going on programmed package tours. One of these groups of travelers comprises backpackers, who are distinct from endurance hikers or trekkers and longer-term and more remote expeditioners. Backpackers comprise individuals who travel alone or in a small group on a limited budget, and usually stay in hostels (hostelers), campsites, or similar low-cost accommodation, and carry their belongings in personal load-carrying equipment, most notably backpacks. Individual travel through backpacking, especially hosteling, appears to have become more popular for three probable reasons: travelers are seeking more cost-effective means of traveling and accommodation; they are looking to travel to regions where there is less likelihood of meeting fellow travelers; and they are looking for travel with more risk attached.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Leggat
authors.forename: Marc M T
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D012449:Safety; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination