tourism photography definition

What Is Tourism Photography?

By Michael Ferguson

Tourism photography is a genre of photography that focuses on capturing images of places, people, and cultures to promote tourism. It is an essential part of the travel industry as it helps in creating visual content for travel-related websites, brochures, magazines, and social media platforms.

Why is tourism photography important?

Tourism photography plays a crucial role in promoting different destinations around the world. It helps to create a visual narrative that attracts tourists and encourages them to visit a particular place. High-quality photographs can make a significant impact on the viewer’s perception of a destination, making it look more appealing and attractive.

Types of tourism photography

There are several types of tourism photography that are commonly used to promote different destinations. Some of these include:

Landscape Photography

Landscape photography involves capturing images of scenic views such as mountains, rivers, oceans, and other natural features. These photographs are used to showcase the beauty and uniqueness of a destination.

Architecture Photography

Architecture photography involves capturing images of buildings, monuments, and other man-made structures. These photographs are used to showcase the cultural heritage and history of a destination.

Culture Photography

Culture photography involves capturing images of people and their way of life. These photographs are used to showcase the traditions, customs, and beliefs of different cultures around the world.

Adventure Photography

Adventure photography involves capturing images of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, surfing, or skydiving. These photographs are used to showcase the adventurous side of a destination.

Tips for taking great tourism photographs

Here are some tips for taking great tourism photographs:

• Know your equipment – Make sure you understand how to use your camera equipment properly.
• Research your location – Do some research about your destination before you arrive so that you can plan your shots accordingly.
• Look for interesting angles – Try to find unique and interesting angles to capture your subject.
• Use natural light – Use natural light as much as possible to create a more natural look in your photographs.
• Include people – Including people in your photographs can add a sense of scale and perspective.

9 Related Question Answers Found

What is tourism photographer, what is photography tourism, what role does photography play in the tourism industry, what is tourism destination image, what is the importance of image in tourism, what is astronomy tourism, what is map in tourism, what is the art tourism, what is case study tourism, backpacking - budget travel - business travel - cruise ship - vacation - tourism - resort - cruise - road trip - destination wedding - tourist destination - best places, london - madrid - paris - prague - dubai - barcelona - rome.

© 2024 LuxuryTraveldiva

• X (Twitter)

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY A Journey Into The Realm of Light

There’s nothing we cherish more than our travels and if we had only one thing to say about travel photography it would be this: travel photography is the best way to capture our wanderful moments to eternity and use these memories to warm up our hearts even in the darkest of times.

Although Maria is our website’s main writer, photography-related pages and posts are researched, drafted and revised by Katerina . All Maria does is edit and proofread the copy before it goes live.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate ones. This means that if you click through them to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more .

What Is Travel Photography

Photography (Φωτογραφία in Greek) is a compound of the Greek words φως (light) and γράφω (write or draw). Wikipedia defines photography as the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light . It’s crazy to think that all we see when we look at photos is light. Crazy yet fascinating.

If we tried to give a definition of travel photography, it would be something along these lines: travel photography is the documentation of all those components that make up any given destination. These include the landscape, both natural and human-made, the people, the culture, the food, and, ultimately, the very history of this place.

Of course, tourism photography is part of the travel photography genre, too. It focuses on shooting hotels, resorts, restaurants, and any other businesses in the tourism industry.

“Photography is a form of time travel.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson

About Travel Photography As a Genre

Travel photography is the broadest photography genre in terms of all the different subjects it covers. It encompasses numerous other areas of photography, such as street, landscape, or architecture photography. This is why it takes a lot more than mere photographic knowledge to excel as a travel photographer.

A good travel photographer must be flexible, well-organised and outgoing. Flexible to adapt to time-related challenges (e.g. waking up early, staying up late). Well-organised to plan photographic trips to the last detail. Outgoing because, well, you can go a long way with a smile if you plan to, say, take portraits of total strangers in faraway lands. Learning a foreign language or three wouldn’t hurt either.

However, there’s something unique about travel photography that makes it stand out from all other photography genres. The purpose of travel photography goes beyond just shooting a spectacular image. Travel photography is a means to tell a story, to inspire, and, above all, to educate people on the diversity of our beautiful world.

Top 5 Travel Photography Tips

In the last decades, many factors have conduced to travel being accessible to more and more people. As a result, travel photography isn’t appealing to professional photographers alone. Pretty much everyone who suffers from wanderlust is keen to perfect their skills in travel photography. Here’s a handful of simple tips on travel photography to help you up your photography game.

1. Research Your Location

Your photographic trips should begin well before you even reach your destination. No matter if you are an amateur or a professional photographer, researching your location is vital if you want to snap those epic shots you’ve always dreamt of. Either you are on holidays or specifically travel for photography, a brilliant idea to help you keep track of all the places you want to visit is to create a personal map (e.g. with Google Maps ) with all the points of interest you want to shoot.

