Young Blonde Student Girl Undresses Her School Uniform Outfit In The Hostel Room

In a few countries, such as the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, India, and Australia, the word hostel sometimes also refers to establishments providing longer-term accommodation (ten to specific classes clientèle such as nurses, students, drug addicts, court defendants on bail) where the hostels are sometimes run by Housing Associations and charities. In the rest the world, the word hostel refers only to properties fering accommodation to travellers or backpackers.
Within the 'traveller' category, another distinction can be drawn between hostels which are members Hostelling International (HI), a UK-based, non-prit organization encouraging outdoor activities and cultural exchange for the young (formerly the IYHA), and independently operated hostels. Hostels for travellers are sometimes called backpackers' hostels, particularly in Australia and New Zealand (ten abbreviated to just "backpackers").