STORY:
Blazing New Trails in the New Millennium

Backpacking tourists are expected to blaze new trails in the 21^st century

The 21^st century is expected to bring a time of travel and tourism. In fact, the World Tourism Organization predicts tourism will become the world’s largest industry by the year 2020. Of all the tourists, it is the budget backpacking ones who are expected to grow in numbers and find new places to explore.

In the worldwide quest for adventure backpackers have always chosen Asia, Vietnam and Laos to visit. In the year 2000 new places are beginning to emerge to attract more adventure driven tourists.

The publisher of Let’s Go Publications, the American budget guidebook, writes that Central Asia will begin attract bold budget travelers. It also predicts that travelers will begin exploring central Africa and eventually Iraq and Iran when they open up.

This isn’t the only change that is expected. We could see budget spots shift to different urban areas such as Beijing and Shanghai.

"These are world-class cities where handmade clothes, high-class dining, bootleg technologies and late-night hipster thrills cost of a fraction of what less exotic living runs you in the urban West." Christian Lorentzen, managing editor of Let’s Go Publications told the Universal Press Syndicate.

Lorentzen also predicts that Panama, which now controls its canal, will lure travelers away from Costa Rica and that traffic from Peru and Ecuador will spill over into Bolivia. Right now, Bolivia is relatively unvisited but many travel experts expect that will change.

Albania may also grow into a budget traveler’s paradise. When the country finally opens back up travel experts predict it will be a hot spot for tourism. It cost about $10 a week, and offers mountains that rival the Alps pristine Adriatic beaches.

While the places backpackers travel may change there’s one thing travel experts are sure of, and that is that the trend to explore will continue to grow.

"The number of budget travelers is always refreshed because a whole bunch of kids hit the road having seen nothing for themselves" Lorentzen said.

Source: Universal Press Syndicate

DATE: 1/17/2000

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