Posted on Wednesday, 20 May 2020

"Begpacking" - the phenomenon of (usually Western) tourists begging for money while travelling - hit the headlines in 2019. These controversial figures have mostly appeared in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia (notably Bali) and Cambodia, where they beg money from locals - many of whom are themselves not terribly well-heeled.

One particular story involved a Russian family begging in Battamabang, Cambodia. They were found walking barefoot in the town, asking locals for money to buy milk for their baby. The family were questioned by police, who established the family had not lost their passports or possessions, but had simply made a lifestyle choice.

It transpired the family were previously in hot water in Malaysia, where police had arrested them for endangering their child (by practicing "dynamic baby gymnastics", also known as baby swinging yoga).

Dynamic baby gymnastics aside, begpacking has drawn plenty of scrutiny in the West, not least because the begpackers often simply want to extend their holidays at the expense of locals' spare change, while the locals in question are often far from rich themselves.

While some begpackers simply beg, others sell postcards or play music for their money. Some see such practices as 'legitimising' begpacking, while others point out that most country's tourist visas prohibit work of any kind.

But how is Covid-19 likely to have impacted the begpacker trend? In short, when borders closed several weeks ago, the average begpacker - like all travellers - would have had a stark choice: go home, or stick it out overseas, where they might be stuck for several months.

Staying in a single country while under lockdown is likely to have severely limited begpacking opportunities, particularly in places like Thailand, which has clamped down on the practice in recent months.

And before Covid-19 struck, Balinese authorities also took a dim view of begpackers, namely by sending them to their embassies. Now, with people off the streets of Balinese resort towns like Kuta and Ubud, pickings for begpackers will be less than slim.

Is it the end for begpackers?

With the global economy still feeling the impact of Covid-19, it will take some weeks for regular tourists to return to Southeast Asia and elsewhere - let alone begpackers. And for locals who once felt rich enough to fund the adventures of Western begpackers, tolerance for the practice may be somewhat lacking in the future.

As the Covid-19 mists clear, the begpacking phenomenon will perhaps struggle to re-emerge anytime soon.

Get a Quote