Travel is truly one of the best things that a person can do – it broadens the mind, fosters empathy with people of all races and cultures and creates memories that last a lifetime. However, travel is a luxury and a privilege that only a fraction of the world’s population can afford.
So when Western people, with all the privileges we hold, are found ‘begpacking’ on the streets of developing countries, it can leave a sour taste. Tourism is a vital source of income in many countries; we should travel in such a way that maximizes the benefits for local people and businesses. Sponging off the kindness of strangers to further our own selfish travel goals is just not on! If you can’t afford to travel, stay at home until you earn enough money to do it ethically.
Authorities in some countries have had enough, and now immigration officers on the Indonesian island of Bali have started sending these ‘begpackers’ to their embassies to get themselves sorted out. “We have seen many cases of problematic tourists, lately they are either Australian, British or Russian,” one official said. “We tend to report these cases to the relevant embassies so that they can oversee their citizens who are on holiday.”
While we don’t know the context behind these pictures – some of these people might genuinely have been a victim of some misfortune – others are clearly just looking for a free ride around the world.
What do you think about this phenomenon? Have you traveled on a tight budget before? Have you ever found yourself needing help in a foreign country? Do you see a problem with this kind of ‘begpacking?’ Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
#1 Saw This Foreigner Begging To Travel To Thailand Next To An Elderly Woman Who Is Collecting Junk In Order To Resale To Survive
Image source: TonsTweetings
#2 In A Very Working Class Neighbourhood That Has Been Especially Hard Hit By The Typhoon How You Have The Nerve To Beg For Money To Fund Your Travels Around Asia Is Completely Beyond Me
Your new clothes and new shoes, begging for money in a wet market as people around you try to rebuild their shops and lives
Image source: peteryuill
#3 Begpacker In Hong Kong
Image source: Hong Kong Free Press
#4 Begpacker
#5 I Happen To Pass By This Area In Bukit Bintang And I Saw This Irresponsible Act By Russian Begpackers That Can Literally Cause Injury To That Poor Baby
Image source: zac.abdulcheah
#6 Begpacker In Seoul
Image source: koryodynasty
#7 Beg Packers – Tourists Who Travel With The Intent To Beg For Money From The Locals To Fund Further Travel. Peep The Sign, Too
Image source: jriverfort
#8 Initially She Started To Beg With Her Child And Picture Of Her Because Her Husband Dumped Them
Few days later this husband pops out and they are together begging.
Image source: begpacker
#9 Begpacker From Russia
Image source: begpacker
#10 Begpacker In Seoul
Image source: koryodynasty
#11 She Is Stil Active And Doing The Same Scam Since We Reported In May In Penang, Malaysia
Image source: begpacker
#12 Begpacker
Image source: LambtonQuay
#13 Westerners Are Traveling Around Asia On A Shoe String Budget And Begging For Money To Fund Their Trip
Image source: creatingambassadors
#14 Somehow Begpacking Is Becoming A Trend Among Ukrainians, Please Support Them, Share With Us When You See Them To Help These Brave Hard Working Travelers!
Image source: begpacker
#15 Begpacker Giving “Free” Hugs
Image source: CHIMCHAMS95
#16 They Literally Would Create Such A Gimmick Of Putting Blind Folds And Offer “Free Hugs” With A Donation Box Asking For Help To Fund Their Travels
We can clearly see how privileged these guys are because a lot of Asian girls got so giddy about them to the point that one of them wept with joy while being bear-hugged by one of them. Welp, I guess this is becoming a trend now…
Image source: jilli_bee
#17 What Ever Happened To “Free Hugs”?
Image source: keonooch
#18 Begpacker In Seoul
Image source: koryodynasty
#19 His Signs Reads: “You Can Hug Me For Free And If You Want You Can Support My Trip And Leave Some Donation Let’s Hug”
What makes this guy think anyone wants to hug him? And to pay him for it? Pssh nah bro, get a job like the rest of us
Image source: kineticcrisscriss
#20 Yesterday I Saw These Blindfolded Travellers Asking For Money In One Of The Most Transited Areas Of The Shopping District Of Kuala Lumpur
Travelling is a choice, and not only a choice but a luxurious one. When you choose to travel, to leave your comfort zone and explore the world you might feel yourself as an adventurer, and you might be one, you are one among your group of privileged people. If you can actively decide to leave everything behind, take a backpack and wonder the world, it is because you have a social structure that allows you to do it. You do it because most likely your family does not need your work force to be sustained, you do it because even after months or years of travel, you can go back to a safe place were your “Struggles” as a backpacker will only be a nice memory of the times when you decided to get out of your comfort zone and “Live”. I have no troubles with the people that decide to travel and perform an art, entertain people, and from that keep travelling, or finding a part time job in different places to keep going, as long as it is legal. When I was living in oxford I had a licence to perform in the streets and I was registered as a legal busker as a side activity. I have also performed in bars and hostels in exchange of a beer or an extra free night. I have done hardcore backpacking myself, and if it wasn’t for the dozens of people that have let me stayed with them or that have helped me in other ways, I wouldn’t have been able to live as many experiences. But I have never pretended that people should give me free money to keep travelling, to keep doing what the majority of the people in this planet will never be able to do, not because they don’t want to but because they can’t. I have always had enough to sustain myself, I plan and save for years for my travels
Image source: elquiqueleon
#21 Begpacker Near Hồ Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi
Image source: RevolioClockbergSr
#22 Begpackers Spotted In Hoi An
Image source: pallantejm
#23 Begpackers In Asia
Image source: begpacker
#24 Begpacker
Image source: begpacker
#25 Begpackers In Thailand
Image source: ImSoloTraveller
#26 Begpacker
Image source: begpacker
#27 Begpacker In Seoul
Image source: koryodynasty
#28 Begpacker
Image source: koryodynasty
#29 Begpacker
Image source: QbIx08
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