Equally important is to know in advance the best time to visit the photography locations on your list. For example, some places are best enjoyed at sunset, while others should be visited at dawn to avoid the crowds. Do your homework and adjust your day-to-day schedule accordingly.

2. Choose Your Gear Wisely & Learn How To Use It

Even if you’ve decided that you want to invest time and money in travel photography, you shouldn’t buy the most expensive gear right from the start. That’s because you may eventually realise that travel photography isn’t for you after all. Furthermore, it will be easier for you to master the basics of shooting while using entry-level equipment.

Start with an entry-level DSLR or mirrorless camera and keep practising until you’re confident with using the manual mode. Let’s be honest here. There’s no reason why you should spend so much money on a camera if you’re planning to use the Auto settings alone. You’d be better off with a good smartphone if that’s the case. Moreover, always shoot RAW, as it allows you to edit your images afterwards.

Once you know your camera well, start flirting with the various lenses you can buy to achieve diverse results. For instance, with a wide-angle lens, you will be amazed at how an entire village can be squeezed in a single frame. Or, perhaps, you’d like to experiment with a telephoto lens, especially if you are into wildlife photography. The possibilities are endless. It all comes down to your preferences and budget.

If after a certain time you’re still hooked on travel photography, you can start buying other accessories, too. These may include tripods, extra batteries, a flash, or even a drone. At some point, you will know that it’s time to upgrade your camera, too.

3. Keep Practising & Be Patient

If there’s one thing about travel photography that you must always remember, it’s this: you need to practise, practise and then practise a bit more.

Don’t wait until next time you travel to test your camera and its functions. Go on a photography trip around your neighbourhood and start shooting. Shoot indoors and shoot outdoors. Shoot in bright sunlight, shoot in low light, and shoot at night. Hold your camera and shoot, use your tripod and shoot. In a nutshell, play around with all of your camera’s settings and functions (on manual mode, don’t cheat).

Once you come to terms with the importance of practice, it’s time to embrace patience, too. You can’t expect to learn everything in one go. You must invest a lot of time to finally be able to shoot superb travel images.

Furthermore, photography can be a waiting game. Very often, you will find yourselves waiting for the right time to take the perfect shot. It may be the exact moment when the sun dives into the sea or when the high tide comes. Also, bear in mind that weather conditions won’t always be in your favour while waiting. So, it takes a lot of determination, but most of all, patience to make it as travel photographers.

4. Always Carry Your Camera With You

You’ve spent an entire day out shooting and now you feel it’s time you left your camera at the hotel room to go have dinner and maybe enjoy a drink or three. You’re right about the food and drinks part but think twice before you leave your camera behind. Why not experiment with night photography while taking your (probably much-needed) post-dinner stroll?

No matter how well you’ve planned your trip, you never know when an exceptional opportunity arises for a shot you won’t want to miss. It’s better to carry your camera and never take it out of your bag than to leave it behind and regret not capturing that perfect moment in time that unfolded before your eyes and then vanished for ever.

5. Respect Locals & Wildlife

Whether you’re travelling within your country or abroad, you should always respect the locals. Under no circumstances should you make anyone feel uncomfortable for the sake of snapping the perfect shot. Not even a one-billion shot is worth making another person feel uneasy. If you’re dying to take a close-up of locals (and, especially, their children) or shoot during a local event, always ask for permission first.

Similarly, you should be mindful of animals and their well-being at all times. If you’re planning to shoot wildlife, you must always keep a safe distance and avoid any noises or movements that may disturb the animals. This is when a telephoto lens comes handy. On a lighter note, you can get as close as you want to super cuddly kittens or puppies who are willing to pose for you. Just make sure you reward them with a hug and/or a treat after the photoshoot.

From Hobby To Dream Job: How To Become a Professional Travel Photographer

Making a living out of your passion is certainly the dream. That holds for many travel photography enthusiasts who pursue a career in this field. There are several factors in play when it comes to becoming a professional travel photographer. Here’s a list of the five most important steps to take if you’re after a career in travel photography:

• Understand that professional travel photography is all about commitment and hard work. Therefore, make sure you are genuinely passionate about it before taking any further steps in this direction.
• Learn photography. Attend travel photography courses, classes, and workshops. Watch tutorials, read travel photography books, and practise a lot.
• Create a portfolio to showcase your work to potential clients.
• Network and collaborate with photographers around the world and other content creators. Attend conferences and similar events to get in touch with travel brands and tourism boards.
• Remember that competition is hard. Be ready to step out of your comfort zone when pitching yourself for travel photography jobs.

“I love photography, I love food, and I love traveling, and to put those three things together would just be the ultimate dream.” — Jamie Chung

My Journey As a Professional Travel Photographer

Now a professional travel photographer, I started like any other traveller who wanted a few photos as keepsakes from our travels. I always liked photography but I needed a purpose to take it more seriously. When we started this website back in 2018, I found my purpose.

As our travels became more frequent and our website grew into a business, it was time we invested in good travel photography gear. It was then that I took the plunge and bought my first DSLR camera. From that point onwards, there was no looking back. I had found my true calling and I was hooked for life.

At first, I was into landscape travel photography alone, but I soon discovered the endless possibilities of travel photography. I studied a lot. From reading books and registering for online courses to watching video tutorials, attending photography classes and joining photography clubs, I never stopped expanding my photography skills and knowledge.

I patiently learnt the techniques of travel photography and I practised a lot. I still do. Learning about travel photography is an ongoing process. One that never fails to excite those who’ve chosen to be initiated to its secrets.

At some point, I inevitably started exploring the magical world of video, too. During the 2020 lockdowns, I found myself with a bit of extra time in my hands. Therefore, I dedicated most of it to learn the secrets of video-making and YouTube. After that, the sky was the limit. Or not? Soon, aerial photography won me over and I added a drone to my travel photography equipment.

I now work as a professional travel photographer, but it’s not just a job for me. Travel photography still is and always will be my life’s passion.

“Photographing is an emotional thing, a graceful thing. Photography allows me to wander with a purpose.” — Leonard Freed

Essential Travel Photography Gear: What’s in My Camera Bag

• Main Camera Body: Sony α7 III with 35-mm Full-Frame Image Sensor After months of tormenting thoughts and endless sleepless nights watching YouTube reviews and tutorials, I finally gave an end to two of the most haunting dilemmas I ever faced: 1. DSLR or Mirrorless? At first, I hated the idea of turning my back to DSLR cameras and entering the world of mirrorless technology. In the end, I saw the benefits of mirrorless cameras for travel photography. They’re way lighter and more compact than DSLR cameras. 2. Nikon or Sony? Once I decided to upgrade to a full-frame mirrorless camera, another dilemma started messing with my head. As a purist, I couldn’t imagine investing in any other camera brand than Nikon . However, after much thought, I succumbed to the siren call of the dark side and went for a Sony instead. I’m happy I did so and never looked back ever since. Featuring 4K video, fantastic focusing and impressive battery-life, the Sony α7 III is the camera I chose for being one of the best travel photography cameras in my budget for both photography and video.
• Camera Lens: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD Sony E-mount This all-in-one zoom lens has the ideal focal length range for travel photography, it’s lightweight and, most of all, quite affordable.
• Lens Filters: 1. Hoya UV Filter 67mm for protection. 2. Hoya Variable ND Filter 67mm for cinematic video and long exposure shots.
• Backup Camera For Video: DJI Osmo Pocket That’s hands down the best handheld camera for travel video out there. With exceptional 4K video and offering the simplest way to shoot motion lapse and time lapse, the DJI Osmo Pocket is a fantastic video camera that literally fits in your pocket. Most of all, it’s very easy to use. It’s the only piece of my travel photography equipment that Maria is allowed (and often assigned) to use.
• Drone: DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo When I decided to buy a drone, I went for the DJI Mini 2 instead of a fancier one for two reasons. First, I considered it prudent to test my flying skills on a drone that wouldn’t cost a fortune. Secondly, I wanted to make sure I genuinely liked aerial photography before investing in one of the most expensive drones for travel photography. With 4K video and the option to shoot RAW, the DJI Mini 2 is great value for money. Especially if you buy the combo, which comes with two extra batteries, a stylish bag and lots of other goodies. I enjoy flying the DJI Mini 2 immensely. That’s probably because my feet never stop touching the ground. At last, I can admire spectacular views from above without all the negative emotions I get from my fear of flying when travelling by plane.
• Travel Camera Backpack: Thule Aspect DSLR Backpack I had been looking for a while for a travel backpack that would fit all my travel photography gear, my laptop and my personal items. While I researched, finding travel photography bags to love was the easy part. Finding one that wouldn’t break the bank was the hard part. The Thule Aspect ticks all my boxes and comes at a very reasonable price for what it offers.
• Small Camera Backpack: Benro Swift 100 That’s actually my first-ever travel photography backpack and it’s still my number one choice when I don’t need to carry all my equipment around.
• Travel Tripods: 1. Manfrotto Befree Advanced Alpha Travel Tripod This reliable travel tripod that features maximum stability and easy set-up is the best travel photography tripod you can buy without spending a fortune. 2. Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod Fitting literally in my pocket, I’m happy to carry this super lightweight tripod with me at all times. 3. Xiaomi Mi Selfie Stick Tripod This was bought as a mere selfie stick but it comes really handy when shooting a time lapse or motion lapse with the DJI Osmo Pocket.
• External Microphone: Rode VideoMicro When I was just starting with video, I needed an affordable and compact camera microphone to minimise noise interference when used outdoors. The Rode VideoMicro does the job just fine.
• Cleaning Kit : Trivial though it may sound, a cleaning kit for your camera lenses is of the utmost importance and it’s a purchase you should make right from the start. When it comes to cleaning kits, the sky’s the limit. I make sure the cleaning kits I buy include microfibre cleaning cloths, a cleaning pen and an air blower.
• Memory Cards : Shooting RAW and video means that I always carry several fast memory cards with me.
• Portable Hard Drives : I use fast SSD hard drives to store my images and video footage.
• Spare Batteries: There’s nothing I fear more than running out of battery in the middle of a photo shoot. That’s why I’m obsessed with having spare batteries for my camera and drone handy at all times. Fun fact: When I went to the camera store to buy the Sony α7 III, the guy at the counter told me that I wouldn’t need to buy a second battery for it. I ignored him and bought a spare battery anyway. Soon I realised that he was right. However, I have no regrets. It turns out that peace of mind can be bought after all.

Check out our minimalist photography gear list here!

What’s So Important About Travel Photography

As one of the most famous travel quotes goes, travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer . Therefore, who’d want to let these precious memories go to waste? The importance of travel photography lies in its superpower to revoke those memories long after the smells, sounds and tastes that accompany them have worn off.

However, travel photography isn’t just about helping travellers keep the memories of their past trips alive. It’s about showing the world to people who haven’t travelled as far and wide as they’d like.

Not everyone has the privilege to travel as much as their heart desires. Travel photography has the noble mission of communicating the most exotic feelings to these people, making them travel with their minds and souls and inspiring them to roam the world if and when their circumstances allow it.

Last but certainly not least, the absolutely most significant thing about travel photography is that it’s the next most powerful tool in the fight against intolerance, second only to travel itself.

As a means to get a glimpse of cultures and people in faraway lands, this superior form of art can bridge the imaginary gaps that exist between people. It can provide proof that our world is a stunningly diverse wonder. Ultimately, it can teach people that there’s nothing wrong with being different. From North to South and from East to West, travel photography captures fleeting – yet meant to become timeless – moments in the lives of people from all four corners of the globe.

At the end of the day, it makes no difference if the light that goes through our camera’s shutter records joyful or sorrowful scenes. What matters is that it takes but a look at these travel photos to know that the light shines as bright on all of us, regardless of skin colour, age, or gender. And this is what we love about travel photography the most.

“Photography can light up darkness and expose ignorance.” — Lewis Hine

• PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO
• WRITING PORTFOLIO
• CZECH REPUBLIC
• TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
• TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY
• SAVE TIME TO TRAVEL
• SAVE MONEY TO TRAVEL
• BOOK FLIGHTS ONLINE

The Complete Guide to Travel Photography

By Megan Spurrell

As travelers, our cameras can feel like a fifth limb—an essential tool with which to move through the world and absorb new experiences. They make it possible to document the people we meet. They provide tangible memories of the remarkable beauty we travel so far to see. Ultimately, they help us communicate what words cannot.

In the digital era, the tie between travel and photography feels more innate than ever. Photography has become more accessible and affordable to dabble in (who even needs a real camera with phones these days? ). On the flip side, it can feel as if documenting and sharing our travel experiences has become half of the seeing itself. In her essay on pushing herself to take a photo-free trip , Allie Jones asks a question we can all relate to: “If you visit a trendy upstate New York museum and don’t take any photos, were you ever really there?”

As the routine of snapping and sharing becomes as habitual as rinse and repeat, others urge us to become more thoughtful with our travel photography. Just because we can photograph and share everything, in a matter of seconds, doesn’t mean we need to. In his feature, Tyler Moss explores the #nogeotag movement , and looks at just how our photo sharing can drastically alter a destination—and decide who gets to experience it. For professional photographers Gray Malin and Alex Strohl , the “how” of nailing their iconic travel photographs has relied more on patience, and analog techniques like driving massive props cross-country, or waiting for the perfect shot in sub-zero temps, than on any new developments.

And, just in case you were starting to let your Instagram feed convince you that you’ve seen it all, we’ve pulled in photo studies from photographers whose work we can’t help but ogle. Jessica Sarkodie shares a refreshing look at the unspoiled beaches of her native Ghana. Cedric Angeles flew to Mongolia for a peek inside the lives of the country’s famous eagle hunters (and yes, there are photos of the eagles in their hunting caps ahead). For Sandy Noto , photographing harvest season in the Dolomites while off-duty yielded gorgeous slices of life.

Of course, if you’re ready to step up your own game, we’ve also got the gear you need—from underwater cameras to camera bags that don’t look like camera bags. And, we’ve rounded up our favorite photographers to follow right now, because as much as we want to cut the social media umbilical cord, there is so much to admire there. You just need to know where to look.

Through the lens

Think before you shoot

Behind the scenes

The gear you need

Everything else you need to know

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Travel Photography Explained

A Personal Perspective from Travel Photographer: Clint Burkinshaw

Importance of travel photography, the photographer, proactive and reactive photography, travel photography gear, quick access bag, lighter weight camera body, lens choice, travel tripod, safety and security, travel photography tips for beginners, tip #1. know your gear, tip #2. reduce complexity and keep things simple, tip #3. noise is better than a blurry image, tip #4. get lost, tip #5. respect local customs, tip #6. mix up your shots, tip #7. take the time to post process your photos, tip #8. maintain your gear, tip #9. backup your photos.

