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A researcher from the University of the West of England, Julie Wilson, is jetting off to Bangkok - to research backpacking.

Ms Wilson, who is based in the faculty of the built environment, is interested in different types of backpackers. She said:

"Nowadays, a traveller is just as likely to be less independent and more organised, flying to a gateway city like Bangkok on a student travel ticket, armed with a big budget, a guidebook and a Hotmail address.

No doubt she will bump into the University of Hertfordshire's Paul Vance, who is also researching the appeals of backpacking and is also due in Bangkok, which is hosting a backpacking conference.