How did Live Streaming While Backpacking become so prevalent?
Posted on October 26, 2019 • 4 minutes • 746 words
Table of contents
Canadian millennials are increasingly interested in travel, with an estimated 4.6 million people in the 18-34 group expressing a desire to travel within the country. One of the reasons why numbers are on the rise is down to the fact that travel bloggers are helping to promote the best travel destinations, and some people are even live streaming their adventures. There is also an abundance of technology around now to help make documenting travel much easier. 
The Tech
The ability to live stream while traveling is a brand new phenomenon, as both the technology and the platform required to do it have only just become mainstream. Facebook Live has brought the concept of live streaming life events to the masses, and since the feature was introduced in 2017 it has been a revelation. In 2018, there were over 3.5 billion broadcasts, and the videos get ten times more comments than traditional videos. People are using it to stream just about everything, with travel being up there with the most popular categories. The technology needed to create live streaming videos is also becoming more accessible to everyday users, even people on a shoestring budget. Backpackers usually like to cut costs, but there are some cheap devices they can use to film on. Early model smartphones get cheaper each year as newer versions are released. For example, at the time of writing, Apple’s iPhone 5 is retailing at less than $200 in Canada. For travelers with a bit more money to spend, it is possible to make a mobile live streaming backpack by customizing a traditional backpack with some nifty pieces of technology, as shown in the video below.
The Streamers
After seeing streamers documenting their travel adventures live
, other people have been inspired to get involved with this new way of sharing. The feature is also a great way to promote Canada, as tourists post impressive videos of the incredible landscape or detail their adventures in a travel blog. Melinda Tse is an example of a Canadian-based streamer who has created a lot of content about the North American country. One of her videos is a breathtaking vlog of Vancouver. In addition to travel videos, the YouTuber with over 12,000 subscribers produces a wide number of gaming videos. That is seen by a lot of backpackers as a way to make some extra income while traveling. Traveling Robert is another example of a streamer who promotes travel locations. A lot of his content is based in the USA, but the streamer has taken his RV to Canada on a few occasions and has released live streams from Vancouver and other popular destinations. The British Columbia city is known for being a good spot for road trips
. On top of the number of live streamers, Canada has been a popular choice for travel blogs like Touropia and Misk Travel Guide. These sites create top 20-style videos of the best attractions and sites within the country. 
Streaming has Also Led to Better Entertainment While Traveling
As well as being a way for travelers to entertain their followers through live blogging, backpackers can keep themselves entertained thanks to the advent of live streaming. The platform has been a revelation in the entertainment industry, especially in gaming. On Twitch, gaming fans can watch other players play games , and get involved with live chats to help them on their quests. Another area that has benefitted from these developments is the online casino industry as live variants of casino games are popular due to the immersive experience they provide but more traditional versions of games such as roulette and blackjack still remain popular as they are less intensive in terms of internet requirements among other reasons. Live streaming has also made watching sport more accessible, so travelers can always keep up to date with how their favorite sports team is doing. Sites like ESPN+ and Hulu Live allow backpackers to watch from an internet-ready device no matter where they are. Modern conveniences like this really take the stress out of traveling and minimize feelings of loneliness. Backpacking has changed a lot in the last few years, and live streaming is enabling travelers to blog and make money while they travel. Canada has so many prime locations for filming, as it boasts some of the best scenery in the world. Backpacking bloggers from all over the world are sure to flock to the North American country to share their adventures online.
