to travel for pleasure definition

It's coming up to spring break , the point where college students from across the United States break loose, and either do good deeds or indulge in some cheerful hedonism. (OK, most of them definitely do the latter.) But in the midst of all this airport-crowding, news-dominating vacationing, it's an apropos time to wonder: why do we travel for pleasure , and how does it affect our psychology?

The notion of travel for pleasure isn't a modern invention, though its accessibility to all levels of society likely is. Travel often had distinct practical purposes in many historic civilizations, from trade to scholarship to pilgrimage, but empires in particular probably involved pleasurable movement; higher-status ancient Romans and Egyptians indulged in private travel to various places under their control. Tourism as we know it emerged out of the Grand Tours of the 17th and 18th century , in which British nobility were sent around the major sites of Europe to finish their cultural education. From there, it's been a massively expanding industry, with inventions from steam trains to air to package tours gradually bringing down the price and expanding the reach of ordinary citizens without a Lordship under their belt. Famous minds have often extolled travel; the French writer Michel de Montaigne wrote extensive travelogues of his time on the Continent, including positive reviews of German heating.

But it's not all fun and games; psychological science now reveals that there are complicated undercurrents to modern travel, from how travel affects our brains to why we make the tourism choices we do.

Tourism Changes Our Perspective — And How Long We Go Away Matters

While many Americans do not currently possess a passport, there's a psychological consensus that there is significant psychological benefit in experiencing foreign places for extensive periods of time. There's an argument that travel increases basic human happiness because we are, at heart, a nomadic species, though it's unclear how much itchy feet are culturally created and how much they're inherent. That tourism seems to make us happy is borne out by an interesting study in 2013 of Chinese travelers (a very travel-happy nation), which found that people who travelled regularly saw a long-term "impact in terms of sense of being, direction in life, and well-being. Why this comes about — the fulfillment of dreams to see other places, the expansion of understandings about what a good life might mean — is still open to argument.

Brief periods of travel, however, may not be as beneficial as more extensive uprooting. It's a big point of discussion. One 2015 study, for instance, examined the creative directors of 270 fashion houses and the creativity of their latest lines (assessed by in-the-know fashion experts, not random people off the street who wouldn't know John Galliano from a baguette), and determined that, as the Atlantic reported at the time , "the brands whose creative directors had lived and worked in other countries produced more consistently creative fashion lines than those whose directors had not." And another study of undergrads who'd studied abroad for months found that they often experienced significant personality shifts, making them more open to new things and to fulfill tasks.

This creativity boost may not be about living, though, as boosts in unique thinking have also been demonstrated to happen even if people are only contemplating a foreign location in their imaginations. A study from Indiana University found that students who thought they were solving a problem based in Greece provided much more inventive answers than those who were told the problem was local.

There are also extensive questions about whether travel makes people more compassionate and tolerant because of contact with other cultures and people, expanding their "boundary of empathy. " As anybody with a racist uncle who's come back from a trip abroad just as racist as ever will attest, this isn't a universal experience. Mahatma Gandhi called travel "the language of peace, " but others have argued that anything less than extensive immersion in a culture over a significant period will be unlikely to broaden horizons or alter tolerance levels.

Solo Travelers Really Are A Different Breed

There's also a subsection of psychology focused on the particular experience of choosing to travel solo. This is also a highly gendered discussion, since women, for reasons of safety, are often told to travel in groups or pairs, so that individual travel is regarded as something of a gender taboo.

A study from 2015 found that individual travelers are a fast-growing sector of the travel industry, particularly because of lower costs that mean group travel isn't necessary to achieve economies of scale. The choice to travel on one's own, it discovered, was motivated by a balance of priorities in which personal indulgence and the wish to remain free of constraints were more important than togetherness or making things less expensive.

Booking Your Vacation From The Office Isn't A Good Idea

This is an intriguing aspect of human decision-making: it seems that our ability to make leisure decisions around travel while we're in a work space impedes our later enjoyment while we're a tourist. Separate studies have found that booking hotels for a holiday during business hours, while you're at work, means that you'll both likely spend more (selecting a higher-quality place to stay) and rate your own pleasure at the end of the trip as lower than if you wait until you get home and put your feet up.

Why might this be the case? Scientists behind one of the studies noted that it's likely about the psychology of a workspace; the contrast of a screen showing happy carefree tourists and a cramped office may make us more inclined to spend more and make more extravagant decisions, because it's perceived to be so desirable in the moment. In more relaxing surroundings, we can be more objective.

Too Much Travel May Be Harmful

The lifestyle of the "hypermobile" is often depicted as hugely glamorous; nomadic film stars and singers are among the members of the so-called jet set that enjoys a wide societal image of privilege and comfort. However, frequent, intense travel doesn't match the reality, various studies have found.

In 2015, researchers from the University of Surrey found that there was a considerable perception gap between people's ideas of the hypermobile lifestyle and the realities, which are often governed by jet lag, expense, estrangement from support networks, and health risks. The idea of the jet set lifestyle as highly desirable likely comes from more archaic views of travel, the days of smoking on planes. Hypermobility for the sake of business has come under specific scrutiny; you don't have to watch George Clooney go haywire in Up In The Air to realize that there are significant risks to a life on the road. Research from 2011 indicates that hypermobile business people perceive themselves to be less heavy, have a higher obesity rate and a higher BMI than people who have more localized jobs.

What can we learn from this? Being a tourist is perhaps less effective for our psychology than the travel agent slogans might indicate, but it does seem to make genuine changes in our outlook. To get the most out of your trip, book while relaxed, stay a long time in one place, and weigh up the priorities of traveling alone.

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Tourism Definition: The Evolution of Travel for Pleasure from Greek to Modern Times

Definition: Tourism refers to the practice of travelling for pleasure, especially to places of interest for sightseeing, experiencing different cultures, or enjoying natural landscapes. It encompasses the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business, or other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.

Etymology and Origin: The term ‘tourism’ originates from the word ‘tour’, which is derived from the Old French ‘tour’, meaning ‘a turn, a trip, a round’. The French word, in turn, comes from the Latin ‘tornus’, meaning ‘a tool for circling or turning’, which was borrowed from the Greek word ‘ tornos ‘, meaning ‘lathe or circle’. The use of ‘tourism’ in the context of travel for pleasure began to gain prominence in the early 19th century.

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Introductory Tourism

Introduction [ edit | edit source ].

Tourism is travel for pleasure; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. Tourism may be international, or within the traveler's country. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity only ", as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes". Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. According to the World Tourism Organization, tourists are people who "travel and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited".

Tourism, however long its incident duration, has become an extremely popular, global activity. In 2004, there were over 763 million international tourist arrivals.[1]

As a service industry, tourism has numerous tangible and intangible elements. Major tangible elements include transportation, accommodation, and other components of a hospitality industry. Major intangible elements relate to the purpose or motivation for becoming a tourist, such as rest, relaxation, the opportunity to meet new people and experience other cultures, or simply to do something different and have an adventure.

Tourism is vital for many countries, due to the income generated by the consumption of goods and services by tourists, the taxes levied on businesses in the tourism industry, and the opportunity for employment and economic advancement by working in the industry. For these reasons NGOs and government agencies may sometimes promote a specific region as a tourist destination, and support the development of a tourism industry in that area. The contemporary phenomenon of mass tourism may sometimes result in overdevelopment, however alternative forms of tourism such as ecotourism seek to avoid such outcomes by pursuing tourism in a sustainable way.

The terms tourism and travel are sometimes used interchangeably. In this context travel has a similar definition to tourism, but implies a more purposeful journey. The terms tourism and tourist are sometimes used pejoratively to imply a shallow interest in the cultures or locations visited by tourists.

One of the earliest definitions of tourism was provided by the Austrian economist Hermann Von Schullard in 1910, who defined it as, "sum total of operators, mainly of an economic nature, which directly relate to the entry, stay and movement of foreigners inside and outside a certain country, city or a region."

Hunziker and Krapf, in 1941, defined tourism as "the sum of the phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, in so far as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning activity."[2]

In 1976 Tourism Society of England defined it as "Tourism is the temporary, short-term movement of people to destination outside the places where they normally live and work and their activities during the stay at each destination. It includes movements for all purposes."

In 1981 International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism defined Tourism in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home environment.

United Nations definition [ edit | edit source ]

United Nations classified 3 forms of tourism in 1994 in its Recommendations on Tourism Statistics as follows:

• Domestic tourism, involving residents of the given country traveling only within this country;
• Inbound tourism, involving non-residents traveling in the given country;
• Outbound tourism, involving residents traveling in another country.

UN also derived different categories of tourism by combining the 3 basic forms of tourism:

• Internal tourism, which comprises domestic tourism and inbound tourism;
• National tourism, which comprises domestic tourism and outbound tourism;
• International tourism, which consists of inbound tourism and outbound tourism.

New definition [ edit | edit source ]

Intrabound tourism is a new academic terminology coined by the Korea Tourism Organization and widely accepted in Korea. Intrabound tourism differs from ‘domestic tourism’ in that the former is more concerned with making and implementation of national tourism policies in consideration of the tourism ecosystem consisting of inbound, outbound and intrabound tourism.

Entering into 21st century, the tourism industry has undergone a paradigm shift form the promotion of inbound tourism to the promotion of intrabound tourism since many countries are experiencing a tough competition for inbound tourists. Also realizing that it is impossible to advance the inbound tourism in the absence of active intrabound tourism, national policy makers have shifted their policy priority onto the promotion of intrabound tourism such as the promotion of local tourism to contribute to the local economy.

Examples of such policies are “See America,” “Getting Going Canada,” and “See Korea Campaign”. Taking a Korean case as an example, Korea Tourism Organization has recently launched a nation-wide campaign to promote intrabound tourism, named “Guseok Guseok, literally meaning corner to corner.

Prerequisites of tourism [ edit | edit source ]

Before people are able to experience tourism they usually need at least:

• disposable income, i.e. money to spend on non-essentials
• leisure time
• tourism infrastructure, such as transport and accommodation

Individually, sufficient health is also a condition, and of course the inclination to travel. Furthermore, in some countries there are legal restrictions on travelling, especially abroad. Certain states with strong governmental control over the lives of citizens (notably established Communist states) may restrict foreign travel only to trustworthy citizens. The United States prohibits its citizens from traveling to some countries, for example, Cuba. Tourism is travel for pleasure; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. Tourism may be international, or within the traveler's country. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity only ", as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes". Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. According to the World Tourism Organization, tourists are people who "travel and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited".

History of Tourism [ edit | edit source ]

The tourism business is at least 2,000 years old. It began when wealthy citizens of ancient Rome, deciding they would rather spend their summers away from the city, took trips to the countryside and the coast.

A tourist industry soon sprang up to cater for the Romans’ travel and accommodation needs, and for a while it thrived. But Roman tourism ended with its empire, and for hundreds of years the turbulent economic, social and military situation in Europe made frequent, safe travel out of the question.

During the medieval era, however, tourism again appeared thanks to a growing interest in pilgrimages. The organisers arranged the tourism basics of itineraries and places to eat and sleep. And from records such as Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, it’s evident that many pilgrims were keen to relax and enjoy themselves as well as visit a holy shrine. In fact it’s from the Old English word hāligdæg (holy day) that “holiday” derives.

But it was two other factors hundreds of years later that encouraged the start of more widespread and regular tourism: health and culture. Those who could afford to do so began to visit the spa and seaside towns of eighteenth century Europe to benefit from the spring waters and fresh air. Others, most notably the English, took educational holidays to countries such as Italy with the intention of studying paintings, sculptures and architecture, and visiting historical sites.

Straightforward leisure tourism took hold when industrialisation across Europe gave rise to an affluent middle class with an increasing amount of free time. Entrepreneurs started to build tourist hotels with an infrastructure of roads, carriages and ferries. Tourism began to take shape as an international industry.

The industry was popular and steadily successful from the early nineteenth century. But for the most part, it was expensive and limited to a small number of locations. Then everything suddenly changed. In the 1960s, a growing number of people had disposable incomes, and with this extra money came a desire for a different lifestyle. At the same time, reasonably-priced commercial aircraft were able to carry passengers to and from any airport in the world.

Mass tourism had arrived, and with it there came an extraordinary growth in facilities. Fishing villages on the southern coast of Spain, for instance, became resorts that were household names. Elsewhere, business people capitalised on the demand for tourist attractions and constructed leisure and theme parks.

The driving force behind these rapid developments was cash. In 2006, the international tourism receipts for the three most popular destinations – France, Spain and the United States – totalled $179.7 billion. The number of visitors who contributed this sum was 188.7 million.

With figures such as these, many countries around the globe work hard to encourage travellers to visit them. The result in recent years is the boom in long haul flights to destinations that can supply tourists with sun almost every week of the year.

Unfortunately, it’s this scramble to grab a share of the tourist industry that is sometimes damaging environments unable to sustain large numbers of visitors. There are also concerns about the pollution generated by the ever-rising volume of tourist flights, cruise ships and road traffic. And on top of these problems are increasing fuel costs; the demise of established resorts that have over-expanded; fluctuating exchange rates for currencies; and the credit crunch.

The tourism industry will no doubt adapt to new demands and circumstances. But despite some optimistic predictions from tourism agencies for its continued growth, this business may well find that its most successful era, for the time being anyway, is past.

Health tourism & leisure travel [ edit | edit source ]

The history of European tourism can perhaps be said to originate with the medieval pilgrimage. Although undertaken primarily for religious reasons, the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales quite clearly saw the experience as a kind of holiday (the term itself being derived from the 'holy day' leisure activities). Pilgrimages created a variety of tourist aspects that still exist - bringing back souvenirs, obtaining credit with foreign banks (in medieval times utilising international networks established by Jews and Lombards), and making use of space available on existing forms of transport (such as the use of medieval English wine ships bound for Vigo by pilgrims to Santiago De Compostela). Pilgrimages are still important in modern tourism - such as to Lourdes or Knock in Ireland. But there are modern equivalents - Graceland and the grave of Jim Morrison in Père Lachaise Cemetery.

During the seventeenth century, it became fashionable in England to undertake a Grand Tour. The sons of the nobility and gentry were sent upon an extended tour of Europe as an educational experience. The eighteenth century was the golden age of the Grand Tour, and many of the fashionable visitors were painted at Rome by Pompeo Batoni. A modern equivalent of the Grand Tour is the phenomenon of the backpacker, although cultural holidays, such as those offered by Swann-Hellenic, are also important.

Health tourism has always existed, but it was not until the eighteenth century that it became important. In England, it was associated with spas, places with supposedly health-giving mineral waters, treating diseases from gout to liver disorders and bronchitis. Bath was the most fashionable resort, but Buxton, Harrogate, and Tunbridge Wells, amongst others, also flourished. Of course, people visited these places for the balls and other entertainments, just as much as 'the waters'. Continental Spas such as Karlsbad attracted many fashionable travellers by the nineteenth century.

It could be argued that Britain was the home of the seaside holiday. In travelling to the coast, the population was following in the steps of Royalty. King George III made regular visits to Weymouth when in poor health. At the time, a number of doctors argued the benefits of bathing in sea water, and sea bathing as a widespread practice was popularised by the Prince Regent (later George IV), who frequented Brighton for this purpose.

Leisure travel was associated with the industrialization of United Kingdom – the first European country to promote leisure time to the increasing industrial population. Initially, this applied to the owners of the machinery of production, the economic oligarchy, the factory owners, and the traders. These comprised the new middle class. Cox & Kings were the first official travel company to be formed in 1758. Later, the working class could take advantage of leisure time.

The British origin of this new industry is reflected in many place names. At Nice, one of the first and best-established holiday resorts on the French Riviera, the long esplanade along the seafront is known to this day as the Promenade des Anglais; in many other historic resorts in continental Europe, old well-established palace hotels have names like the Hotel Bristol, the Hotel Carlton or the Hotel Majestic - reflecting the dominance of English customers.

Winter tourism [ edit | edit source ]

Winter sports were largely invented by the British leisured classes, initially at the Swiss village of Zermatt (Valais), and St Moritz in 1864. The first packaged winter sports holidays took place in 1902 at Adelboden, Switzerland. Winter sports were a natural answer for a leisured class looking for amusement during the coldest season.

Organized sport was well established in Britain before it reached other countries. The vocabulary of sport bears witness to this: rugby, football, and boxing all originated in Britain, and even tennis, originally a French sport, was formalized and codified by the British, who hosted the first national championship in the nineteenth century, at Wimbledon.

Mass travel [ edit | edit source ]

Mass travel could only develop with two crucial features:

• improvements in technology allowed the transport of large numbers of people in a short space of time to places of leisure interest, and
• greater numbers of people began to enjoy the benefits of leisure time.

The pioneer of modern mass tourism was Thomas Cook who, on 5 July 1841, organized the first package tour in history. He arranged for the rail company to charge one shilling per person for a group of 570 temperance campaigners from Leicester to a rally in Loughborough, eleven miles away. Cook was paid a share of the fares actually charged to the passengers, as the railway tickets, being legal contracts between company and passenger, could not have been issued at his own price. There had been railway excursions before, but this one included entrance to an entertainment held in private grounds, rail tickets and food for the train journey. Cook immediately saw the potential of a convenient 'off the peg' holiday product in which everything was included in one cost. He organised packages inclusive of accommodation for the Great Exhibition, and afterwards pioneered package holidays in both Britain (particularly in Scotland) and on the European continent (where Paris and the Alps were the most popular destinations).

He was soon followed by others (the Polytechnic Touring Association, Dean and Dawson etc.), with the result that the tourist industry developed rapidly in late Victorian Britain. Initially it was supported by the growing middle classes, who had time off from their work, and who could afford the luxury of travel and possibly even staying for periods of time in boarding houses.

The Bank Holidays Act 1871 introduced a statutory right for workers to take holidays, even if they were not paid at the time. By the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the tradition of the working class holiday had become firmly established in Britain. These were largely focussed upon the seaside resorts.

The spread of the railway network in the nineteenth century resulted in the growth of Britain's seaside towns by bringing them within easy distance of Britain's urban centres. Blackpool was created by the construction of a line to Fleetwood, and some resorts were promoted by the railway companies themselves - Morecambe by the Midland Railway and Cleethorpes by the Great Central Railway. Other resorts included Scarborough in Yorkshire, servicing Leeds and Bradford; Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, catering for the inhabitants of Bristol; and Skegness, patronised by the residents of the industrial East Midlands. The cockneys of London flocked to Southend-on-Sea, mainly by Thames Steamer, and the South Coast resorts such as Broadstairs, Brighton, and Eastbourne were only a train ride away, with others further afield such as Bournemouth, Bognor Regis and Weymouth.

For a century, domestic tourism was the norm, with foreign travel being reserved for the rich or the culturally curious. A number of inland destinations, such as the English Lake District, and Snowdonia appealed to those who liked the countryside and fine scenery. The holiday camp began to appear in the 1930s, but this phenomenon really expanded in the post-war period. Butlins and Pontins set this trend, but their popularity waned with the rise of overseas package tours and the increasing comforts to which visitors became accustomed at home. Towards the end of the 20th century this market has been revived by the upmarket inland resorts of Dutch company Center Parcs.

Cox & Co, the forebear of Cox & Kings were in existence from 1758 largely entwined with the travel arrangements for the British Army serving around the Empire. While acting as 'agents' for various regiments, they organised the payment, provision, clothing and travel arrangements for members of the armed forces. In the 19th century their network of offices contained a banking and also travel department. The company became heavily involved with affairs in India and its Shipping Agency had offices in France and the Middle East.

Other phenomena that helped develop the travel industry were paid holidays:

• 1.5 million manual workers in Britain had paid holidays by 1925
• 11 million by 1939 (30% of the population in families with paid holidays)

In the USA, the first great seaside resort, in the European style, was Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In continental Europe, early resorts included Ostend (for the people of Brussels), and Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais) and Deauville (Calvados) (for Parisians).

International mass tourism [ edit | edit source ]

Increasing speed on railways meant that the tourist industry could develop internationally.

To this may be added the development of sea travel. By 1901, the number of people crossing the English Channel from England to France or Belgium had passed 0.5 million per year. Shipping companies were anxious to fill cabin space that was under utilised. For example, P&O found that the majority of their passengers for India and the Far East joined the ship at Marseilles. Consequently, they marketed holidays based upon sea trips from London to Lisbon and Gibraltar. Other companies diverted their older ships to operate cruises in the summer months.

However, the real age of international mass travel began with the growth of air travel after World War Two. In the immediate post-war period, there was a surplus of transport aircraft, such as the popular and reliable Douglas Dakota, and a number of ex military pilots ready to fly them. They were available for charter flights, and tour operators began to use them for European destinations, such as Paris and Ostend.

Vladimir Raitz pioneered modern package tourism when on 20 May 1950 his recently founded company, Horizon, provided arrangements for a two-week holiday in Corsica. For an all inclusive price of £32.10s.-, holiday makers could sleep under canvas, sample local wines and eat a meal containing meat twice a day - this was especially attractive due to the continuing austerity measures in post-war United Kingdom. Within ten years, his company had started mass tourism to Palma (1952), Lourdes (1953), Costa Brava (1954), Sardinia (1954), Minorca (1955), Porto (1956), Costa Blanca (1957) and Costa del Sol (1959).

However it was with cheap air travel in combination with the package tour that international mass tourism developed. The postwar introduction of an international system of airline regulation was another important factor. The bilateral agreements at the heart of the system fixed seat prices, and airlines could not fill blocks of empty seats on underused flights by discounting. But if they were purchased by a tour operator and hidden within the price of an inclusive holiday package, it would be difficult to prove that discounting had taken place - even though it was obvious that it had! This was the origin of the modern mass package tour.

These developments coincided with a significant increase in the standard of living in Britain. At the end of the 1950s, Harold Macmillan could say "you've never had it so good."

Another significant development also happened at the end of this decade. The devaluation of the Spanish peseta made Spain appear a particularly attractive destination. The cheapness of the cost of living attracted increasing numbers of visitors. Mass package tourism has at times been an exploitative process, in which tour operators in a country with a high standard of living make use of development opportunities and low operating costs in a country with a lower standard of living. However, as witness the development of many tourist areas in previously poor parts of the world, and the concomitant rise in standards of living, when there is equality of bargaining power, both parties can gain economic benefits from this arrangement.

Spain and the Balearic Islands became major tourist destinations, and development probably peaked in the 1980s. At the same time, British tour operators developed the Algarve in Portugal. The continuing search for new, cheaper, destinations spread mass tourism to the Greek Islands, Italy, Tunisia, Morocco, parts of the coast of Turkey, and more recently Croatia.

For the worker living in greater London, Venice today is almost as accessible as Brighton was 100 years ago. Consequently, the British seaside resort experienced a marked decline from the 1970s onwards. Some, such as New Brighton have disappeared. Others have reinvented themselves, and now cater to daytrippers and the weekend break market.

key components of the Travel and Tourism [ edit | edit source ]

Components of travel and tourism the definition of Travel. Travel is changing location using different types of transport. People can travel by Road, Air,Sea,Rail The definition of tourism. Tourism is the temporary short term movement of people to destination outside the place they normally live or work. For example young couple travel to New York visit friends. Types of tourism. Tourism can be divided into three categories: Domestic tourism This is when people take holidays, short breaks and day trips in they own country e.g. couple from Manchester goes to visit Birmingham for one week. Inbound tourism .This is when people enter the country from their own country of origin or another country which is not their home. e.g. students from Spain comes to London visit the city. Outbound tourism. This is when people travel away from the country where they normally live. e.g. family from New quay decide to give London a miss this year a take two weeks holiday in Italy The Components of Travel and Tourism Travel and tourism it’s made up of different components which work together to provide holidays and other travel products to clients. These are most important components in tourism industry

• Accommodation
• Attractions
• Travel agents
• Tour operators
• Ancillary services
• Trade association and regulatory bodies
• Tourism development and promotions Accommodation. Accommodation is one of the main sector in travel and tourism.

The components of travel and tourism can be broadly divided into six key areas.

A travel agent provides information to the people on various travel destinations, advises them of available holiday packages to suit their tastes and budget and chart their travel plan. He would generally sell the travel associated products like currency exchange, car rentals, insurance etc.

2. Tour Operators: Tour operators offer holiday packages which comprise of 1. Travel like by rail, road or air. 2. Accommodation like hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses 3. Travel services like airport pick and drop, sightseeing, excursions etc. These tour operators may be the wholesale operators who operate tours only through retail travel agencies or they may be direct sell operators who market their product directly to the public.

3. Accommodation (Lodging and Catering): This components consists of those who provide accommodation to the people in the form of hotels, resorts, apartments, camps, guest houses etc. The accommodation may be marketed individually or through the tour operators in the form of package. Direct marketing may require huge costs on advertisement and selling through a tour operator guarantees the occupancy rate throughout a holiday season. These service providers also take care of the catering needs of the people b providing them huge cafeterias, various fast food outlets in house or in the form of a Galleria.

4. Various Kinds of Transport: Transport providers are those operating any major form of transport. They could be airlines, cruise lines, car rentals, and rail companies. A tourist’s choice of transport would depend on the travel budget, destination, time, purpose of the tour, and convenience to the point of destination.

5, Information & Guiding: (Ancillary services) The tourist information and guidance providers include a number of service providers such as those offering insurance, recreational, communication, and banking services; government agencies; tour guides; industry associations; packaging agents; ticketing agents; and holiday sellers.

6. Tourist Attractions: The principle of attraction is to establish the need for the attraction in a particular location to invite more footfall. It may be a huge theme park, a museum, a gallery, a heritage building, an educational center etc. Many countries see the need to have one or more visitor attraction in the area to widen their appeal and attract huge potential tourist.

These bodies also making bridges between the traders and visitors (travellers). • Trade association and regulatory bodies • Tourism development and promotions Accommodation. Accommodation is one of the main sector in travel and tourism.

Those organisations interrelate to produce and promote travel products and services. Also some organisations are independent of other such as visitor attractions including local heritage Chain of Distribution Chain of distribution show the way, product such as for example holidays are distributed from producer to customers, often via wholesalers and retailers. PRINCIPALS that is Hotel, Airlines, and other Transport companies WHOLESALERS Tour Operators RETAILERS Travel Agencies CUSTOMERS Types of Integration. Integration in the travel and tourism industry occurs when one company owns or controls more than one part of distribution process. There are two types of integration. • Horizontal Integration • Vertical Integration Horizontal Integration is when the organisation owns two or more companies on the same level of the distribution chain. e.g. First Choice Holidays owns a number of tour operating brands like First Choice Holiday or Sovereign Vertical Integration is when the company integrate at the different levels of the distribution chain. E.g. tour operator work with airline such as First Choice as it is a tour operator which also has an airline named First Choice Airways. AIRLINE First Choice TOUR OPERATOR First Choice Holiday TRAVEL AGENCY First Choice Travel Shops Travel Infrastructure- travel infrastructure is the networks of the links between motorways, airports, sea ports and railway stations which transport the passengers to a destinations.

Types of Tourism [ edit | edit source ]

.Traveling is one effective way to see the world, experience new cultures and meet new people at the same time. For many tourists, however, traveling accomplishes many other purposes that don’t even have anything to do with the joy of visiting a new place. This is why there are many different types of tourism that explain why tourists choose a particular destination and the things that they expect to do when they are there.

Perhaps the most common type of tourism is what most people associate with traveling: Recreation tourism. This is when people go to a place that is very different from their regular day-to-day life to relax and have fun. Beaches, theme parks and camp grounds are often the most common places frequented by recreational tourists. If the objective of one’s visit to a particular place is to get to know its history and culture then this type of tourism is known as cultural tourism. Tourists may visit different landmarks of a particular country or they may simply opt to focus on just one area. They may also attend festivals and ceremonies in order to gain a better understanding of the people, their beliefs and their practices.

For tourists who want to see wildlife or bask in the joy of just being in the midst of nature, nature tourism is the answer. Ecotourism and nature treks are all part of this kind of tourism. Bird watching, for example, is one activity that nature tourists are fond of doing. What marks this kind of tourism is that it is environmentally responsible, has low impact and advantageous to the local community. Many people today are stressed out in the corporate rat race and in need of rejuvenation. Thus, they go on trips that refresh their souls and spirits. This is called pleasure tourism and usually includes yoga workshops and detox vacations, among others. Others, however, de-stress by engaging in a particular sport. Called sports tourism, travelers here target places which are known for a particular sporting facility. Skiing, for example, is a type of sports tourism. Also included in this category are those who go to a destination to experience a sports spectacle such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup and others.

Religious tourism is another type of tourism where people go to a religious location or locations to follow the footsteps of their founder or to attend a religious ceremony. Catholics, for example, go on pilgrimages in the Holy Land to experience the paths where Jesus walked.

Medical or health tourism is a relatively new type of tourist activity where the main focus of the travel is improving one’s health, physical appearance or fitness. For instance, certain countries promote the expertise of their doctors and surgeons in the field of cosmetic surgery and invite foreigners to have their liposuction, facelift, nose lift and other forms of cosmetic procedures to be done there. Medical tourism also incorporates aspects of recreation tourism where the patient goes to a relaxing getaway to recover from the procedure.

Adventure tourism is another type of tourism that is catered for those who want to do more than just visit regular tourist sites. These kinds of trips involve challenging activities like rock climbing, mountain climbing and wild water rafting.

It should be noted that there are no strict delineations when tourists go on their trips. These kinds of tourism often overlap so it’s not unusual for travelers to experience more than one type of tourism in one vacation.

Recent developments [ edit | edit source ]

There has been a discernible upmarket trend in tourism over the last few decades, especially in Europe where international travel for short breaks is commonplace. Tourists have higher levels of disposable income and greater leisure time. They are also better educated and have more sophisticated tastes. There is now a demand for a better quality product in many quarters. This has resulted in the following trends:-

• The old 'sun, sea, and sand' mass market has fragmented. People want more specialised versions of it, such as 'Club 18 -30', quieter resorts with select hotels, self-catering, etc.
• People are taking second holidays in the form of short breaks/city breaks, ranging from British and European cities to country hotels.
• There has been a growth in niche markets catering for special interests or activities, including growth of destination hotels.

The developments in technology and transport infrastructure (particularly the advent of jumbo jets) have placed some types of holiday in the affordable mainstream:-

• The development of a mass cruise holiday market.
• The advent of affordable holidays to long-haul destinations such as Thailand or Kenya.
• The phenomenon of the low budget airline, utilising a new generation of small regional airports.

There have also been changes in lifestyle, which may call into question the current definitions of tourism. Some people (particularly the 45+ and retired) may be adopting a tourism lifestyle, living as a tourist all the year round - eating out several times a week, going to the theatre, daytripping, and indulging in short breaks several times a year.

Much of this results in impulse purchasing. This is facilitated by internet purchasing of tourism products. Some sites have now started to offer dynamic packaging, in which an inclusive price is quoted for a tailor- made package requested by the customer upon impulse.

There have been a few setbacks in tourism, such as the September 11, 2001 attacks and terrorist threats to tourist destinations such as Bali and European cities. Some of the tourist destinations, including the Costa del Sol, the Baleares and Cancún have lost popularity due to shifting tastes. In this context, the excessive building and environmental destruction often associated with traditional "sun and beach" tourism may contribute to a destination's saturation and subsequent decline. This appears to be the case with Spain's Costa Brava, a byword for this kind of tourism in the 1960s and 1970s. With only 11% of the Costa Brava now unblemished by low-quality development (Greenpeace Spain's figure), the destination now faces a crisis in its tourist industry.

Sustainable tourism is becoming more popular as people start to realize the devastating effects tourism can have on communities.

Receptive tourism is now growing at a very rapid rate in many developing countries, where it is often the most important economic activity in local GDP.

In recent years, second holidays or vacations have become more popular as people's discretionary income increases. Typical combinations are a package to the typical mass tourist resort, with a winter skiing holiday or weekend break to a city or national park.

On December 26, 2004 a tsunami, caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake hit Asian countries bordering the Indian Ocean, and also the Maldives. Tens of thousands of lives were lost, and many tourists died. This, together with the vast clean-up operation in place, has stopped or severely hampered tourism to the area.

Special forms of tourism [ edit | edit source ]

For the past few decades other forms of tourism, also known as niche tourism, have been becoming more popular, particularly:

• Adventure tourism: tourism involving travel in rugged regions, or adventurous sports such as mountaineering and hiking (tramping).
• Agritourism: farm based tourism, helping to support the local agricultural economy.
• Ancestry tourism: (also known as genealogy tourism) is the travel with the aim of tracing one's ancestry, visiting the birth places of these ancestors and sometimes getting to know distant family.
• Armchair tourism and virtual tourism: not travelling physically, but exploring the world through internet, books, TV, etc.
• Audio tourism: includes audio walking tours and other audio guided forms of tourism including museum audio guides and audio travel books.
• Bookstore Tourism is a grassroots effort to support independent bookstores by promoting them as a travel destination.
• Creative Tourism is a new form of tourism that allows visitors to develop their creative potential, and get closer to local people, through informal participation in hands-on workshops that draw on the culture of their holiday destinations.
• Cultural tourism: includes urban tourism, visiting historical or interesting cities, and experiencing their cultural heritages. This type of tourism may also include specialized cultural experiences, such as art museum tourism where the tourist visits many art museums during the tour, or opera tourism where the tourist sees many operas or concerts during the tour.
• Dark tourism: is the travel to sites associated with death and suffering. The first tourist agency to specialise in this kind of tourism started with trips to Lakehurst, New Jersey, the scene of the Hindenburg airship disaster.
• Disaster tourism: travelling to a disaster scene not primarily for helping, but because it is interesting to see. It can be a problem if it hinders rescue, relief and repair work.
• Drug tourism: travel to a country to obtain or consume drugs, either legally or illegally.
• Ecotourism: ecological tourism.
• Educational tourism: may involve travelling to an education institution, a wooded retreat or some other destination in order to take personal-interest classes, such as cooking classes with a famous chef or crafts classes.
• Extreme tourism: tourism associated with high risk.
• Free Independent Traveler: a sector of the market and philosophy of constructing a vacation by sourcing one's own components e.g. accommodation, transport.
• Gambling tourism, e.g. to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, California, Macau or Monte Carlo for the purpose of gambling at the casinos there.
• Garden tourism visiting botanical gardens famous places in the history of gardening, such as Versailles and the Taj Mahal.
• Heritage tourism: visiting historical (Rome, Athens, Cracow) or industrial sites, such as old canals, railways, battlegrounds, etc.
• Health tourism: usually to escape from cities or relieve stress, perhaps for some 'fun in the sun', etc. Often to Sanatoriums or "health spas".
• Hobby tourism: tourism alone or with groups to participate in hobby interests, to meet others with similar interests, or to experience something pertinent to the hobby. Examples might be garden tours, amateur radio DX-peditions, or square dance cruises.
• Inclusive tourism: tourism marketed to those with functional limits or disabilities. Referred to as "Tourism for All" in some regions. Destinations often employ Universal Design and Universal Destination Development principles.
• for what is illegal in one's own country, such as abortion or euthanasia
• for advanced care that is not available in one's own country
• in the case that there are long waiting lists in one's own country
• Pop-culture tourism: tourism by those that visit a particular location after reading about it or seeing it in a film.
• Perpetual tourism: wealthy individuals always on vacation; some of them, for tax purposes, to avoid being resident in any country.
• Pilgrimage Tourism: pilgrimages to ancient holy places (Rome and Santiago de Compostela for Catholics, temples and stupas of Nepal for the Hindus and Buddhist, Mount Athos or Painted churches of northern Moldavia for the Orthodox), religious sites such as mosques, shrines, etc.
• Sex tourism: travelling solely for the purpose of sexual activity, usually with prostitutes
• Solo Travel: travelling alone
• Sport travel: skiing, golf and scuba diving are popular ways to spend a vacation. This could also include travelling to a major international sporting event such as the FIFA World Cup or following a tour such as the Ashes or British and Irish Lions.
• Space tourism: traveling in outer space or on spaceships.
• Vacilando is a special kind of wanderer for whom the process of travelling is more important than the destination.
• Wine tourism, the visiting of growing regions, vineyards, wineries, tasting rooms, wine festivals, and similar places or events for the purpose of consuming or purchasing wine.

Trends [ edit | edit source ]

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forecasts that international tourism will continue growing at the average annual rate of 4 %.[3] By 2020 Europe will remain the most popular destination, but its share will drop from 60 % in 1995 to 46 %. Long-haul will grow slightly faster than intraregional travel and by 2020 its share will increase from 18 % in 1995 to 24 %.

With the advent of e-commerce, tourism products have become one of the most traded items on the internet. Tourism products and services have been made available through intermediaries, although tourism providers (hotels, airlines, etc.) can sell their services directly. This has put pressure on intermediaries from both on-line and traditional shops.

Space tourism is expected to "take off" in the first quarter of the 21st century, although compared with traditional destinations the number of tourists in orbit will remain low until technologies such as a space elevator make space travel cheap.

Technological improvement is likely to make possible air-ship hotels, based either on solar-powered airplanes or large dirigibles. Underwater hotels, such as Hydropolis, expected to open in Dubai in 2006, will be built. On the ocean tourists will be welcomed by ever larger cruise ships and perhaps floating cities.

Some futurists expect that movable hotel "pods" will be created that could be temporarily erected anywhere on the planet, where building a permanent resort would be unacceptable politically, economically or environmentally.

Sustainable tourism [ edit | edit source ]

There are many different definitions of sustainable tourism that have been developed over the last decade. Most tend to assume that all tourists are responsible for respecting and conserving a location's economic, environmental, and socio-cultural balances.

Global economists forecast continuing international tourism growth, ranging between three and six percent annually, depending on the location. As one of the world's largest and fastest growing industries, this continuous growth will place great stress on remaining biodiverse habitats, often used to support mass tourism. Sustainable tourists are aware of these dangers and seek to protect their favorite destinations, and to protect tourism as an industry. Sustainable tourists face many responsibilities to reduce tourism's impact on communities, including:

• informing themselves of the culture, politics, and economy of the communities being visited.
• anticipating and respecting local cultures' expectations and assumptions.
• contributing to intercultural understanding and tolerance.
• supporting the integrity of local cultures by favoring businesses which conserve cultural heritage
• supporting local economies by purchasing local goods and participating with small, local businesses.
• conserving resources by seeking out businesses that are environmentally conscious, and by using the least possible amount of non-renewable resources.

Green conventions, meetings and events [ edit | edit source ]

Large conventions, meetings and other major organized events drive the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Cities and convention centers compete to attract such commerce, commerce which has heavy impacts on resource use and the environment. Major sporting events, such as the Olympic Games, present special problems regarding environmental burdens and degradation. But burdens imposed by the regular convention industry can be vastly more significant.

Green conventions and events are a new but growing sector and marketing point within the convention and hospitality industry. More environmentally aware organizations, corporations and government agencies are now seeking more sustainable event practices, greener hotels, restaurants and convention venues, and more energy efficient or climate neutral travel and ground transportation.

Additionally, some convention centers have begun to take direct action in reducing the impact of the conventions they host. One example is the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, which has a very aggressive recycling program, a large solar power system, and other programs aimed at reducing impact and increasing efficiency.

With the advent of the internet, some traditional conventions are being replaced with virtual conventions, where the attendees remain in their home physical location and "attend" the convention by use of a web-based interface programmed for the task. This sort of "virtual" meeting eliminates all of the impacts associated with travel, accommodation, food wastage, and other necessary impacts of traditional, physical conventions.

Sustainable travel [ edit | edit source ]

Travel over long distances requires a large amount of either time or energy. Generally this involves burning fossil fuels, a largely unsustainable practice and one that contributes to climate change, via CO2 emissions.

Air travel is perhaps the worst offender in this regard, contributing to between 2 and 3% of global carbon emissions [1]. Given a business-as-usual approach, this could be expected to rise to 5% by 2015 and 10% by 2050. Car travel is the next worst offender.

Mass transport is the most climate friendly method of travel, and generally the rule is "the bigger the better" - compared to cars, buses are relatively more sustainable, and trains and ships are even more so. Human energy and renewable energy are the most efficient, and hence, sustainable. Travel by bicycle, solar powered car, or sailing boat produces no carbon emissions (although the embodied energy in these vehicles generally comes at the expense of carbon emission).

Ecotourism [ edit | edit source ]

Ecotourism, or ecological tourism, is a movement to make Tourism more ecological. When successful, it contributes actively to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, includes local and indigenous communities in its planning, development and operation, reduces poverty and enhances intercultural & environmental understanding.

Travel planning [ edit | edit source ]

If you were to plan tourism you can use various online sources that allow for efficient and relatively low cost bookings of both flights and accommodations.

If you were going to start a business as a travel agent you could read books that cover this (although this one eventually should) or else you could study the topic at a local university or at Wikiversity (which should eventually cover the topic).

Tourism management [ edit | edit source ]

Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) is a major in a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration.

Graduate students graduate with a Masters of Business Administration, a Masters or Science, or a Doctorate of Philosophy in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

It is a focus that is studied by individuals that are intending to work in the Hospitality Industry, examples of which are; Hotels, Resorts, Casinos, and Restaurants.

Within the HTM concentration there is generally:

• Food Management and Operations (Examples: Food Science, Food Selection and Preparation, Food and Beverage Operations)
• Lodging Operations (Examples: Hotel Operations, Lodging Management, Financial Management and Cost Control for Hospitality Organizations)
• Global Tourism (Examples: Travel and Tourism Management, Tourism Analysis, Hospitality and Research Methods)
• Event Management (Examples: Hospitality Sales, Catering Management, Hospitality Marketing Management)

Several large corporations such as Marriot, Hyatt (go to www.Hyatt.com for current openings), Wyndham and Hilton Hotels have summer internships/manager in training programs for students majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management, to help students get valuable work experience...

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Encyclopedia of Tourism pp 1–4 Cite as

Leisure, tourism

• Garry Chick 3 , 4  
• Living reference work entry
• First Online: 01 January 2015

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Like many social science concepts based on terms from natural languages, leisure can be considered with regard to its definition and its meaning. Scholars are concerned with the former, inasmuch as a clear and precise definition of a concept is necessary for proper study of it. They are also interested in the meaning of leisure but usually in terms of understanding how members of particular social or cultural groups experience it.

With respect to the definition of leisure, scholars commonly regard it as having three qualities, each necessary but none sufficient to fully characterize it. First, leisure requires time that is relatively unobligated and where freedom of choice is available. Second, certain kinds of activities, usually without external reward but intrinsically pleasurable, are commonly associated with leisure. These include play, games, sport, resting, participating in festivals or the arts, watching television, or engaging in other forms of social and individual...

• Positive Emotion
• Tourist Experience
• Vacation Time
• Leisure Travel

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Chan, N., H. Xiao, C. Chau, and H. Ma 2012 The Meaning of Leisure for Residents in Hong Kong. Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management 21:311-329.

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Chick, G., R. Makopondo, and W. Winneshiek 2013 Lexicons of Leisure: An Ethnographic Approach to Representations of Leisure in Three Cultures. Unpublished Manuscript: Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University.

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Chick, G., and S. Shen 2011 Leisure and Cultural Complexity. Cross-Cultural Research 45:59-81.

Ito, E., G. Walker, and H. Liang 2014 A Systematic Review of Non-Western and Cross-Cultural/National Leisure Research. Journal of Leisure Research 46:226-239.

Liu, H., C. Yeh, G. Chick, and H. Zinn 2008 An Exploration of the Meanings of Leisure: A Chinese Perspective. Leisure Sciences 30:482-488.

Nawijn, J., O. Mitas, Y. Lin, and D. Kerstetter 2012 How Do We Feel on Vacation? A Closer Look at How Emotions Change over the Course of a Trip. Journal of Travel Research 52:265-274.

Paris, C., G. Musa, and T. Thirumoorthi 2014 A Comparison between Asian and Australasia Backpackers using Cultural Consensus Analysis. Current Issues in Tourism doi:10.1080/13683500.2014.920771.

Purrington, A., and B. Hickerson 2013 Leisure as a Cross-Cultural Concept. World Leisure Journal 55:125-137.

Rubin, J., N. Flowers, and D. Gross 1986 The Adaptive Dimensions of Leisure. American Ethnologist 13:524-536.

Shaw, S. 1985 The Meaning of Leisure in Everyday Life. Leisure Sciences 7:1-23.

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Garry Chick

Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, 701 C Donald H. Ford Building, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

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Chick, G. (2014). Leisure, tourism. In: Jafari, J., Xiao, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_317-1

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• THE BIG IDEA

Why travel should be considered an essential human activity

Travel is not rational, but it’s in our genes. Here’s why you should start planning a trip now.

In 1961, legendary National Geographic photographer Volkmar Wentzel captured two women gazing at the surf off Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia. This and all the other images in this story come from the National Geographic image collection.

I’ve been putting my passport to good use lately. I use it as a coaster and to level wobbly table legs. It makes an excellent cat toy.

Welcome to the pandemic of disappointments. Canceled trips, or ones never planned lest they be canceled. Family reunions, study-abroad years, lazy beach vacations. Poof. Gone. Obliterated by a tiny virus, and the long list of countries where United States passports are not welcome.

Only a third of Americans say they have traveled overnight for leisure since March, and only slightly more, 38 percent, say they are likely to do so by the end of the year, according to one report. Only a quarter of us plan on leaving home for Thanksgiving, typically the busiest travel time. The numbers paint a grim picture of our stilled lives.

It is not natural for us to be this sedentary. Travel is in our genes. For most of the time our species has existed, “we’ve lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers moving about in small bands of 150 or fewer people,” writes Christopher Ryan in Civilized to Death . This nomadic life was no accident. It was useful. “Moving to a neighboring band is always an option to avoid brewing conflict or just for a change in social scenery,” says Ryan. Robert Louis Stevenson put it more succinctly: “The great affair is to move.”

What if we can’t move, though? What if we’re unable to hunt or gather? What’s a traveler to do? There are many ways to answer that question. “Despair,” though, is not one of them.

In this aerial view from 1967, wall-to-wall seaside sunbathers relax under umbrellas or on beach towels in Ocean City, Maryland .

A 1967 fall festival in Guadalajara, Mexico , starred traditionally costumed musicians and dancers.

We are an adaptive species. We can tolerate brief periods of forced sedentariness. A dash of self-delusion helps. We’re not grounded, we tell ourselves. We’re merely between trips, like the unemployed salesman in between opportunities. We pass the days thumbing though old travel journals and Instagram feeds. We gaze at souvenirs. All this helps. For a while.

We put on brave faces. “Staycation Nation,” the cover of the current issue of Canadian Traveller magazine declares cheerfully, as if it were a choice, not a consolation.

Today, the U.S. Travel Association, the industry trade organization, is launching a national recovery campaign called “ Let’s Go There .” Backed by a coalition of businesses related to tourism—hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, airlines—the initiative’s goal is to encourage Americans to turn idle wanderlust into actual itineraries.

The travel industry is hurting. So are travelers. “I dwelled so much on my disappointment that it almost physically hurt,” Paris -based journalist Joelle Diderich told me recently, after canceling five trips last spring.

(Related: How hard has the coronavirus hit the travel industry? These charts tell us.)

My friend James Hopkins is a Buddhist living in Kathmandu . You’d think he’d thrive during the lockdown, a sort-of mandatory meditation retreat. For a while he did.

But during a recent Skype call, James looked haggard and dejected. He was growing restless, he confessed, and longed “for the old 10-countries-a-year schedule.” Nothing seemed to help, he told me. “No matter how many candles I lit, or how much incense I burned, and in spite of living in one of the most sacred places in South Asia, I just couldn’t change my habits.”

When we ended our call, I felt relieved, my grumpiness validated. It’s not me; it’s the pandemic. But I also worried. If a Buddhist in Kathmandu is going nuts, what hope do the rest of us stilled souls have?

I think hope lies in the very nature of travel. Travel entails wishful thinking. It demands a leap of faith, and of imagination, to board a plane for some faraway land, hoping, wishing, for a taste of the ineffable. Travel is one of the few activities we engage in not knowing the outcome and reveling in that uncertainty. Nothing is more forgettable than the trip that goes exactly as planned.

Related: Vintage photos of the glamour of travel

Travel is not a rational activity. It makes no sense to squeeze yourself into an alleged seat only to be hurled at frightening speed to a distant place where you don’t speak the language or know the customs. All at great expense. If we stopped to do the cost-benefit analysis, we’d never go anywhere. Yet we do.

That’s one reason why I’m bullish on travel’s future. In fact, I’d argue travel is an essential industry, an essential activity. It’s not essential the way hospitals and grocery stores are essential. Travel is essential the way books and hugs are essential. Food for the soul. Right now, we’re between courses, savoring where we’ve been, anticipating where we’ll go. Maybe it’s Zanzibar and maybe it’s the campground down the road that you’ve always wanted to visit.

(Related: Going camping this fall? Here’s how to get started.)

James Oglethorpe, a seasoned traveler, is happy to sit still for a while, and gaze at “the slow change of light and clouds on the Blue Ridge Mountains” in Virginia, where he lives. “My mind can take me the rest of the way around this world and beyond it.”

It’s not the place that is special but what we bring to it and, crucially, how we interact with it. Travel is not about the destination, or the journey. It is about stumbling across “a new way of looking at things,” as writer Henry Miller observed. We need not travel far to gain a fresh perspective.

No one knew this better than Henry David Thoreau , who lived nearly all of his too-short life in Concord, Massachusetts. There he observed Walden Pond from every conceivable vantage point: from a hilltop, on its shores, underwater. Sometimes he’d even bend over and peer through his legs, marveling at the inverted world. “From the right point of view, every storm and every drop in it is a rainbow,” he wrote.

Thoreau never tired of gazing at his beloved pond, nor have we outgrown the quiet beauty of our frumpy, analog world. If anything, the pandemic has rekindled our affection for it. We’ve seen what an atomized, digital existence looks like, and we (most of us anyway) don’t care for it. The bleachers at Chicago ’s Wrigley Field; the orchestra section at New York City ’s Lincoln Center; the alleyways of Tokyo . We miss these places. We are creatures of place, and always will be.

After the attacks of September 11, many predicted the end of air travel, or at least a dramatic reduction. Yet the airlines rebounded steadily and by 2017 flew a record four billion passengers. Briefly deprived of the miracle of flight, we appreciated it more and today tolerate the inconvenience of body scans and pat-downs for the privilege of transporting our flesh-and-bone selves to far-flung locations, where we break bread with other incarnate beings.

Landscape architects work in their Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , studio in 1955.

A tourist photographs a towering century plant in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, in 1956.

In our rush to return to the world, we should be mindful of the impact of mass tourism on the planet. Now is the time to embrace the fundamental values of sustainable tourism and let them guide your future journeys. Go off the beaten path. Linger longer in destinations. Travel in the off-season. Connect with communities and spend your money in ways that support locals. Consider purchasing carbon offsets. And remember that the whole point of getting out there is to embrace the differences that make the world so colorful.

“One of the great benefits of travel is meeting new people and coming into contact with different points of view,” says Pauline Frommer, travel expert and radio host.

So go ahead and plan that trip. It’s good for you, scientists say . Plotting a trip is nearly as enjoyable as actually taking one. Merely thinking about a pleasurable experience is itself pleasurable. Anticipation is its own reward.

I’ve witnessed first-hand the frisson of anticipatory travel. My wife, not usually a fan of travel photography, now spends hours on Instagram, gazing longingly at photos of Alpine lodges and Balinese rice fields. “What’s going on?” I asked one day. “They’re just absolutely captivating,” she replied. “They make me remember that there is a big, beautiful world out there.”

Many of us, myself included, have taken travel for granted. We grew lazy and entitled, and that is never good. Tom Swick, a friend and travel writer, tells me he used to view travel as a given. Now, he says, “I look forward to experiencing it as a gift.”

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What is leisure tourism, and what examples?

• March 2, 2023

Leisure tourism, a popular form of travel, refers to the act of taking a trip for the purpose of relaxation, recreation, or enjoyment. It involves participating in activities typically done during one’s free time, such as sightseeing, shopping, dining out, and engaging in cultural events. While leisure tourism can take many forms, it is often associated with vacations and getaways, allowing individuals to escape the stress of everyday life and explore new places.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on travel, leisure tourism remains a popular choice for individuals looking to recharge and explore the world. From exploring famous landmarks in Paris to sunbathing on the beaches of Bali, there are countless examples of leisure tourism destinations and activities available worldwide. In this article, we will explore the concept of leisure tourism and provide several examples of popular destinations and activities you can add to your travel bucket list.

What is leisure travel?

Leisure travel refers to traveling for pleasure rather than business or work-related purposes. It is a type of travel that involves exploring new destinations, engaging in recreational activities, and relaxing and unwinding. Whether traveling alone or with friends and family, leisure travel provides a much-needed break from the daily routine and allows individuals to experience new cultures, environments, and experiences.

For the person traveling, leisure travel can provide a wide range of benefits, including learning about different cultures, making new friends, and creating lasting memories. It can also provide a sense of adventure, challenge, and excitement that can be hard to find in everyday life. Additionally, leisure travel can help reduce stress levels and improve mental health by providing a break from the daily routine.

As a tourist, leisure travel can also significantly impact the environment and local communities. Responsible tourism practices, such as supporting local businesses, using eco-friendly transportation, and being mindful of waste, can help minimize negative impacts and promote sustainable tourism.

Of course, finances are an essential consideration for leisure travel. Depending on the destination, activities, and accommodations chosen, leisure travel can be a costly endeavor. However, with careful planning, budgeting, and research, it is possible to enjoy leisure travel without breaking the bank. Many travel websites and apps offer discounts and deals on flights, hotels, and activities, making planning an affordable and enjoyable leisure travel experience easier than ever.

Types of leisure tourism

Adventure tourism.

One of the most popular types of adventure tourism is extreme sports. From bungee jumping to skydiving, there’s no shortage of heart-pumping activities to get your adrenaline flowing. These experiences are not for the faint of heart, but they offer a rush like no other and can be incredibly rewarding for those who take the plunge.

For those who prefer a slower pace, there are plenty of other adventure tourism options. Hiking, camping, and backpacking are all popular choices that allow you to explore the great outdoors and connect with nature. Whether traversing rugged mountain trails or pitching a tent in a remote wilderness area, these activities offer a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world.

Of course, adventure tourism is only for some. Some people prefer to stick to more traditional types of leisure tourism, such as beach vacations or city breaks. However, you love a challenge and aren’t afraid to step outside your comfort zone. In that case, adventure tourism can be an incredibly rewarding and life-changing experience.

So, whether you’re looking to bungee jump off a bridge, hike through the wilderness, or explore a new city on foot, there’s an adventure tourism experience that’s perfect for you. So why not take the leap and try something new? You never know what amazing experiences and memories you might create!

Cultural tourism

One of the most exciting things about cultural tourism is that it can take you to places you never imagined. Whether exploring ancient ruins in Greece, visiting museums in Paris, or attending festivals in Japan, there are countless opportunities to learn and grow through cultural tourism.

Of course, cultural tourism doesn’t have to take you to far-flung destinations. There are plenty of opportunities to explore different cultures closer to home, whether visiting museums and art galleries, attending cultural events in your city, or trying new foods at ethnic restaurants.

For those who love to travel, cultural tourism offers a chance to see the world differently. Rather than just ticking off tourist attractions, cultural tourism allows you to connect with locals, learn about their way of life, and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich diversity of our planet.

So whether you’re a history buff, an art lover, or simply someone who wants to experience something new, cultural tourism has something for everyone. So why not step out of your usual environment and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of cultures that make our world so fascinating? Who knows what incredible experiences and memories await you along the way!

Suppose you’re someone who cares deeply about the environment and wants to make a positive impact on the world. In that case, ecotourism might be the perfect choice for your next leisure tourism adventure. This tourism category is all about traveling responsibly and sustainably, focusing on preserving natural habitats and supporting local communities.

One of the main things to consider when it comes to ecotourism is your travel’s impact on the environment. This means choosing eco-friendly accommodations and activities, such as staying in lodges that use renewable energy, participating in wildlife conservation efforts, and using low-impact transportation methods like hiking or cycling.

Another important factor to consider is your travel’s impact on the local community. Ecotourism aims to support local economies and promote cultural exchange, so it’s important to choose tours and activities led by local guides and support local businesses.

Of course, ecotourism is not just about being responsible and sustainable – it’s also about having fun and experiencing the beauty of nature. Whether you’re exploring pristine forests, snorkeling in coral reefs, or observing wildlife in their natural habitats, there’s no shortage of amazing experiences to be had in ecotourism.

Suppose you’re passionate about the environment and want to positively impact the world while having fun and exploring new places. In that case, ecotourism might be the perfect fit for you. And as the tourism industry continues to grow and evolve, there are plenty of opportunities for jobs and careers in eco-tourism, making it a great choice for those who want to make a difference while pursuing their passions.

Beach tourism

Beach tourism is leisure tourism that revolves around visiting coastal destinations and enjoying the beach environment. This type of tourism is popular among people of all ages, from families with young children to solo travelers seeking relaxation and recreation.

Beach tourism destinations vary widely, from crowded beaches in popular tourist hotspots to secluded and pristine shorelines in remote locations. Some of the most popular beach tourism destinations include the Caribbean, Hawaii, the Maldives, and the Mediterranean.

Activities commonly associated with beach tourism include swimming, sunbathing, beach volleyball, surfing, and water sports such as jet skiing, parasailing, and snorkeling. Many beach tourism destinations also offer a range of amenities, such as beachfront restaurants, bars, cafes, and hotels and resorts catering to beachgoers.

Beach tourism can be a great way to escape the stresses of everyday life and enjoy some time in the sun and sand. It offers many experiences, from relaxing and soaking up the sun to more active pursuits such as water sports and beach games. For those who love the ocean and the beach environment, beach tourism is a must-try type of leisure tourism.

Health and wellness tourism

Health and wellness tourism is a type of leisure tourism that focuses on improving physical, mental, and emotional well-being through various activities and services. It involves traveling to destinations that offer specialized programs and services to help visitors achieve their health and wellness goals.

Some of the most common health and wellness tourism activities include spa treatments, yoga and meditation classes, fitness activities, healthy eating, and alternative medicine practices such as acupuncture and herbal remedies. Health and wellness tourism destinations can range from specialized wellness centers and retreats to traditional vacation spots that offer a variety of wellness-focused activities and services.

Health and wellness tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years as more people seek to prioritize their health and well-being. This type of tourism offers a range of benefits, including stress relief, improved physical health, and a renewed sense of energy and vitality.

In addition to the benefits for individual travelers, health and wellness tourism can also positively impact local communities. It can create job opportunities in the wellness industry and stimulate local economies through increased tourism.

Overall, health and wellness tourism is a great option for those seeking to prioritize their health and well-being while enjoying leisure travel’s benefits. With a wide range of activities and services available, there is something for everyone in the world of health and wellness tourism.

Can business travelers have leisure time on a business trip?

Yes, business travelers can have leisure time on a business trip, depending on their schedule and the purpose of their trip. Many business travelers often have free time during their trip, either before or after their work obligations are completed. During this time, they may choose to engage in leisure activities and explore the destination they are visiting.

Business travelers may also extend their trip for a few days or a weekend to have more time to explore the destination and engage in leisure activities. This is often called “bleisure” travel, a combination of business and leisure travel.

However, it is important to note that the amount of leisure time a business traveler can have may depend on the nature of their business trip and the expectations of their employer. Sometimes, the schedule may be tightly packed with meetings, and there may be little free time for leisure activities. Additionally, some employers may have policies restricting the amount of leisure time a business traveler can have or the type of activities they can engage in during their free time.

Ultimately, it is up to the individual business traveler to determine how much leisure time they can have on a business trip and to balance their work obligations with their desire to explore and engage in leisure activities.

What are the examples of leisure tourism?

There are many examples of leisure tourism, as it encompasses many activities and destinations. Some examples of leisure tourism include:

• Beach tourism – visiting coastal destinations for sun, sand, and water activities.
• Adventure tourism – engaging in activities such as hiking, skiing, and whitewater rafting in natural environments.
• Cultural tourism – visiting destinations to learn about the local culture, history, and customs.
• Health and wellness tourism – traveling to destinations that offer specialized programs and services to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Ecotourism – visiting natural environments to observe and learn about the local flora and fauna while minimizing environmental impact.
• Rural tourism – visiting rural destinations to experience rural life and engage in farming, fishing, and hunting activities.
• Wine tourism is visiting destinations known for their wine production and touring vineyards and wineries.
• Sports tourism – traveling to participate in or observe events such as marathons, golf tournaments, and soccer matches.
• Food tourism – traveling to destinations to experience local cuisine and food traditions.
• Educational tourism is traveling to destinations to learn about specific subjects, such as art, history, or language.

These are just a few examples of leisure tourism, and many other types of tourism can fall under this category. Ultimately, leisure tourism is about enjoying the free time and engaging in activities that provide relaxation, entertainment, and personal enrichment.

In conclusion, leisure tourism encompasses various activities and destinations, from beaches to educational tourism. The purpose of leisure tourism is to provide individuals with opportunities for relaxation, entertainment, and personal enrichment. People engage in leisure tourism to escape from their usual environment, explore new destinations, and engage in activities that they enjoy or that interest them.

While there are many types of leisure tourism, all of them share a common goal of providing individuals with a break from their daily routines and an opportunity to have fun and create memorable experiences. As the tourism industry continues to grow and evolve, we can expect to see new types of leisure tourism emerge, and existing types become more popular.

Ultimately, leisure tourism plays an important role in the tourism industry and the lives of individuals who engage in it. It provides opportunities for personal growth, cultural exchange, and economic development. Whether it’s a relaxing beach vacation, an adventurous trek through the wilderness, or an educational trip to a historic site, leisure tourism has something to offer everyone.

David Stokes

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The history of traveling for pleasure

Posted: February 23, 2024 | Last updated: February 23, 2024

We often think that people only began traveling in the last few decades, but the truth is humanity has been traveling for centuries. From ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, we have always had a need to travel. Traveling for pleasure has come a long way since then, however, and it's largely attributed to technological developments in transport and road systems.

Want to discover the history of traveling for pleasure? Then check out this gallery.

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Ancient times

Traveling came about for many reasons. Throughout the world, cultures moved around in order to conquer other areas, as well as to control trade routes and various resources.

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The Maya people went beyond their borders

The Mayas, who lived in modern-day Mexico , didn't only travel to see what was beyond their own borders—they also wanted to spread their civilization.

Travel for curiosity

The Phoenicians, a civilization that mainly lived in modern-day Lebanon around 2500–64 BCE, traveled not only to develop trade routes, but also due to curiosity. They had a desire to discover what laid beyond the Mediterranean Sea.

The empire era

It is hard to know exactly when travel turned into what we would define as tourism. However, the empire era, which included the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, was influential when it came to traveling.

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People traveled for various reasons, be it commercial, educational, governmental, or religious purposes. This was largely thanks to consolidated governments in different central locations across the Mediterranean.

Traveling had a purpose

And due to consolidated governments, travel became a necessity to promote the use of a common language as well. Greek and Latin were the main ones.

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Romans and their roads

Travel evolved further with the ancient Romans. They constructed roads and even opened inns for travelers to rest at night.

Cities throughout the Roman Empire, such as Pompeii, became destinations for the middle and upper classes to explore during their downtime. The roads helped them travel quickly and safely.

The Middle Ages and the Renaissance era

After the fall of the Roman Empire, travel became almost nonexistent and dangerous as regions had become autonomous.

Religion was the center of life back in the Middle Ages. So when people traveled, it would often be to a sacred place nearby in the form of pilgrimage. This was also the time when the crusaders went out to take the Holy Land.

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Merchants like Marco Polo started to travel far and wide after the failed crusades. His travels, particularly along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295, awoke a new interest in traveling for others.

Cyriacus of Ancona

The first real tourist, according to historians, was Italian humanist and antiquarian Cyriacus of Ancona. He traveled around the Mediterranean, eager to learn about Greek and Roman history. This encouraged others to think about how travel could benefit education.

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The Grand Tour era

The Grand Tour era (1613-1785) was when tourism as we know it today really came into play. Starting with the most wealthy in society, people traveled to learn.

Tour around Europe

Those who were "coming of age" would travel throughout Europe to see art, architecture, and science. The most popular destinations were France, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy.

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Peter the Great of Russia

One famous young aristocrat who traveled around Western Europe was Peter the Great of Russia. He spent a significant amount of his time in the Netherlands.

Changing times with the Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the 18th century, resulted in a major economic, social, and technological transformation.

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The mobility era

As time moved on, an extensive network of railways was built, making travel for leisure a reality for many. The mobility era (1800-1944) was defined by an increase in travel to new locations, both near and far.

Thomas Cook

English businessman Thomas Cook was the first to introduce tour packages, which included travel and accommodation. In 1841, he arranged a tour for around 570 people to travel from Loughborough to Leicester. There was an instant demand for more.

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The first scheduled international passenger flight

On August 25, 1919, the first regular international passenger air service took place between London and Paris. This represented a new era in commercial flying.

Mass production of cars

With Henry Ford’s mass production of the Model T in 1914, individuals had more freedom to travel. It was a revolution when it came to transportation.

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Coastal tourism

Thanks to the mass production of cars as well as buses, the tourism industry continued to grow. Coastal tourism would rise in popularity after WWI, with people wanting to visit the seaside.

The modern era

The modern era of tourism saw a boom in commercial air travel. This meant the time it took to travel long distances was much shorter, encouraging people to discover the world.

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George Westinghouse

American entrepreneur and engineer George Westinghouse introduced the idea of paid leave from work. He believed that allowing staff paid time off would be beneficial to productivity levels overall. This gave the working and middle classes in certain countries the time and money to travel.

Post-war travel

With gas no longer rationed after WWII, economies started growing and cars became mass-produced again. Especially in the US, people started traveling around in their vehicles, which resulted in the motel business taking off as well.

A boom in hotels and motels

Many factors contributed to the exponential growth of the travel industry. For example, in the 1950s, hotels and motels took to the franchising model of business expansion.

Introduction of the credit card

The 1950s also saw the introduction of the credit card, originally the Diners Club card. This provided travelers the means to buy things wherever they were without the hassle of currency exchange and carrying cash.

The emergence of mass tourism

The tourism sector suffered a recession during the 1970s, mainly due to the energy crisis, leading to lower costs and prices. That's when mass tourism emerged and traveling became a leisure activity within the reach of many.

New era of tourism

In the following decades, there was a progressive internationalization of hotel companies, travel agencies, and airlines. Sports and spa activities were also offered.

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The tourism sector today

The tourism sector has become an economic engine in many countries, forming part of the international political agenda. In recent years, with low-cost flights and alternative accommodations, it's much easier for tourists to afford to travel and design their own itinerary. 

Sources: ( DW ) ( Matador Network )

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The Meaning of Travel

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Pilar Lopez-Cantero, The Meaning of Travel, The Philosophical Quarterly , Volume 71, Issue 3, July 2021, Pages 655–658, https://doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqaa065

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A philosopher's inquiry on travel may take different paths. Emily Thomas follows several in The Meaning of Travel , where she uncovers novel philosophical debates such as the ontology of maps or the ethics of ‘doom tourism’. Perhaps unexpectedly for the reader, Thomas also offers accessible and engaging discussions on—mostly Early—Modern philosophy by connecting travel-related topics to the work of some well-known authors (René Descartes and Francis Bacon), some unjustly neglected ones (Margaret Cavendish) and some known mostly to specialists (Henry More). The result of this bric-a-brac approach is mostly positive: Thomas's work stands out as an entertaining, insightful read, suitable for a wide readership, whilst also having the potential to be a foundational text in the philosophy of travel. And I agree with Thomas: philosophy of travel ‘isn’t a thing, but it should be’ (p. 3).

The book has twelve short, self-standing chapters that I divide here into two categories: chapters concerning the philosophy of travel and chapters attending to other philosophical themes that Thomas then connects with travel. Let us start with the first category. Chapter 1 convincingly states the case for the philosophical investigation of travel, and introduces the idea of travelling as the discovery of the unfamiliar, the exploration of ‘otherness’ (p. 3). In Chapter 2, on maps and cartography, Thomas impeccably combines a one-page, layperson-oriented definition of ontology with the launch of an intriguing question of concern to metaphysicians: Are maps things or processes? She believes they are the latter (p. 24), a point that is illustrated by the fact that we currently rely mostly on online maps—which, arguably, cannot be static things given their constant updating. This is an excellent chapter.

The following travel-focused discussion takes place in Chapter 5, on the origins of tourism. Tourism, says Thomas, was born when people started to travel by choice and for pleasure (p. 69). More recently, we travel to open up to the world by facing our fears (p. 84), to be able to brag to our friends (ibid.), and for ‘interior voyages’ of self-discovery (p. 85). This chapter contains a lot of historical trivia about the Grand Tour (the European adventure for young, wealthy British men in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries). It is both interesting and amusing, particularly the birth of the continental trope of debauchery-prone Brits abroad (pp. 78–9), which still pervades in some parts of Europe (the examples of Magaluf or Amsterdam come to mind, although the parallel with the present seems to have escaped Thomas).

Chapter 10 reveals the other side of the Grand Tour's story by launching the question of whether travel is a male concept. Whereas men were encouraged to embark in leisure travelling from its origin, women had to disguise themselves as men or use travel as a pretext for ‘ladylike pursuits’ such as painting (pp. 170–1). Again, the chapter is mostly historical, although Thomas also offers an explanation of the concept of gender for non-philosophers and highlights that in many cultures maleness is connected to adventure and exploration, while femaleness is usually tied to ‘home’ (p. 175).

Finally, Chapter 11 explores the ethics of ‘doom tourism’, that is, travelling to places that are bound to disappear due to climate challenges. Thomas reveals a moral dilemma: while mass tourism may destroy these places faster, it may be that their precarious situation can only become known via the mouths of travellers (or ‘tourist ambassadors’, p. 183). This raises the question of what exactly it means to travel responsibly. Then, Chapter 12 delves on space tourism to reflect on the fact that travelling changes people, and specifically changes how they feel about their home places (pp. 190–1).

In the second group of chapters, Thomas connects travel to the work of several philosophers from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. This is the time of the explorers and the birth of tourism, which shape the structure of the book, and Thomas's works showcase how the work of philosophers reached beyond the armchair in the shape of Bacon's philosophy of science (Chapter 3), Locke's metaethics (Chapter 4), or More's philosophy of space (Chapter 7). Cavendish's account of matter in her fantasy short story Blazing World , which Thomas considers both a travel book and a thought experiment, receives long-deserved limelight in Chapter 6. There is also a place for discussing the sublime as an aesthetic concept (Chapter 8) and Thoreau influence on environmental thought (Chapter 9).

It is no minor feat to make the history of philosophy interesting for the non-specialist while trying to explain complex philosophical concepts in plain words. There aren’t either many philosophy books where one lifts one's head from the book to tell whomever is in the room yet another interesting anecdote (and does so often). However, the connection between travel and these authors (and, in turn, with chunks of the author's own travel diary) is not always done as seamlessly at it could be. These links often require stretches of thought, which Thomas, I believe, is too quick to endorse (More's influence on our view on mountains and Thoreau's link to the popularity of ‘cabin porn’ are two examples of this tendency).

I believe that the main strength of The Meaning of Travel is the chapters on the philosophy of travel, to the point of deserving a foundational status in the branch. Thomas launches more questions than she answers, but we must remember that this is not a book ‘for academic eyes only’. The type of answers a certain kind of philosopher may demand would have resulted in a completely different work—one with a way narrower reach. This book's academic value lies in the formulation of travel-focused questions on ontology (maps), ethics (responsible tourism), and political and social philosophy (personal change, gender), which by themselves deserve a philosophical branch of their own.

These questions that Thomas puts forward are not only of interest to people shielding in philosophy departments, but have a direct link to current affairs. I am referring specifically to the distinction between traveller and tourist, and to the notion of responsible travel (or responsible tourism, since these questions are related but independent of each other). Several local authorities (like those of Amsterdam, Barcelona, or Venice) have long raised the alarm regarding the effect mass tourism has on their homes. This is directly related to Thomas's doom tourism (in fact, Venice is in the list of disappearing destinations she reproduces in p. 181), but is put in slightly different terms by leaders in these mass destinations. Whereas travelling to environmentally challenged locations may be put in terms of responsibility, as Thomas does, the mayors of Amsterdam or Barcelona have been calling for quality tourism. But what is quality tourism? Is this a matter of the experiences travellers are seeking, of being more like those who embark on an interior voyage than the party-prone Grand Tourists? Thomas's book is definitely the place to begin with to answer this question, which I think will benefit from the input of political philosophers. After all, the lowering of the ‘quality’ of tourism seems to have followed the lowering of the cost of travelling, and hence opens a sub-debate on fairness and travelling as a human capability—this is an example of how Thomas's work opens a number of new, fascinating questions, which will shape the discipline of philosophy of travel in the coming years. (A side note here: at the time of publication of this review, the global health crisis has decimated international travel, but I believe that does not do away with these issues; if anything, it offers some space to have these debates.)

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What Motivates People to Travel

There is no right or wrong way to live. The very concept of being right or wrong is based on the circumstances you find yourself in when you are called upon to make a judgment. But what about traveling? Do people who dare to walk on unusual paths know some tricks to stay motivated? Or maybe it is a kind of sport or activity that gives them these extreme emotions? Have you ever wondered what keeps them motivated? What motivates people to travel the world rather than spending time at home? Reasons are plentiful.

The reasons why we travel are as varied as travelers themselves. Someone may need a break from the hustle and bustle, look at things from a different angle. Make some new friends or get someone to fall in love with. It is no secret that occasional change of scenery is certainly necessary due to inevitable emotions any traveler experience on every trip. Making better decisions in your life often requires switching attention backwards and forwards between different tasks and focusing on something else. So there is nothing better than a two-week stay away from home to reboot your brain and start focusing on self-improvement, get rid of things you know don’t add value to your life.

In this post I’m trying to comprehend how does one stay motivated to travel, not to think about and regret going home because of homesickness, and why travel is so important in life.

1. The Need for Change

My original motivation for travel some 10 years ago was the need for change. I was aware of a whole world that existed outside of my comfort zone . I was striving to find a passion and start thinking and being more positive. At the same time, I realized reinvigorating my thinking would be impossible without taking myself away from the present, familiar environs to something that is new and unfamiliar and because it is new, gratifyingly stimulating and thrilling.

The entire thing wasn’t just about escaping from the dull daily routine. Though once I stepped out of my comfort zone, the joy and happiness from exploring new destinations became addictive. It didn’t take me long to realize I wanted to change myself in a way that will make me a better person. Furthermore, I wanted to get an unfiltered view of the world. I wanted to try traditional Thai food dishes , get lost in Beijing and see the most bizarre trees on the planet.

There’s nothing stale or banal about the psychology of tourism. I think you’ll agree with me when I say it’s a completely different experience to journey to Shanghai than to watch it on a NatGeo documentary. Exploring the winding streets of Hong Kong is drastically different from swiping HK photos on Instagram feed.

Adjusting to new surroundings, immersing myself in entirely different cultures, and hearing someone speaking an unfamiliar accent is something that makes me feel alive.

2. The Romance of Travel

Let’s face it, romance is a strong travel motivator. Apart from other cultural motivators in tourism, romance, and pleasure of the trip are the primary characteristics and qualities of the travel experience. Since loneliness and the need to escape unpleasant circumstances can drive some to extreme measures, the romance of travel and some indulgence are the best ways to overcome difficult personal circumstances.

Practicing pleasure travel gives rise to the satisfaction gained only by such experiences. And satisfaction often leads to reducing tension and anxiety. The pleasure trip thus becomes even more important and primarily learned a form of reducing stress and stopping anxiety.

Even the most committed solo travelers or digital nomads can relate to feelings of loneliness . After spending more than 10 years on the road I can admit, I have been succumbed to moments of feeling alone. Discussing the nuances of your trip with friends or relatives can have a big impact on the way you see the world and think about yourself. Few are immune to missing family and friends or feeling homesick at some time and have felt the need to seek interaction with other human beings. Dealing with loneliness is one of the greatest challenges solo travelers face .

3. Travel for Health

As I already said, there are many reasons why people love to travel. After a decade on the road, I’ve had my share of illnesses. However, I’ve always been prepared and controlled the risks by keeping in mind what should I do to stay healthy on the road .

Traveling is generally considered as an investment in health. When you travel, you get to visit healing sites like the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, the Pamukkale Hot Springs in Turkey or the Dead Sea. Hot springs and mineral-rich lakes can help you improve your skin, relieve pain, and reduce stress. Yup, hot geothermal springs can’t heal every kind of disease. But soaking in them may provide a range of conditions, from rashes to digestive disorders, improved after a visit.

Recently, I found myself standing on top of the Singuttara Hill admiring one of the most beloved and well-known holy sites in Asia . Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon was in front of me with its incomparable architectural design and shimmering gold plated dome. I found myself pulled to this spot with no clear understanding of what has happened.

Shwedagon Pagoda is the reason I am here, the backdrop to the myriad golden and painted lesser-known pagodas and temples I am photographing. And the reason so many people chose this place full of magic and mystery. The truth is that this golden stupa has a powerful vortex of spiritual energy. No one knows why this is, but the Pagoda is the most important religious site and place of pilgrimage.

4. Travel to Learn Life Skills and Life Lessons

The two months I spent traveling around Thailand during my big trip were some of the most intense and interesting months of my life. Every day was a new adventure. I challenged myself to learn new things, as a result, I learned so much during that time I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I mastered my inner peace, learned a lot about foreign language and culture, about Thailand in general, and about humanity.

With all the exciting moments we face each day abroad in a foreign place it’s hard not to come away with more than a souvenir.

What I love most about traveling (and hiking there) to new places is the chance to develop a better sense of direction. While I always thought that I had a good sense of direction, it was not until I went trekking in Thailand that it was really put to the test. Traveling on your own means you’re the only one who chooses what to explore next. There is no better opportunity to test and/or develop your sense of direction.

What I’ve learned from that trip I must create an awareness of my surroundings based on the four points of the compass. If you know where north is, you can easily determine the direction and navigate your way through. By constantly connecting your walking route to the north by using a compass (try not to use GPS!), you are exercising your natural sense of direction.

5. Travel for Pleasure

In most cases, traveling gives me a unique feeling of the present moment. When I’m entangled in my thoughts of past or future or imagination, finding the pleasures can help me shift the perspective. The very concept of traveling for pleasure is subjectively relative to many unexpected circumstances.

Life exists only at this very moment. Thus focusing on many things at a time may generate dissatisfaction and the feeling of a missed opportunity. The kind of people you meet on your way often can help you concentrate your mind on the present moment. Therefore broaden your horizons. So having pleasure in traveling is not per se in the movement from destination to destination , rather the things that give you the story to tell.

When I was traveling from Cairo to Dusseldorf, the aircraft flew me through Rome and certain parts of Italy . Upon reaching a particular point, the pilot swerved the plane to give the passengers a view of the terrain. Though this twist was not a part of my original itinerary, it spiced up a good memory.

After that particular flight I realized, we don’t travel for pleasure. We travel to seek pleasure. Travel isn’t about short-term pleasures, it is rather about a long lasting pleasure that creates tangible memories both past and present.

What is your motivation for traveling?

STOP PROCRASTINATING YOUR DREAM VOYAGE!

8 REASONS WHY TRAVELLING MAKES YOU A BETTER PERSON

WHY DO WE TRAVEL

9 to 5 Voyager

Excellent post! And truly unique. I think finding the right motivation is key to getting out of the house and seeing the world.

Angella Shin

A lot of people ask me this question…and how I manage to save the money to travel. Well…I just tell them, I’ve been sheltered all my life because I was busy building up my nursing career. I finally met my husband who was already well traveled and he began to show me the world. We traveled to 7 countries in the last 2 years and I am just now blogging about them. We travel to get away from comfort and take a break from the norm. It just feels refreshing to visit a new country and learn a unique culture.

If you agree, please check out my travel blog as well…would love your feedback!

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Going on vacation: Benefits sought from pleasure travel

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by Susan Crompton with Leslie-Anne Keown

Why do Canadians travel for pleasure? What you should know about this study Family-and-friends and rest-and-relaxation: For some it’s a pair, for others it’s a trade-off Children influence family-and-friends and work status affects R&R The benefits people want dictate the qualities they look for in a destination Learning-and-discovery: It’s all about adventure Summary

For centuries, travel for pleasure was a wealthy person’s privilege. But beginning in the 20th century, as average incomes rose and as cars and planes made distances shrink, the vacation or pleasure trip became attainable for people from almost all walks of life. 1

With over three in four Canadian adults taking even a brief holiday, 2 pleasure travel has become a large and important industry. Canadians spend tens of billions of dollars within Canada itself and billions more in other countries. 3 This spending generates government revenues that are also in the billions, primarily from sales, employment and business taxes. 4  

In the last year or so, though, the tourism industry has faltered and conditions are not expected to improve in 2009. 5 A poll of Canadian consumer spending intentions, conducted in December 2008, identified vacation spending as the second most common cost-cutting measure in 2009. 6 Meanwhile, the term “stay-cation” was coined to describe the increasing tendency of people to take their vacations at home. 7

Nevertheless, it’s not certain that these intentions will be acted upon. Several decades of tourism research generally conclude that the benefits people expect to derive from their travel experience are better predictors of their travel behaviour than their income or other socio-demographic characteristics. 8 , 9 People travel for pleasure because they want to escape the everyday, to feel rejuvenated, to acquire status and prestige, to socialize, to learn something, or just to enjoy the scenery. 10   And these benefits of pleasure can be much more powerful motivators to people than affordability alone.

While these benefits have been identified in earlier studies, this article adds to the discussion by quantifying the value of these benefits. By measuring their magnitude on an eight-point index, we can compare the value of a given benefit to different kinds of travellers; we can also compare the value of one benefit relative to another. In addition, since many people take vacation or pleasure trips for multiple reasons, we are able to identify correlated travel benefits and discuss them as pairs, rather than as separate items. Ultimately, we hope that these findings will be useful to the Canadian tourism industry.

Using data from the 2006 Travel and Activity Motivation Survey, this article examines the three most popular benefits of vacation or pleasure travel: rest and relaxation (R&R index); nurturing family and friendship ties (family-and-friends index); and learning and discovery (discovery index). The study population is restricted to travellers aged 25 and over who live in a family with children under 18, in a couple, or on their own. (See “ What you should know about this study ” for concepts and definitions.)

Why do Canadians travel for pleasure?

Canadian travellers look for three principal types of benefits when they go on a vacation or pleasure trip. The first benefit is simply rest-and-relaxation (R&R index): the traveller’s main objective is to get a break from their daily environment, to relax and relieve stress, and to have no fixed schedule. On an index of 0 to 8, where 6.0 or over is defined as “highly important,” the overall average score on the benefits index for rest-and-relaxation is 6.2. R&R has the highest average score of all three benefits because almost two-thirds of adult travellers said that, for them, this was a highly important benefit of a pleasure trip (Chart 1).

Chart 1 Rest-and-relaxation is the most popular benefit of vacation or pleasure travel

The second type of benefit involves nurturing family and friendship ties (family-and-friends index). In this case, a key goal of the trip is to keep family ties alive, to enrich the traveller’s relationship with their spouse and children, to create lasting memories, and to renew personal connections with people other than family. The overall average score on the index for family-and-friends is 5.2 out of 8.0 points, with almost half (48%) of adult travellers reporting that this is a highly important benefit of pleasure travel.

The third type of travel benefit is learning-and-discovery (discovery index). Travellers look forward to seeing or doing something new and different, learning about history or other cultures and places, enriching their perspective on life, and stimulating their intellect. This benefit is highly important to just over one-quarter of travellers, making its overall average score of 4.4 fairly low compared to the other two benefits indices.

It is certainly possible to seek more than one benefit from the same pleasure or vacation trip, and undoubtedly many travellers have multiple purposes. 11 There is a mild-to-moderate positive correlation between the benefits indices of family-and-friendship ties and rest-and-relaxation; that is, as the importance of family-and-friends increases, so does the importance of R&R. There is also a positive link between family and friendship ties and learning-and-discovery, but no association between discovery and R&R (Chart 2). 

Chart 2 There is a mild-to-moderate positive correlation between family-and-friendship ties and other travel benefits

We will follow up on these correlations and discuss family-and-friends and R&R together as a pair of travel benefits. We will then examine adults who describe learning-and-discovery as a key benefit of their vacation or pleasure travel plans.

What you should know about this study

Data in this study were drawn from the 2006 Travel Activities and Motivation Survey (TAMS). TAMS was conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of the Canadian Tourism Commission, three federal agencies and nine provincial and territorial agencies and departments responsible for tourism. Travellers were defined as persons answering that they had taken an out-of-town trip of one or more nights in the two-year period preceding the survey.

This article is based on a sample of about 15,500 respondents to TAMS representing over 11.3 million Canadian travellers aged 25 and over. This study population comprises travellers who live in a family with children under 18, live with a spouse or partner only, or live alone. Travellers are restricted to adults aged 25 and over since they are more likely than younger adults to be making the key decisions about pleasure travel such as where to go and what to spend. About 3,000 respondents, representing just over 3.6 million travellers, who were living with children aged 18 and over, or with anyone outside the immediate nuclear family (e.g. grandparents, in-laws, or other relatives) are also excluded because it is impossible to reasonably assume that these family members travel together, making the effect of family structure on travel motivations and behaviour difficult to interpret.

Definitions Travellers: persons aged 25 and older who had taken an out-of-town vacation or pleasure trip of one or more nights in the past two years. Family structure: the study population comprises travellers living in four basic family types. Living with a spouse/partner and child (or children) under age 18 living at home. Also referred to as husband-wife family with children.   Living with a child (or children) under age 18 living at home. Also referred to as a lone-parent family.   Living in a couple, living with a spouse or partner only.   Living alone . Referred to as solo. Preliminary analysis showed that age is a primary factor dictating the likelihood of travelling for pleasure, so we separated the solo and couple family types into two age groups—25 to 54 years, and 55 years and older. Travellers with children are not sub-divided by age because over 97% of them were between 25 and 54 years old.

Travel benefits Respondents were asked about 15 specific benefits of travel, which they were asked to rate as 0 “of no importance,” 1 “somewhat important” or 2 “highly important.” Following the procedure established in the travel literature, 1 , 2 , 3 we conducted a factor analysis to identify those specific benefits that were most closely related and could be grouped together into general themes. Based on the results, we were able to collapse 11 of the 15 questions into the three travel benefits indices described below: 4 Rest-and-relaxation (R&R) : get a break from your day-to-day environment; relax and relieve stress; have a life with no fixed schedule (to do what I want, when I want). Family-and-friendship ties (Family-and-friends) : to keep family ties alive; to enrich your relationships with your spouse, partner and/or children; to create lasting memories; to renew personal connections with people other than family. Learning-and-discovery (Discovery) : to see or do something new and different; to gain knowledge of history, other cultures or other places; to enrich your perspective on life; to stimulate your mind or be intellectually challenged.

The model We used linear regression models with the benefit index as the dependent variable. Coefficients were estimated through a weighted regression that used the TAMS survey weights, with variance estimation done through survey bootstrapping. Coefficients are unstandardized; statistical significance was calculated at p < 0.01 (99% confidence). Variables in the models include travellers’ socio-demographic and economic characteristics, as well as a set of destination determinants. See Table 1 for a complete list of variables in the models.

For readers wanting a practical application of the model results, the coefficients may be interpreted in an additive fashion as shown in the following example. Begin with the base score for the travel index and then add the required variables. Thus, we can add up: base score for family-and-friends index (3.36) for a woman (0.19) with spouse and children under 18 (1.05) and household income of $60,000 to $99,999 (-0.03) having high school education (0.00) and a full-time paid job (-0.11), who also scores over 6.0 on the rest-and-relaxation index (0.61) and also rates as highly important destination attributes that there are lots of activities for the kids (0.62), the language and/or culture is familiar (0.16) and it feels safe (0.30). Total score on the family-and-friends travel benefits index for this hypothetical individual is 6.15.

Data limitations Due to the way the data were collected by TAMS, we cannot identify the duration of pleasure trips taken; for instance, we cannot distinguish a three-week trip to Europe from an overnight camping trip. Also, although we know where respondents travelled for pleasure during the two-year survey period, we cannot identify the destination of any one particular trip. These limitations mean that we cannot match travel benefits to specific destinations or to different types of trips, and therefore cannot determine, for example, whether R&R trips tend to be longer vacations taken abroad and trips to nurture family and friendship ties are shorter visits made mainly in Canada.

• Gitelson, R. J., and Kerstetter, D. L. (1990). The relationship between sociodemographic variables, benefits sought and subsequent vacation behavior: A case study. Journal of Travel Research, 28 (3), 24-29.
• Heung, V. C. S., Qu, H., and Chu, R. (2001). The relationship between vacation factors and socio-demographic and traveling characteristics: the case of Japanese leisure travellers. Tourism Management, 22 (3), 259-269.
• Moscardo, G., Morrison, A. M., Pearce, P.L., Lang, C-T., and O’Leary, J. T. (1996). Understanding vacation destination choice through travel motivation and activities. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 2 (2), 109-122.
• The four questions that did not fit into any benefits category were: to seek solitude or isolation; to have stories to share/something interesting to talk about; to be physically challenged/physically energized; to be pampered.

Family-and-friends and rest-and-relaxation: For some it’s a pair, for others it’s a trade-off

Canadian travellers aged 25 and over consider rest-and-relaxation to be an important benefit of taking a vacation or pleasure trip. Maintaining and strengthening family and friendship ties is also reported to be an important benefit of taking a pleasure trip.

Nevertheless, the benefits of having some unstructured time for rest and relaxation are more valuable to some travellers than others; exactly the same may be said of the benefits of nurturing family and social networks. On a basic level, we would expect people’s preferences—expressed as scores on each benefit index—to be influenced by their socio-demographic characteristics such as age, family structure and education. 12 , 13 , 14  

Family structure provides the clearest example of the different choices made by travellers with different backgrounds. Simply put, when travellers with children at home go on a vacation or pleasure trip, they want both more bonding with family and friends and more rest and relaxation than other travellers. They have a score of 5.6 on the family-and-friendship index, and a score of 6.6 to 6.7 on the rest-and-relaxation index (depending on marital status). In contrast, travellers who live alone place much less value on the travel benefits of family-and-friends, while travellers who are in their mid-50s or older are less motivated by R&R (Chart 3, Table A.1).

Chart 3 Travellers in different family types report wanting a different mix of preferred travel benefits

Table A.1 Average values for travel benefits indices, by selected characteristics

When women go on a pleasure trip, they reported wanting more in terms of family-and-friendship ties than men (5.3 compared to 5.0) although they also reported that they expect just as much in the way of rest-and-relaxation.

Travellers who work full time have a significantly higher-than-average score on the benefits index for R&R (6.5), while their interest in nurturing family-and-friendship ties on holiday is about average (5.1). Part-time workers have average scores for both the R&R and family-and-friends indices (6.2 and 5.3, respectively). Meanwhile, travellers who are not employed (e.g. homemakers, students) rank the travel benefits of family-and-friends higher than travellers in the paid workforce (Chart 4, Table A.1).

Chart 4 Travellers who work full-time prefer the travel benefits of R&R, those outside the workforce place higher value on family-and-friends

Children influence family-and-friends and work status affects R&R

Clearly, a traveller’s demographic and socio-economic characteristics overlap: for example, does a young mother have a higher score on the family ties index because she is a woman or because she has children. And is it her family or her work status that makes her value the R&R aspects of a vacation or a week-end away from home. In order to isolate individual factors from the overlapping effects of other variables, we ran multiple regression models. This allows us to estimate the influence of different characteristics on the benefits scores of Canadian travellers. (See “ What you should know about this study ” for more information about the models.)

Results of the models show that family structure has the most important impact on family-and-friendship scores, even when the influence of other variables is controlled for. Compared with solo travellers, travellers with children score about 1.0 point higher on the index, and travellers in couples about 0.8 points higher, regardless of their age (Table 1, Model 1).

Table 1 Family structure has the most important effect on scores for travel benefits of family-and-friendship ties, even after controlling for other factors

Travellers with children also consider the benefits of rest-and-relaxation to be more important than older travellers do, after taking account of other factors in the model. This result confirms the findings of previous studies, which have identified lower interest in R&R among older travellers, partly because they are more likely to seek out discovery benefits while on a vacation or pleasure trip. 15 , 16

The clearest preference for rest-and-relaxation is shown by travellers who have paid employment. Compared to retirees, travellers who work full time score 1.0 point higher on the R&R index, and part-time workers score almost as high (Table 1, Model 2). Non-retirees outside the workforce, such as homemakers and students, who do not work for pay but nevertheless have daily obligations, also had significantly higher scores on the R&R index than retirees, even when other variables like sex, age and family structure are taken into account. In contrast, work status has no influence on the scores for family-and-friendship ties.

Since the travel benefits of family-and-friends and R&R are moderately correlated, each benefit still has a significant influence on the scores of the other, even when other factors are controlled for. Travellers who describe rest-and-relaxation as a “highly important” travel benefit score 0.6 points higher on the family-and-friends index.  Similarly, reporting that nurturing family and friendship ties is “highly important” also increases a traveller’s R&R score by almost 0.6 points, compared with those who do not consider it to be so important.

Women continue to express a greater interest than men in the travel benefits of family-and-friends, even after controlling for other factors such as family structure and work status. Since women generally consider it their role to build and hold together the family’s social networks, 17 they might be expected to rank these elements of a vacation or pleasure trip higher than men.

Level of education has a significant effect on attitudes to R&R, but not on family ties.  Travellers with a university degree score almost 0.3 points lower on the R&R index than travellers with high school or some postsecondary, even when other factors like age and income are taken into account.

Finally, the models show that household income has no effect on either R&R or family-and-friends as an explicit benefit of travel for pleasure. This result is unexpected, given the findings of previous studies. 18 , 19 Most probably, our result is an artifact of the TAMS definition of travel (an out-of-town trip for at least one night), which included most survey respondents at almost all income levels. Income may very well be a significant factor for pleasure travel of longer duration or greater distance, which we cannot identify (see “ What you should know about this study ” for data limitations).

The benefits people want dictate the qualities they look for in a destination

The benefits people seek from a vacation or pleasure trip are driven by more than their socio-demographic characteristics. Because pleasure travel entails going out-of-town, travellers choose a destination that they expect to provide the benefits they seek. 20 , 21 , 22  For instance, if R&R is the primary benefit sought, we might expect travellers to go to a place that is “comfortable” so they won’t be required to deal with the unfamiliar.

Travellers who rank higher than average on the rest-and-relaxation benefits index want to go where there will be lots of fun activities for the children. They also prefer to choose a place where they feel safe and they know the language or culture (Chart 5, Table A.1 ).

Chart 5 Travellers scoring high on both family and R&R benefits look for a destination where the children have lots to do

To travellers who score above average on the family-and-friends index, entertaining the kids is also of primary importance. Not surprisingly, friends or family live at their preferred destination.

When we examine the effect of each destination determinant on both travel indices, we can identify three determinants that have a positive effect on scores, even when other factors are taken into account. Travellers score 0.3 points higher on both indices if they report that safety is highly important to them when choosing a destination. Similarly, both scores are somewhat higher for travellers who say that activities for adults are highly important and for those who do not want to worry about health issues ( Table 1 , Models 1 and 2,).

Travellers score 0.8 points higher on the family-and-friendship index when it is highly important that friends or family members are living at their chosen destination. This determinant has the opposite effect on the R&R index, where a traveller’s score drops by 0.5 points. And while an affordable travel package can raise scores by 0.3 points on the R&R index, it has no effect at all on the family-and-friends index, once all other factors are controlled for.

Learning-and-discovery: It’s all about adventure

About 28% of adult Canadian travellers report that learning and discovery is a highly important benefit of their pleasure travel: they want to see or do new things, learn about other cultures and places, and be intellectually challenged ( Chart 1 ). Statistically, there is a somewhat moderate positive correlation between the benefits indices for learning-and-discovery and family-and-friends ( Chart 2 ). But in many respects, travellers who place a high premium on discovery are the inverse of those who strongly value family and friendship ties.

Higher-than-average scores on the discovery index are posted by university-educated travellers and by solo travellers who live alone; in contrast, those with less education and travellers with children score significantly below average. Somewhat unexpectedly, scores do not differ across income groups or across work status (Chart 6, Table A.1 ).

Chart 6 Travellers who rank learning-and-discovery as very important travel benefits simultaneously score low on family-and-friends index

After controlling for the effects of other variables, travellers with a university degree are still bigger fans of discovery benefits than those with high school or some postsecondary, scoring more than 0.7 points higher on the index. It is possible that travellers with higher education developed the habit of inquiry at university and remain “lifelong learners”; it is also possible that social norms require the highly-educated to travel to “expand their horizons,” and that people tend to conform to that expectation 23 ( Table 1 , Model 3).

Family structure remains an important factor, since without children’s needs to consider, travellers can focus on the benefits they prefer. When all other variables including education are taken into account, travellers living alone or in a couple have significantly higher discovery scores than travellers living with children ( Table 1 ).

The influence of destination on benefits scores, though, is greater than the traveller’s socio-demographic characteristics alone. Far and away the most important factor is the desire for novelty. Travellers who are explicitly looking for something new and different score over 1.3 points higher than those who are not. And those who want lots of adult activities also have significantly higher scores on the discovery index, once all other variables in the model are controlled for.  

As expected, travellers do not post high marks on the discovery index if they are looking for an experience within their “comfort zone,” for example, to feel safe, to know the language or culture at their destination, or to have friends or family living there. Nevertheless, travellers score almost 0.7 points higher if they rank nurturing family and friendship ties as a “highly important” travel benefit. This finding may reflect the probability that these travellers share their adventure with a spouse or a friend.  

People take a vacation or pleasure trip in the expectation of deriving certain benefits from their experience. Getting away from their daily routine is a highly important benefit for almost two-thirds of adult travellers, while almost half say that maintaining social and family ties is of primary importance to them. Discovering something new about the world or themselves is a key objective for just over one-quarter of Canadian adults who go on a vacation or pleasure trip.

There is a moderate positive correlation between the travel benefits of rest-and-relaxation and those of family-and-friendship ties; that is, people seeking to escape their everyday routines are also likely to be looking for ways to strengthen their social relationships. In this pair of benefits, though, R&R always has priority.

Travellers who score above average on these two indices share some common characteristics. They are generally under 55 and often have children at home. They prefer destinations that are comfortable for them, perhaps even predictable: a place where they feel safe, with lots of things to do and see for children and for adults. Travellers with high rest-and-relaxation scores are also looking for a destination that offers an affordable travel package; travellers with high scores on the family-and-friends index want a destination that presents no health concerns. Some choose a destination where people they know live nearby.

There is also a positive correlation between the learning-and-discovery and family-and-friends indices. However, travellers who highly value the discovery benefits of travel can be quite different than others. Travellers who actively seek new experiences or challenges when they take a vacation or pleasure trip generally do not have children under 18 at home, and are more likely to have a university degree. They report wanting to see a place that is special, probably somewhere they have never been before, and where they can participate in more adult-oriented activities.

Finally, once other factors like family structure and destination attributes are taken into account, work status is significant only for travellers looking for rest-and-relaxation, and education plays a role only among travellers who want intellectual discovery. The results of the regression models show that household income has no effect on any of the benefits scores, but this finding should be interpreted with caution.

Susan Crompton and Leslie-Anne Keown are senior analysts with Canadian Social Trends.

• Heung, V. C. S., Qu, H., and Chu, R. (2001). The relationship between vacation factors and socio-demographic and traveling characteristics: the case of Japanese leisure travellers. Tourism Management , 22 (3), 259-269.
• About 79% of Canadians aged 25 and over—more than 18.4 million—spent at least one night out-of-town on a pleasure or vacation trip between 2004 and 2006. Statistics Canada, 2006. Travel and Activity Motivation Survey (TAMS), custom tabulation.
• In the third quarter of 2008, Canadians spent $15.1 billion on tourism within Canada; in the year 2007, they spent $26.7 billion in other countries. Statistics Canada. (2009). National Tourism Indicators, Quarterly Estimates , Third quarter 2008. Catalogue no. 13-009-XWE. Ottawa: Minister of Industry; and  Statistics Canada (2008). International Travel – 2007. Catalogue no. 66-201-X. Ottawa: Minister of Industry.
• Estimated revenues for all three levels of government were estimated to reach more than $19.7 billion in 2007, mostly from sales taxes on products and services and from income taxes on employment and business taxes. Statistics Canada. (2008). Government revenue attributable to tourism. The Daily , November 12, 2008.
• Statistics Canada. (2009).
• The primary target for cost-cutting was spending on restaurants and fast food. Wells, J. (2009, January 2). The Canadian consumer: Handle with care. The Globe and Mail , p. A1.
• Harris, M. (2008, December 17). Tight money means more ‘staycations.’ The Ottawa Citizen , p. D1.
• Sarigöllü, E., and Huang, R. (2005). Benefits segmentation of visitors to Latin America. Journal of Travel Research , 43 (3), 277-293.
• Loker, L. E., and Perdue, R. R. (1992). A Benefit-based segmentation of a non-resident summer travel market. Journal of Travel Research , 31 (1), 30-35.
• Gitelson, R. J., and Kerstetter, D. L. (1990). The relationship between sociodemographic variables, benefits sought and subsequent vacation behavior: A case study. Journal of Travel Research , 28 (3), 24-29
• Gitelson and Kerstetter. (1990).
• Heung, Qu, and Chu. (2001).
• Moscardo, G., Morrison, A. M., Pearce, P. L., Lang, C-T., and O’Leary, J. T. (1996). Understanding vacation destination choice through travel motivation and activities. Journal of Vacation Marketing , 2 (2), 109-122.
• Moscardo, Morrison, Pearce, Lang, and O’Leary (1996).
• Gitelson and Kerstetter (1990).
• Maushart, S. (2001). Wifework: What marriage really means for women . London: Bloomsbury.
• Shoemaker, S. (1994). Segmenting the U.S. travel market according to benefits realized. Journal of Travel Research , 32 (3), 8-21.
• Heung, Qu, and Chu (2001).
• Pitts, R. E., and Woodside, A. G. (1986). Personal values and travel decisions. Journal of Travel Research , 25 (1), 20-25.

Tourism is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries and a major foreign exchange and employment generation for many countries. It is one of the most remarkable economic and social phenomena.

The word ‘tour’ is derived from the Latin word tornus, meaning ‘a tool for making a circle.’ Tourism may be defined as the movement of people from their usual place of residence to another place ( with the intention to return) for a minimum period of twenty-four hours to a maximum of six months for the sole purpose of leisure and pleasure.

According to WTO (1993), ” Tourism encompasses the activities of persons traveling and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes.”

The Rome conference on tourism in 1963 defined tourism as ‘ a visit to a country other than one’s own or where one usually resides and works. This definition, however, did not take into account domestic tourism, which has become a vital money-spinner and job generator for the hospitality industry.

The UNWTO defines tourists as ‘ people who travel to and stay in place outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.

According to the Tourism Society of Britain ,” tourism is the temporary short-period movement of people to destination outside the places where they usually live, work; and activities during their stay at these destinations.” This definition includes the movement of people for all purposes.

The development of technology and transportation infrastructure, such as jumbos jets, low-cost airlines, and more accessible airports, have made tourism affordable and convenient. There have been changes in lifestyle – for example, now retiree-age people sustain tourism around the year. The sale of tourism products on the internet, besides the aggressive marketing of the tour operators and travel agencies , has also contributed to the growth of tourism.

27 September is celebrated as world tourism every year. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of UNWTO were adopted. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the role of tourism within the international community.

History of Travel and Tourism

Travel is as old as mankind on earth. At the beginning of his existence, man roamed about the planet’s surface in search of food, shelter, security, and better habitat. However, with time, such movements were transformed into wanderlust.