Travel photography differs from other subcategories of photography. It is a genre that has few limitations to its image qualifiers, but will also test the photographer to great lengths due to the abundance of challenges faced. Within the travel photography genre, one can expect to see a vast range of images aimed to capture anything from the combination of landscapes , portrait, street, culture, food, underwater scenes and more.

• Pick up   8 Tips to Improve Your Landscape Photographs
• Find out  What to Wear for Summer Photo Tours in Iceland
• Discover this  Patagonia Summer Photography Tour in Torres del Paine

However, the unique component at the heart of travel photography, is that the images from the vast range of subcategories are aimed to capture and share moments in time from different cultures, an alternate way of life, and varied geographical locations from around the globe.

See our popular Summer Photography Tours & Workshops in Iceland

5-day summer photo tour | black sand beaches, waterfalls & glacier lagoons, 8 day summer photography workshop in iceland, 3 day photo workshop in the icelandic highlands.

Travel photography goes further than just capturing a great image. It’s there to tell a story, educate and inspire.

So what exactly is travel photography? In this article, I'll share with you my own perspective as a travel photographer, why travel photography is important, what you'll need to get started and above all, how to stay safe on your travels.

To me, travel photography transcends just “landscape” or “portrait” photography. It’s about capturing and documenting that distant place in a single frame, pulling the viewer into the shot and making them wish that they were there.

A good travel photo will be more than just a slice of time captured in a rectangle. It will tell a story and convey emotion. Travel photography is a source of inspiration and driver to see and experience the best our world has to offer. Subsequently, it brings out the best in me.

• See also:    Tips for Planning a Photography Trip to Iceland

Travel photography is all about bringing the world to people and exposing to them what else is out there. It’s about educating people about the customs of other cultures, showing them how they differ from their own.

The world is far grander and more exquisite with beautiful differences than just the area that surrounds us. Bringing nature's majesty to the people, inspires and promotes the diversity of this planet and helps encourage others to explore and see the great outdoors.

• See also:    25 Useful Tips to Quickly Improve Your Landscape Photography

Anyone can do a bit of travel photography, just as anyone can do landscape or portrait photography, regardless of what the definition of “professional” is.

There are essentially two main groups of people engaging in travel photography. One group consists of those who travel for the purpose of photography, and the other group consists of people who travel for the sake of travel and take photos to compliment their travels.

While there is no reason to promote one group over another, it is still a good idea to prioritise your intended scope prior to planning your trip, as the experience will be somewhat different.

• See also:    How to Become a Professional Landscape Photographer

There are two main categories for which one needs to focus their skill development and preparation within. These consist of proactive and reactive photography.

Reactive photography becomes significantly evident when engaging in street, cultural or wildlife shoots. These unpredictable and dynamic scenes tend to present golden opportunities, which seem to come and go in the blink of an eye. Photographers need to be incredibly quick and demonstrate the skills to make the most of these opportunities and capture the images in an efficient and effective manner.

Proactive photography in essence is being “proactive” about your next photo shoot, by doing things in preparation (like researching your upcoming location) prior to arriving.

Of course, no matter where a photographer goes and what he shoots, being proactive is always encouraged. However, there are more prevalent and anticipated situations where proactive photography will be much more beneficial.

Landscape photography is a great example of this, as the success of such photos can heavily depend on the preparation gone into the shoot. Additionally, these scenes also require quite a bit of reactive photography when on site, in areas such as lighting and newly discovered composition opportunities.

• See also:    How to Start Taking Landscape Photos with a Smartphone

When it comes to what equipment to take, travel photography has its own unique considerations in contrast to other photography categories. What to pack will also depend on the trip itself. As a travel photographer, if I could give one imperative tip; it would be to ‘go light’!

As mentioned previously, much of travel photography is reactive. This means, being in the right place at the right time, and NOT missing that golden opportunity. For this, being ready with equipment that is not going to slow you down, is vital.

First of all, you'll need a bag that’s going to allow you to get your gear in and out quickly. When that opportunity presents itself, you need to be able to access your camera extremely fast.

For this, I recommend a day pack with a side access pocket which can be undone in a single zip, giving you access to your camera body with an appropriately attached lens. Also, if the voyage is a long one, quick access will help you keep your sanity with the hundreds (if not thousands) of times you’ll be grabbing your camera. Hybrid camera bags are good for this, and also allows you to take additional non-photography related belongings.

When I previously mentioned “going light” is the key for successful travel photography, I very much meant it. If you’re going to be walking for hours on end each day, or going on regular hikes, lighter weight equipment is going to help you out with your photography much more than you think.

A lighter body with fewer lenses than normal, gives you the opportunity to go further with ease and allows you to get your camera out more often than not, especially in those times when you might think twice. So shelf that hefty camera body, and take something much lighter.

Thankfully, full frame sensors are fitting into smaller and smaller bodies these days, and the choice has grown substantially.