About five thousand years ago, climate changes, dwindling food and shelter conditions hostile invaders made the people leave their homes to seek refuge elsewhere like the Aryans left their homes in Central Asia due to climate changes. Perhaps, this leads to the development of commerce, trade, and industry.

Religion, education, and cultural movement began during the Hindu and Chinese civilizations. Christian missionaries, Buddhist monks, and others traveled far and wide carrying religious messages and returned with fantastic images and opinions about alien people.

For centuries movement of people continued to grow due to the efficiency of transport and the assistance and safety with which the people could travel. By the end of the 15th century, Italy had become Europe’s intellectual and cultural center. It represented the classical heritage both for the intelligentsia and the aristocracy.

During the 16th century, travel came to be considered an essential part of the education of every young Englishman. Travel thus became a means of self-development and education in its broadest sense. The educational travel was known as the ‘ Grand Tour .’

The industrial revolution brought about significant changes in the pattern and structure of British society. Thus, the economy of Britain was greatly responsible for the beginning of modern tourism. It also created a large and prosperous middle class. Because of remarkable improvement in transportation systems in the latter half of the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th century, an increasing number of people began to travel for pleasure.

Travel was inspired initially by the need for survival (food, shelter, and security), the desire to expand trade, and the quest to conquer. As the transportation system improved, the curiosity for transforming the vast and virgin world into a close neighborhood created a new industry, i.e., Travel and Tourism .

However, the developments of rails, roads, steamships, automobiles, and airplanes helped to spread technology across the globe. Earlier travel was a privilege only for wealthy people, but with the industrial revolution, the scenario altogether changed. Transportation, as well as accommodation, became affordable to middle and working-class citizens.

Essentially, with the development of jet travel, communication, new technology, tourism, and travel became the world’s largest and fastest-growing industry.

Travel and tourism have recently emerged as a dominant economic force on the global scene, accounting for more than 12% of total world trade and growing at 8 percent annually.

Types of Tourism

Tourism has two types and many forms based on the purpose of visit and alternative forms of tourism. Tourism can be categorized as international and domestic tourism .

Tourism has two types and various forms. Based on the movement of people, tourism is categorized into two kinds. These are the following:

International Tourism

When people visit a foreign country, it is referred to as International Tourism . To travel to a foreign country, one needs a valid passport, visa, health documents, foreign exchange, etc.

International tourism is divided into two types; Inbound Tourism & Outbound Tourism.

Inbound Tourism

This refers to tourists of outside origin entering a particular country. Traveling outside their host/native country to another country is called inbound tourism for the country where they are traveling. For example, when a tourist of Indian origin travels to Japan, it is  Inbound tourism for Japan because foreign tourists come to Japan.

Outbound Tourism

This refers to tourists traveling from the country of their origin to another country. When tourists travel to a foreign region, it is outbound tourism for their own country because they are going outside their country. For example, when a tourist from India travels to Japan, it is outbound tourism for India and Inbound tourism for Japan.

Domestic Tourism

The tourism activity of the people within their own country is known as domestic tourism . Traveling within the same country is easier because it does not require formal travel documents and tedious formalities like compulsory health checks and foreign exchange. A traveler generally does not face many language problems or currency exchange issues in domestic tourism.

Forms of Tourism

Tourism has various forms based on the purpose of the visit and alternative forms. These are further divided into many types according to their nature. Forms of tourism are the following:

Some most basic forms of tourism are the following:

• Adventure Tourism
• Atomic Tourism
• Bicycle Tours
• Beach Tourism
• Cultural Tourism
• Industrial Tourism
• Medical Tourism
• Religious Tourism
• Rural Tourism
• Sex Tourism
• Space Tourism
• Sports Tourism
• Sustainable Tourism
• Virtual Tourism
• War Tourism
• Wildlife Tourism

Classification of Tourism

Tourism can be classified into six distinct categories according to the purpose of travel. These are the following:

1) Recreational : Recreational or leisure tourism takes a person away from the humdrum of everyday life. In this case, people spend their leisure time in the hills, sea beaches, etc.

2) Cultural tourism satisfies cultural and intellectual curiosity and involves visits to ancient monuments, places of historical or religious importance, etc.

3) Sports/Adventure : Trips taken by people with a view to playing golf, skiing and hiking, fall within this category.

4) Health : Under this category, people travel for medical, treatment or visit places where there are curative possibilities, for example, hot springs, spa yoga, etc.

5) Convention Tourism : It is becoming an increasingly important component of travel. People travel within a country or overseas to attend conventions relating to their business, profession, or interest.

6) Incentive Tourism : Holiday trips are offered as incentives by major companies to dealers and salesmen who achieve high targets in sales. This is a new and expanding phenomenon in tourism, These are in lieu of cash incentives or gifts, Today incentive tourism is a 3 billion dollar business in the USA alone.

Nature of Tourism

Tourism as a socio-economic phenomenon comprises the activities and experiences of tourists and visitors away from their home environment and are serviced by the travel and tourism industry and host destination. The sum total of this activity experience and services can be seen as a tourism product.

The tourism system can be described in terms of supply and demand. Tourism planning should strive for a balance between demands and supply. This requires an understanding not only of market characteristics and trends but also of the planning process to meet the market needs.

Often tourists from core generating markets are identified as the demand side; the supply side includes all facilities, programs, attractions, and land uses designed and managed for the visitors. These supply-side factors may be under the control of private enterprises, non-profit organizations, and the government. New and innovative forms of partnerships are also evolving to ensure the sustainable development and management of tourism-related resources.

The supply and demand side can be seen to be linked by flows of resources such as capital, labor, goods, and tourist expenditures into the destination, and flows of marketing, promotion, tourist artifacts, and experiences from the destination back into the tourist generating region.

In addition, some tourist expenditures may leak back into the visitors generating areas through repatriation of profits of foreign tourism investors and payment for improved goods and services provided to tourists at the destination. Transportation provides an important linkage both to and from the destination.

For planning purposes, the major components that comprise the supply side are:

• Various modes of transportation and other tourism-related infrastructure.
• Tourist information.
• Marketing and promotion.
• The community of communities within the visitor’s destination area.
• The political and institutional frameworks for enabling tourism.

The tourism system is both dynamic and complex due to many factors linked to it and because of the existence of many sectors contributing to its success. These factors and sectors are linked to the provision of the tourist experience and the generation of tourism revenue and markets.

The dynamic nature of the tourism system makes it imperative to scan the external and internal environment of the destinations on a regular basis so as to make changes when necessary to ensure a healthy and viable tourism industry.

Thus, it is now an accepted fact that tourism development can no longer work in isolation of the environment and the local communities, nor can it ignore the social and cultural consequences of tourism.

Importance of Tourism

Tourism and hospitality , which are inextricably linked to each other, are among the major revenue-earning enterprises in the world. They happen to be among the top employers too. There has been an upmarket trend in tourism over the last few decades as travel has become quite common. People travel for business, vacation, pleasure, adventure, or even medical treatments.

Tourism constitutes an important industry today. It has opened up new vistas for the play of economic emancipation. It provides a very potent contribution by strengthening and developing the financial resources of a country. Moreover, it is a process in which mutual material and mental benefits occur. Furthermore,

• Tourism fetches foreign exchange in the form of invisible exports, which results in the manifold progress of the nation.
• Tourism generates jobs. These employments are the main contribution of tourism to generating national income. But one should remember that employment in the tourism industry is often seasonal.
• Tourism often leads to the commercialization of art forms and especially handicrafts. Art items with cultural or religious meaning are sought by tourists as souvenirs. As more and more tourists visit a destination, souvenir production has increased, often leading to mass production. This production also generates income.

With several business-related activities associated with tourism, the industry has a tremendous potential to generate employment as well as earn foreign exchange. Many countries, such as Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, and the Caribbean, whose economies are primarily driven by tourism. Tourism can contribute to the economic growth of a country in the followings ways:

Employment Generation

It creates a large number of jobs among direct services providers (such as hotels , restaurants, travel agencies , tour operators , guide and tour escorts, etc.) and among indirect services providers (such as suppliers to the hotels and restaurants, supplementary accommodation, etc.)

Infrastructure Development

Tourism spurs infrastructure development. In order to become an important commercial or pleasure destination, any location would require all the necessary infrastructure, like good connectivity via rail, road, and air transport, adequate accommodation, restaurants, a well-developed telecommunication network, and, medical facilities, among others.

Foreign Exchange

The people who travel to other countries spend a large amount of money on accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, etc. Thus, an inbound tourist is an important source of foreign exchange for any country.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) predict in 1997 that the twenty-first-century economy would be dominated by three industries: telecommunications, information technology, and tourism. The travel and tourism industry has grown by 500 percent in the last 25 years.

Now withstanding this bright outlook and prospects, the tourism and hospitality industries are very vulnerable to the fluctuations of national economies and happenings in the world, especially terrorist attacks that have at times dealt severe blows to business.

In recent years, there have been a few setbacks in tourism, such as the terrorist siege of the Taj and Oberoi in Mumbai, India (26 November 2008); the attack on the World Trade Centre in the United States of America (11 September 2001); bombing in a hotel on the Indonesian island of Bali (12 October 2002); tsunami in Southeast Asia and South Asia on 26 December 2004, in which thousands of the lives where lost and consequently tourism was hit. Nonetheless, the sector is now getting back to business.

Impacts of Tourism

Tourism is a multi-dimensional activity. The scope of tourism activities is so wide and varied that it cannot be restricted to any particular field of activity. Tourism has ramifications in almost all sectors and is influenced by the performance of each of these sectors directly or indirectly. Tourism in any country can be an apt reflection of the nation’s economic and social endowment apart from its natural wealth.

Tourism has vast potential to bring about changes in the country’s economic, environmental, societal, and cultural edifice. Tourism has two basics: the supply of facilities and the demand for participation. The twin market forces of supply and demand interact to produce tourism patterns. These patterns are associated with economic, social, cultural, environmental, and ecological impacts.

Establishing or developing a tourism industry involves expenditure, gains, costs, and benefits. If these impacts are considered from the outset of planning, strengths and opportunities can be maximized while weaknesses and threats can be minimized.

Each destination will be different in terms of tourism characteristics . The cost and benefits of tourism will vary in each destination and can change over time, depending on tourism and other activities in a destination’s local and regional context.

Economic Impacts

Tourism activities impact the economy of the country as well as the local economy of the destination.

Economics Benefits

• Tourism generates local employment, directly in the tourism sector and in the support and resource management sectors.
• Tourism stimulates profitable domestic industries, hotels and other lodging facilities, restaurants and food services, transportation systems, handicrafts, and guide services.
• Tourism generates foreign exchange for the country and injects capital and new money into the local economy.
• Tourism helps to diversify the local economy.
• Improved tourism infrastructure.
• Increase tax revenues from tourism.

Economic Costs

• Higher demand created by tourism activity may increase the price of land, housing, and a range of commodities necessary for daily life.
• Demands for health services provision and police service increase during the tourist seasons at the expense of the local tax base.

Social Impacts

Tourism also affects the society of the destination in good as well as bad ways. It benefits and costs the local communities.

Social Benefits

• The quality of a community can be enhanced by economic diversification through tourism.
• Recreational and cultural facilities created for tourism can be used by local communities as well as domestic/international visitors.
• Public space may be developed and enhanced through tourism activity.
• Tourism Enhances the local community’s esteem and provides an opportunity for greater understanding and communication among people of diverse backgrounds.

Social Costs

• Rapid tourism growth can result in the inability of local amenities and institutions to meet service demands.
• Without proper planning and management, litter, vandalism, and crime often accompany tourism development.
• Tourism can bring overcrowding and traffic congestion.
• Visitors bring with them material wealth and apparent freedom. The youths of the host community are particularly susceptible to the economic expectations these tourists bring which can result in complete disruption of traditional community ways of life.
• The community structure may change, e.g. community bonds, demographics, and institutions.
• The authenticity of the social and cultural environment can be changed to meet tourism demands.

Cultural Impacts

Tourism activities also affect the culture of the host country. There are many positive and negative cultural impacts of tourism.

Cultural Benefits

• Tourism can enhance local cultural awareness.
• Tourism can generate revenue to help pay for the preservation of archaeological sites, historic buildings, and districts.
• Despite criticism about the alteration of cultures to unacceptable levels, the sharing of cultural knowledge and experience can be beneficial for hosts and guests of tourism destinations and can result in the revival of local traditions and crafts.

Cultural Costs

• Youth in the community begin to emulate the speech and attire of tourists.
• Historic sites can be damaged through tourism development and pressures.
• There can be long-term damage to cultural traditions and the erosion of cultural values, resulting in cultural change beyond a level acceptable to the host destination.

Environmental Impact

Tourism impacts the environment in positive as well as negative ways. These impacts are following below.

Environmental Benefits

• Parks and nature preserves may be created and ecological preservation supported as a necessity for nature-based tourism.
• Improved waste management can be achieved.
• Increased awareness and concern for the environment can result from nature-based tourism activities and development.

Environmental Costs

• A negative change in the physical integrity of the area.
• Rapid development, over-development, and overcrowding can forever change the physical environment and ecosystems of an area.
• Degradation of parks and preserves.

Industries Related To Tourism

Over the years, tourism has become a popular global activity. Depending upon the nature and purpose of their travel, tourists, need and demand certain facilities and services. This has given rise to a wide range of commercial activities that have acquired industry proportions. Thus travel and tourism nowadays represent a broad range of related industries.

Hotels are a commercial establishment that provides accommodation, meals, and other guest services. In the travel and tourism industry, the hotel industry plays a very significant role, as all tourists need a place to stay at their destinations, and require many more services and facilities to suit their specific needs and tastes.

Restaurants

Restaurants are retail establishments that serve prepared food and beverages to customers. In the travel and tourism industry, restaurants and other food and beverage outlets are very important as tourists like to experiment with the local cuisines of the places they are visiting.

Retail and Shopping

The retail industry is very important as tourists shop for their day-to-day necessities as well as look for mementos and souvenirs. In recent years, some cities in the world have been promoted as shopping destinations to attract people with a penchant for shopping by offering various products, such as garments, electronic goods, jewelry, and antiques. New York, Paris, London, and Milan in Italy are famous as fashion havens of the world.

Transportation

It is the movement of people and goods from one place to another. A well-developed transport industry, as well as infrastructure, is integral to the success of any travel and tourism enterprise.

Travel Agencies

A travel agency is a retailing business that sells travel-related products and services, particularly package tours, to customers on the behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise liners, hotels, railways, and sightseeing.

Travel agencies play a very important role as they plan out the itinerary of their clients and make the necessary arrangements for their travel, stay, and sightseeing, besides facilitating their passport, visa, etc.

Tour Operators

A tour operator assembles the various elements of a tour. It typically combines tour and travel components to create a holiday. Tour operators play an important role in the travel and tourism industry.

Tourist Destinations

A tourist attraction is a place of interest for tourists, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, nature or building beauty or amusement opportunities. These are the basic fundamentals of the tourism industry.

Cultural Industries

Cultural or creative industries are responsible for the creation, production, and distribution of goods and services that are cultural in nature and usually protected by intellectual property rights. As tourists like to visit places of cultural significance and soak in the culture of the area, the cultural industry is very important to travel and tourism.

Leisure, Recreation, and Sport

Leisure or free time is a period of time spent out of work and essential domestic activity. Recreation or fun is spending time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of the body or mind. While leisure is more like a form of entertainment or rest, recreation requires active participation in a refreshing and diverting manner.

As people in the world’s wealthier regions lead an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, the need for recreation has increased. These play a significant role in the travel and tourism sector.

Tourism Products

A tourism/tourist product can be defined as the sum of the physical and psychological satisfaction it provides to tourists, during their ‘traveling and sojourn’ en route at the destinations.

Since the travel and tourism industry is an agglomeration of too many sectors that promote travel-related services. These sectors are referred to as travel vendors and their services and goods are called ‘travel products’. A tourism product includes five main components such as physical plant, services, hospitality, freedom of choice, and a sense of involvement.

Thus, whatever the natural and man-made resources and services brought about the consumption of tourists are called tourism products .

Charecterstatics Of Tourism Products

By now, you must have understood what a tourism product is. Now let us look at some of its characteristics:-

1) Intangible : Tourism is an intangible product means tourism is such a kind of product that can not be touched or seen and there is no transfer of ownership, But the facilities are available for a specified time and for a specified use. For e.g. a room in the hotel is available for a specified time.

2) Psychological : The main motive to purchase a tourism products is to satisfy the psychological need after using the product, by getting an experience while interacting with a new environment. And experiences also motivate others to purchase that product.

3) Highly Perishable : Tourism product is highly perishable in nature means one can not store the product for a long time. Production and consumption take place while a tourist is available. If the product remains unused, the chances are lost i.e. if tourists do not purchase it.

A travel agent or tour operator who sells a tourism product cannot store it. Production can only take place if the customer is actually present. And once consumption begins, it cannot be stopped, interrupted, or modified. If the product remains unused, the chances are lost i.e. if tourists do not visit a particular place, the opportunity at that time is lost. It is due to tourism reason that heavy discount is offered by hotels and transport-generating organizations during the offseason.

4) Composite Product : Tourist product is a combination of different products. It has not a single entity in itself. In the experience of a visit to a particular place, various service providers contribute like transportation The tourist product cannot be provided by a single enterprise, unlike a manufactured product.

The tourist product covers the complete experience of a visit to a particular place. And many providers contribute to the tourism experience. For instance, the airline supplies seats, a hotel provides rooms and restaurants, travel agents make bookings for stay and sightseeing, etc.