• See also:    Camera & Gear Reviews

The type of lenses you take is also key to getting great photographs. While taking enough lenses to cater for all situations, going overboard with too much lenses only works against the photographer. I recommend taking nomore than four lenses for short trips, and no more than 3 lenses for longer trips.

For landscape lovers, an ultra-wide angle lens is an absolute necessity.

A nice standard zoom for a walk around street photography lens is very useful, combined with a fast prime for nice low depth of field shots to really enhance favourite subjects.

Telephotos aren’t generally required for standard travel photography (depending on the trip), but is something to be considered based on photographic intentions.

• See also:    The Best Lenses for Landscape Photography in Iceland

One good thing about going light with your camera body and lenses is the fact that it’s now possible to downsize the tripod. A smaller smaller (or lighter) body and lens combination means a lighter weight tripod and all of this together will cut down the weight required to carry on the shoulders. It’s also quite helpful to have a tripod that folds up small to fit in your day bag. This means one with 4 leg sections.

See our popular Greenland Photography Tours & Workshops

Caring for both you and your equipment is paramount when it comes to travelling in a foreign environment. Depending on the location visited, there may be areas which should not be ventured into.

Walking around at night, or even walking around with your expensive equipment during the day, may put you and your possessions in danger. Always seek local advice for do’s and don’ts in the area, and take them seriously.

Having strong familiarity with your equipment is one very important aspect of travel photography. Walking busy streets will often throw all kinds of lighting conditions at you, and within these hectic, constantly changing conditions, golden opportunities come and go within a matter of seconds.

Being able to act quickly with the right lens and appropriate camera settings, is an absolute necessity to capturing these magic moments.

Another crucial aspect is to not over complicate your setup. If you’ve got an inappropriate number of lens (because you just “need” the best of the best for each situation) and organised in a fashion that makes you scramble each time you want to change things up. You’re doing it wrong.

Have a nice high quality lens that’s capable of a broader spectrum, with a simple setup, that’ll allow you to snap photos with ease. The more complicated and burdensome things get, the less photographs you’ll take.

You can always work with an image that's slightly noisier than you’d prefer, but you can never work with an image that's blurry. If lighting conditions are ever a question, and you’re doing a whole bunch of that reactive photography talked about earlier, then always bump up the ISO a bit to be on the safe side.

• See also:    Understanding Image Noise in Your Landscape Photography of Iceland

In the kindest way possible, of course! Taking the time out to spend a day wandering the streets, is one of the best things that could be done for street photography. You’ll discover places you never would have had normally. Getting off the tourist trail is also a great way to get authentic and interesting culture shots.

A major part of travel photography is being sensitive to foreign customs and cultures. It’s very common for other cultures to find it rude (or an insult) to be photographed. Especially without permission. This needs to be heavily be considered when in a foreign place photographing people and cultural scenes. Do your research, respect customs, and ask people before taking a photo. A simple kind gesture will go a long way in terms of getting what you want and doing the right thing.

• See also:    Golden Myanmar | 12 Day Travel Photography Workshop

Instead of sticking to just one genre of photography (e.g. street shots), mix it up and shoot a range of different subjects. Photograph everything from food, people, to landscapes and wildlife. After all, it’s about capturing as much as you can about that distant location.

• See also:    9 Day China Photography Tour | Yunnan Rice Terrace & The Red Land

Instead of waiting till the trip is over to start processing your photos, take some time out along the trip and process as you go. This could mean spending a few hours a couple of times a week, in a cafe, with your laptop. Even an extra drink or two after dinner at a local restaurant will go a long way when it comes to progressing your photos.

Also, use the time to catalogue, label and rate your photographs, as it will save you a huge task later on. If you plan on writing about your trip in a blog or article later on, take as much notes as possible. Some things you just don’t remember once you get home.

• See also:    5 Simple Lightroom Post Processing Tips for Landscape Photography

A dirty lens or a flat battery are two things easily avoided, but could very much be responsible for missing those golden opportunities. Keeping your spare batteries charged and lens clean will give you a big head start in making sure you catch that magic moment around the next corner.

There’s nothing worse than losing your camera, and coming to the realisation that all the photographs you’ve taken of your trip, are now gone. Backup as often as possible onto a USB hard drive and store it in a separate bag to your camera.

About the author:  Clint Burkinshaw is a travel photographer based in Australia. You can find more of his work on his  website  or by following him on Instagram .

There's no better way to get started in travel photography than to get out and about! Join one of our photography workshops and tours and you can begin taking your photography skills to the next level!

Popular articles

Landscape Photography in the Lofoten Islands of Norway

Interview with Erin Babnik

The Best Places to Photograph Puffins in Iceland

Ultimate Photography Guide to the Lofoten Islands of Norway

Ultimate Guide to Landscape Photography

Other interesting articles.

8 Things to Know About Photographing Iceland in Winter

Where to Photograph Lupines and Wildflowers in Iceland

The Best Landscape Photographers You Need to Follow in 2020

Popular photo tours & workshops.

Travel the world to capture the most incredible landscapes

Summer Photo Tours in Iceland

Winter Photo Tours in Iceland

International Photo Tours

Greenland Photo Tours

Private Photo Tours in Iceland

Autumn Photo Tours in Iceland

Norway Photo Tours and Workshops

Faroe Islands Photo Tours and Workshops

What is travel photography?

What is a good travel photo, aspects of travel photography, travel photography, a popular genre, travel photography is underestimated, travel photography explained, receive photography and travel tips, travel photography.

Travel photography is a form of photography that for example involves photography of landscapes, historical buildings, cultures, and people in a specific place and destination to document a certain place and make others make to wish they were there.

With a collection of travel photographs of amazing landscapes, wildlife, breathtaking nature, cultures, and people, you will have the possibility to showcase a place, country, or even the world through photos. Travel Photography goes further than just capturing an awesome image.

A good travel photo tells a story, inspires the viewer about other beautiful places in this big world, and educates them about a place or culture by showing them how they differ from their own.

There are travel photographers that specialize in a specific aspect of photography , for example, landscapes or travel portraits but I basically shoot all aspects of travel and I combine that with photographing properties, such as hotels and lodges. When I travel to a certain place or country I try to showcase that place at its very best using a variety of images including landscapes, nature, wildlife, and people from different cultures.

Travel Photography became popular through magazines like National Geographic Magazine . Since more people travel, more people photograph while traveling. Therefore, it's a popular genre among travel and photography lovers.

Travel photography is an underestimated photography genre . To shoot high-quality travel photos you have to do a lot of research on the subject you want to photograph, but you still can't control all shooting conditions. You have to deal with different conditions that affect the final result, such as low light, unpredictable weather conditions, and unexpected moments that sometimes make an ordinary photo a spectacular photo. Something, I experienced myself while photographing wildlife, where you come across moments that rarely recur.

I hope you got a better understanding of the travel photography genre, one of the many types of photography .

Check out the Travel Photography Guide to learn more about travel photography, including many useful travel photography tips to improve your travel images and learn how to make money with your images.

Related photography articles:

• How to take better travel photos? Follow this 4-step formula
• How I got published in National Geographic Magazine

• 1x Each Month! A newsletter with free photography & travel tips to help you make the most out of your trip
• Be the first to know about giveaways, for instance, free ebooks and downloadable travel images

Yes, I want to receive the newsletter 1x p/month

• PHOTOGRAPHY

Travel Photography Tips

Each place we visit has its own particular look, character, and ambiance. If we want photographs of our travels to be good and lasting, they should capture all of these qualities, and say as much about a place as give the literal look of it.

We are unlikely to long remember the smell and buzz of a flower garden in spring, the awe of gazing for the first time at the mountain we intend to climb, the caress of a tropical breeze, the thrill of a huge roller coaster, the wonder of our first wild bear, or the adrenaline of rafting white water. Our photographs need to bring these and other sensations back, to trigger our memories, and to communicate how we felt to others. To do this, we need to think and feel as much as look when setting out to make photographs.

First and foremost, think about what made you decide, out of all the places in the world, to choose this particular destination. Whatever it is—the beach, the rides, the mountain, the galleries, the food—obviously appeals to you. If it didn't, you wouldn't be going there. That site or activity (or inactivity) is one of the things you want to photograph. But there are probably many other interesting aspects of the place you may not be aware of. That's where research comes in.

Photographers for National Geographic spend a lot of time doing research. This helps us figure out what's there—what the place is about and what subjects we need to cover. Read brochures and travel books. Go to libraries, bookstores, or onto the Web. Talk to friends who have been there. Pick up travel information at the country's embassy. Find whatever you can that is relevant, and devour it.

Understanding the customs and traditions of a place is vital. For one thing, you want to be sure you act in a way that is not rude or offensive while you are there, and it's hard to know what's acceptable and what isn't with some knowledge. It can also help you understand things people do that at first encounter you might consider incomprehensible or even horrifying.

When you arrive at your destination, be open and try to take note of the first impressions—write them down if you have to. (A notebook is an essential accessory for a travel photographer.) When you see a place for the first time from the plane window, or when you drive around a bend and there it is, or as the ship nears some distant island—how do you feel? Where do your eyes go first? What do you notice about the place right away? A smell? The heat or cold? Blistering sunlight? Mysterious fog? A particular building or vista? The way people move? Their dress? Whatever it is, remember it. First impressions are invaluable sparks to creative interpretation, and by definition are not repeatable. You've seen the place in pictures, you've read about it. Now you're there, and all your senses can partake.

Get out there. The only way to discover the rhythm of life in a place, and so figure out what to shoot, is to experience it. Many places, particularly hot ones, are active very early in the morning and late in the afternoon but rather in a lull around midday. Get up early, stay out late. If you are on a tour that is scheduled to leave the hotel or ship at 9:00, get up well before dawn. Wander around before meeting up with your companions. If the tour goes back to the hotel or ship for lunch, don't go with them. Rather than take the bus back at the end of an afternoon tour, hang around until after sunset and then take a taxi. Use any spare time to get out and look for photographs. Besides availing yourself of more opportunities, time spent discovering the place will enrich your experience.