5) Unstable Demand : Tourism demand is influenced by seasonal, economic political, and other factors. There are certain times of the year that see greater demand than others. At these times there is a greater strain on services like hotel bookings, employment, the transport system, etc.

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to go from one place to another, as by car, train, plane, or ship; take a trip; journey : to travel for pleasure.

to move or go from one place or point to another.

to proceed or advance in any way.

to go from place to place as a representative of a business firm.

to associate or consort: He travels in a wealthy crowd.

Informal . to move with speed.

to pass, or be transmitted, as light or sound.

Basketball . (of a player in possession of the ball) to take more than two steps without dribbling or passing the ball.

to move in a fixed course, as a piece of mechanism.

to travel, journey, or pass through or over, as a country or road.

to journey or traverse (a specified distance): We traveled a hundred miles.

to cause to journey; ship : to travel logs downriver.

the act of traveling; journeying, especially to distant places: to travel to other planets.

journeys ; wanderings : to set out on one's travels.

journeys as the subject of a written account or literary work: a book of travels.

such an account or work.

the coming and going of persons or conveyances along a way of passage; traffic : an increase in travel on state roads.

Basketball . an instance of traveling with the ball.

Machinery .

the complete movement of a moving part, especially a reciprocating part, in one direction, or the distance traversed; stroke.

length of stroke.

movement or passage in general: to reduce the travel of food from kitchen to table.

used or designed for use while traveling: a travel alarm clock.

Origin of travel

Usage note for travel, other words from travel.

• trav·el·a·ble, adjective
• non·trav·el·ing, adjective
• non·trav·el·ling, adjective
• outtravel, verb (used with object), out·trav·eled, out·trav·el·ing or ( especially British ) out·trav·elled, out·trav·el·ling.
• pre·trav·el, noun, verb, pre·trav·eled, pre·trav·el·ing or ( especially British ) pre·trav·elled, pre·trav·el·ling.
• un·trav·el·ing, adjective
• un·trav·el·ling, adjective

Words Nearby travel

• traumatology
• travel agency
• travel agent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use travel in a sentence

López said she could not travel to Mexico because she is undocumented.

Sound waves traveling thousands of kilometers through the ocean may help scientists monitor climate change.

Biden traveled to the state days later, meeting with the Blake family and calling for unity and healing in the community, though he, too, denounced the violence that followed the shooting.

TripActions says it has added nearly 500 new corporate customers since March, a surprising achievement at a time when most employees are still not traveling freely.

The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, which was first identified in China in December, has had sweeping effects in the public health, business, and travel sectors, among others.

You just travel light with carry-on luggage, go to cities that you love, and get to hang out with all your friends.

He did travel to China and Australia while the story was unfolding.

In doing so he exposed the failure of other airlines in the region to see the huge pent-up demand for cheap travel .

“The tribe is really made of people who put travel as a priority in their entire lifestyle,” says Evita.

Brands like Lo & Sons and Delsey are already tapping travel Noire to connect with black travelers.

One thing was certain: Grandfather Mole could travel much faster through the water than he could underground.

The mothers know better than any one else how hard a way the little girl will have to travel through life.

He could lie in bed and string himself tales of travel and adventure while Harry was downstairs.

Under ordinary circumstances these men can travel with their burden from twenty to thirty miles a day.

The rules regulating travel on highways in this country are called, "the law of the road."

British Dictionary definitions for travel

/ ( ˈtræv ə l ) /

to go, move, or journey from one place to another : he travels to improve his mind ; she travelled across France

(tr) to go, move, or journey through or across (an area, region, etc) : he travelled the country

to go, move, or cover a specified or unspecified distance

to go from place to place as a salesman : to travel in textiles

(esp of perishable goods) to withstand a journey

(of light, sound, etc) to be transmitted or move : the sound travelled for miles

to progress or advance

basketball to take an excessive number of steps while holding the ball

(of part of a mechanism) to move in a fixed predetermined path

informal to move rapidly : that car certainly travels

( often foll by with) informal to be in the company (of); associate

the act of travelling

( as modifier ) : a travel brochure Related adjective: itinerant

(usually plural) a tour or journey

the distance moved by a mechanical part, such as the stroke of a piston

movement or passage

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Definition of pleasure – Learner’s Dictionary

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pleasure noun ( HAPPINESS )

• I derive great pleasure from gardening .
• It gives me vicarious pleasure to watch him eat .
• I take great pleasure in cooking .
• Sewing is something I do out of necessity , not for pleasure.
• The pleasure of not having to work soon began to pall .

pleasure noun ( ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE )

Pleasure noun ( not work ).

(Definition of pleasure from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of pleasure

Get a quick, free translation!

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• pleasure (HAPPINESS)
• pleasure (ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE)
• pleasure (NOT WORK)
• It's a pleasure.; My pleasure.
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Fly to travel for pleasure (3)

I believe the answer is:

This could be a double definition. ' fly ' is the first definition. The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand? ' travel for pleasure ' is the second definition. Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other. ' to ' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more ?

(Other definitions for gad that I've seen before include "old Israelite territory" , "country of old" , "biblical tribe" , "wandering about" , "Move about freely" .)

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Definition of travel

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Definition of travel  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrinate
• peregrination

Examples of travel in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'travel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English travailen, travelen to torment, labor, strive, journey, from Anglo-French travailler

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing travel

• travel agency
• travel light
• travel agent
• pre - travel
• travel trailer
• travel sickness
• see / travel the world

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Dictionary Entries Near travel

Cite this entry.

“Travel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/travel. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of travel.

Kids Definition of travel  (Entry 2 of 2)

Middle English travailen "torment, labor, strive, journey," from early French travailler "torment, labor," from an unrecorded Latin verb tripaliare "to torture," from Latin tripalium "an instrument of torture," literally "three stakes," derived from tri- "three" and palus "stake, pale" — related to pale entry 3 , travail

More from Merriam-Webster on travel

Nglish: Translation of travel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of travel for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about travel

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When is the 2024 total solar eclipse? Your guide to glasses, forecast, where to watch.

Editor's note: An early cloud forecast for the April 2024 total solar eclipse is in. Read the latest eclipse forecast and news as of Friday, March 29 .

We're less than two weeks away from the astronomical event of the decade: A total eclipse of the sun , which will grace the nation's skies from Texas to Maine on the afternoon of Monday, April 8 .

Millions of people are expected to travel to see the spectacle, which will also attract scientists from across the country to study its unique effects on the Earth and its atmosphere . (Meanwhile, brands such as Burger King, Pizza Hut, Applebee's and Sonic are getting in on the eclipse excitement too.)

The full total solar eclipse experience will plunge people along a narrow path into darkness midday, but people outside the path of totality can still use eclipse glasses to see the moon pass in front of the sun. It's an awesome and confusing sight on the ground and in the sky.

It should go without saying: Don't drive while wearing eclipse glasses

One task to do now is to get yourself a pair of special eclipse glasses (and luckily there's still time to score a free pair of eclipse glasses ). They're important eyewear during an eclipse because they will block out the sun's harmful rays, which could damage your eyes when you're looking at the sun — even if it's partially blocked.

Solar eclipse glasses are still readily available from plenty of vendors across the internet as of Thursday, March 28. But be wary of counterfeit or fake glasses , experts warned.

The other big factor everyone's anxiously awaiting is the weather forecast, which most experts say is still a bit far away for a specific forecast, though that hasn't stopped some meteorologists from issuing them already. But more detailed, realistic forecasts will start to roll in over the next few days.

Of particular interest will be the cloud forecast , as a deck of thick, low clouds would likely ruin the entire event. But if the clouds are higher up in the atmosphere, such as thin, wispy cirrus , they'd act to diffuse but not ruin the eclipse.

USA TODAY 10Best: 10 solar eclipse fun facts to share with your friends

There's plenty to know before the big day, which won't happen again for about two decades . Read on for answers for all your eclipse questions, including how to watch the eclipse , understand the eclipse and use eclipse glasses to stay safe .

WATCHING THE APRIL 2024 ECLIPSE

How do i watch the 2024 solar eclipse.

There are a few ways of watching the eclipse:

• Get the full experience in person : If you're in a narrow band of U.S. land that spans from Texas to Maine, you will see the moon block the sun and its shadow cast a night-like darkness over Earth for a few minutes. You'll briefly be able to look up without eye protection and see the moon block the sun.
• Watch from outside the path of totality : Much of the U.S. will get a partial view of the eclipse that isn't nearly as impressive as being in the path of totality. Earth won't be plunged into complete darkness and you'll have to wear protective eyewear to see the moon partially block the sun.
• Watch a livestream : Check back on April 8 for a video feed from the path of totality. It's not the same as being there in person, but hey, at least you won't have to sit in traffic .

Totality explained: The real April 2024 total solar eclipse happens inside the path of totality

What time is the solar eclipse on April 8?

The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT, but the exact time of the eclipse varies by where you are in its path.

You can search by zip code to find the exact time for your location.

Where will the April eclipse be visible?

All of the lower 48 U.S. states will see the moon at least clip the sun, but that sight is a trifle compared to being in the path of totality.

Because the narrow path includes or is near some of the nation's largest cities, expect millions of people to crowd into a band of land a little over 100 miles wide that spans from the Texas/Mexico border to the Maine/Canada border.

Here are the major cities in each state where you can expect to experience totality (note that the included times do not account for when the partial eclipse begins and ends):

• Dallas, Texas: 1:40-1:44 p.m. CDT
• Idabel, Oklahoma: 1:45-1:49 p.m. CDT
• Little Rock, Arkansas: 1:51-1:54 p.m. CDT
• Poplar Bluff, Missouri: 1:56-2:00 p.m. CDT
• Paducah, Kentucky: 2-2:02 p.m. CDT
• Carbondale, Illinois: 1:59-2:03 p.m. CDT
• Evansville, Indiana: 2:02-2:05 p.m. CDT
• Cleveland, Ohio: 3:13-3:17 p.m. EDT
• Erie, Pennsylvania: 3:16-3:20 p.m. EDT
• Buffalo, New York: 3:18-3:22 p.m. EDT
• Burlington, Vermont: 3:26-3:29 p.m. EDT
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27-3:30 p.m. EDT
• Caribou, Maine: 3:32-3:34 p.m. EDT

Will clouds block the April 2024 eclipse?

It's too soon to say for sure, but history offers some clues.

Chances of cloudy skies are pretty high along much of the eclipse's northern path, and some areas such as Buffalo have about a 1-in-3 chance of clear skies in early April.

Skies are usually more clear to the south. Right along the Texas/Mexico border, chances of a clear sky can be nearly 75%.

Keep in mind that clouds don't always ruin an eclipse . High, wispy clouds won't spoil the show in the same way that low thick clouds would. In that case, you wouldn't be able to see the moon pass in front of the sun, but you would still notice a sudden darkness in the path of totality.

What dangers are associated with the eclipse?

The  eclipse , as exciting and fun as it promises to be, comes with a growing number of safety warnings — both for what will happen in the sky and what will happen on the ground.

In addition to the dangers of looking at the eclipse without proper eyewear, we've heard warnings about potentially dangerous  fake eclipse glasses , the possibility for increased  car  c rashes  around the time of the eclipse — and possible  air travel headaches  due to delayed or cancelled flights.

Where is the best place to watch the eclipse?

Texas is considered the best state for eclipse viewing . There's a good chance the skies will be clear and its location along the southern path of the eclipse means totality will last a little longer.

A few lucky travelers will also have a front-row seat with unobstructed views — from a plane .

Will traffic be bad?

Most likely, yes — especially after the eclipse ends . Millions of people will crowd into the narrow path of totality, then many will attempt to leave all at once as soon as the eclipse is over.

When a total solar eclipse passed over the U.S. in 2017, reports say some traffic jams didn't fully clear for more than 12 hours. Even worse, a recent study reported that the 2017 eclipse "was associated with increased risks of a fatal traffic crash" – potentially as much as a 31% increase, the study said .

Also worth noting: The eclipse is expected to have impacts for air travel as well.

Why are schools closing for the eclipse?

Primarily out of a concern for students' safety, schools across the country have given students  the day of the eclipse, April 8,  as a day off, a half day or a chance for e-learning. In Tennessee, for example, officials also say it gives students a chance  to experience the eclipse with their family and friends .

UNDERSTANDING THE 2024 ECLIPSE

What is a solar eclipse definition explained..

A total solar eclipse happens when three celestial spheres — the sun, moon and Earth — line up in a specific way in space.

According to NASA, a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. That alignment casts a moving shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun's light in some areas. This leads to a period of partial or full darkness on a narrow stretch of Earth. 

The path is so narrow because of the huge distance and size of the sun — as well as the moon's distance from Earth. That focuses the moon's shadow on an area of land much smaller than the moon itself. The movement of the shadow across the land happens as the Earth's rotation interacts with the orbit of the moon.

A total eclipse only happens occasionally because the moon doesn't orbit in the exact same plane as the sun and Earth do. In addition, a solar eclipse can only happen during a new moon.

What's special about a total solar eclipse?

The total solar eclipse on April 8  is causing such a stir because the rare event is an astronomical experience like no other that will be unusually accessible to millions of people.

April's total solar eclipse will fall over more places in the U.S. than the total eclipse before and after it. And the broad length of the path of totality – where Americans have the best shot of getting a clear view – is "much wider"  than it was for the eclipse in 2017 , according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

A total solar eclipse is also far more impressive  than a lunar or an annular solar eclipse. During an annular eclipse, the moon covers the Sun but leaves an outside ring some call a "ring of fire" — it darkens the sky instead of plunging Earth into a night-like darkness, which is what happens during a total solar eclipse. And a lunar eclipse – the appearance of a red moon – happens when the moon passes into the Earth's shadow, according to NASA.

Total solar eclipses can have spiritual significance, too . Ancient cultures viewed as a sign of the gods' anger or impending departure. Some religions today are hosting eclipse viewings and services.

Historically, eclipses have left major marks on religious and spiritual civilizations. In Christianity, an eclipse has been associated with the darkness that accompanied Jesus' crucifixion and in Islam, the passing of the Prophet Muhammad's son Ibrahim.

When was the last solar eclipse?

The USA's most recent total solar eclipse was on August 21, 2017, and stretched from Oregon to South Carolina.

When will the next solar eclipse happen?

The  next visible total solar eclipse  to cross over the U.S. after April will come in more than two decades on Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.

And that eclipse won't be as accessible as the 2024 one: The path of totality in 2044 will only touch the states of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the Planetary Society, a nonprofit involved in research, public outreach and political space advocacy. Another total eclipse  will pass over the U.S. in 2045  that will be more accessible to Americans, including for people who live in California, Florida and Nevada.

ECLIPSE GLASSES AND SAFETY

What are eclipse glasses and why are they needed for the eclipse.

Gazing at the bright rays from the eclipse without  protective eyewear  can seriouslt damage your eye, so wearing a pair of protective glasses is important.

There's a technical standard for eclipse glasses, which are designed to block out most light and let you safely see the moon pass in front of the sun: It's called ISO 12312-2 after the International Organization of Standardization.

While there's concerns that not all glasses marketed as eclipse glasses live up to that standard, experts say usually the shortcomings aren't significant .

But as the 2024 eclipse approaches, the American Astronomical Society  has warned that there are some counterfeit and fake eclipse glasses being sold from unverified vendors that would be unsafe to use during the eclipse. They recommend buying from a vetted vendor and testing the glasses before the eclipse.

How do I get solar eclipse glasses?

You should buy from a reputable source who can ship the glasses to you in time for April 8. A guide to last-minute eclipse glasses explains more.

Heads up: The online marketplace is flooded with retailers selling solar eclipse glasses they claim have the NASA seal of approval . Consider that a red flag to look elsewhere.

How can you test eclipse glasses?

NASA shared an easy method to check eclipse glasses at home.

Buyers should put on their glasses and look at a bright light, like a flashlight. If the light is "extremely dim," or doesn't appear at all, the glasses are safe, Susannah Darling, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in an instructional video. Viewers should be able to see the filament of the lightbulb, not the glow surrounding the bulb.

Can you really go blind watching a solar eclipse?

You could severely damage your eyes . Directly staring at the sun before and after the total eclipse, or watching a partial eclipse outside the path of totality without proper eye protection, can result in permanent damage including blurred and altered vision.

While rare, eye damage from watching a partial eclipse happens in part because a person's natural response to squint when looking at sunlight does not get triggered. In the lead-up to the  April 8 solar eclipse ,  doctors and a rare set of eclipse watchers are warning about  watching this planetary event without adequate eclipse glasses or with the naked eye.

It’s hard for experts to know or even estimate how many people experience eye damage from solar eclipses. Since looking at an eclipse does not cause complete blindness, people with permanent damage may not know they have it or report it to a doctor. The 2017 eclipse , which passed from Oregon to South Carolina, is thought to have caused about 100 cases, according to the  American Astronomical Society .

How can I watch the eclipse without glasses?

If you don't have access to eclipse glasses do not use regular sunglasses — You need a more creative solution for safe viewing, like a pinhole projector .

Welding glasses are not recommended for eclipse viewing .

Should I take dogs or cats to see the eclipse? Is it safe for pets?

An eclipse itself isn't dangerous for domestic animals such as dogs and cats, but experts say it's probably best to not bring pets .

Experts' biggest concern is not what’s happening in the sky but on the ground as crowds of excited and anxious people gather, said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“Rather than the effects of the eclipse, I would be more worried about the excitement and all of the people,” she said.

Contributing: Ramon Padilla, Karina Zaiets and Janet Loehrke