Get lost. Wander down alleys. Sit in cafés and watch life pass by. Don't eat where the tourists do, but where you see locals. Just set off down a street and see where it leads. Look around the bends, over the rises. Get away from the crowd. I find that if I meander away from the tourists and tourist sites, away from what is too familiar and comfortable, it's much easier to adapt to the rhythm of a place, and to be more observant.

Always have your camera with you and always keep your eyes open. Serendipity plays an enormously important role in travel photography. You never know what you are going to run into, and you have to be ready. Many times you will see what could be a good photograph but decide that the light is not right, or there are no people around, or too many—something that means you will have to come back later. But sometimes you get lucky. You happen to stumble upon a scene at just the right moment. If you forgot your camera, are out of film, or your digital card is full, if you have to fumble around getting the right lens on, the moment may be gone before you can recover. This is true whether you are doing street photography or visiting a natural or man-made site. Mountains, trees, monuments, and other static subjects are, of course, not going to go anywhere, but the ray of sunshine, the soaring eagle, or the embracing couple that add the needed element to your photograph are unlikely to hang around. Think of it as hunting—whenever you leave the confines of your camp, you should be ready and able to capture whatever pops up.

Make time for photography. Like doing anything well, making good photographs requires a commitment of time and energy. One problem with much of modern travel is that the days are chockablock full of scheduled tours, events, and meals. Our trips are usually of limited time, and we naturally want to see as many sites as possible. The itineraries rarely leave room for serious photography. You have to make time. It may help to make photography a scheduled part of every day, so you know you have the time and won't be tempted to get lazy and say, "I'll do it tomorrow." It might rain tomorrow. Don't procrastinate.

When traveling, you're likely to encounter all sorts of situations and subjects. This requires being a bit of a jack-of-all-trades—you need to be able to photograph portraits, landscapes, and everything in between.

Above all, work the situations over. Never be satisfied with your first view of a place or the first frame you snap. It's always possible—and usually likely—that you can come up with something better. Why else would painters make sketches? Get closer, then get closer still. Try different angles, different lenses. Wait for the light, wait for the crowd, wait for a bird to land on the tree branch. Never be in a hurry to get somewhere else. Tell yourself that nothing is more important than getting the best you can get out of the situation you are in. Once you've exhausted every possibility you can think of, you can start working on the next one.

You May Also Like

These photographs reveal invisible wonders of our world

How to photograph fireworks

How can you tell if a photo is AI generated? Here are some tips.

Landscapes come in all forms—mountains, forests, plains, deserts, swamps, lakes, rivers, seacoasts. Each has its own characteristics, and individual sites within each category have their own too. The Grand Tetons do not look like the Andes—the Nile River is different from the Mississippi.

Whatever kind of landscape you are shooting, think about what the essential qualities are—and not just the visual ones; think about how the place makes you feel, what kind of emotions it stirs in you. Then look for ways to get those qualities and feelings onto film. Is it a rocky, violently wave-washed coast or a bright and sandy one? If it's the former, you want to show waves crashing against the shore, probably in stormy weather. Blue sky and sunlight are more appropriate for the latter unless you want to show the desolation of a resort beach in winter.

Cities and Towns

Like landscapes, each city and town has its own look and feel—a distinctive setting, architecture, or skyline; a famous local site; a particular kind of food or dress. There's always at least one thing that is unique. When covering a town or city, even a small village, you need to do three basic things at a minimum: capture a sense of place, which is usually a wide shot that shows the setting, skyline, or other view that gives a feeling for the whole; landmarks that the place is famous for; the life of its inhabitants. For the cityscapes and wide shots, as well as for the landmarks, it's a good idea to check out the postcard racks in your hotel lobby or at kiosks. They will quickly give you an idea of where the best views are and what is considered well-known enough to warrant a postcard.

Monuments and Other Buildings

When you are photographing buildings, statues, or other monuments, think about what they represent before you shoot. For example: There's a large statue of Vulcan outside Birmingham, Alabama. You could make a perfectly nice image of him standing on his hill on a sunny day, but such a picture would not say a lot about who Vulcan is. A photograph on a stormy evening, with perhaps lightning in the background, would. Cannons on a historic battlefield might look better in fog than in bright sunlight. Get the idea of the subject, then think of the weather, light, angle, etc. that best communicates it.

Photographing Family Members and Friends

We often travel with people we know—taking a family vacation, for example, or bicycling around Tuscany with a group of friends. We quite naturally want to come home with pictures of them as souvenirs of the trip. Be sure to get these, but don't forget that you can also use members of your family and your friends to make your other photographs more effective.

When you are making pictures of your friends, try to strike a balance between a picture of them and a picture of the place. A friend of mine once made a close-up portrait of me in China. It wasn't a great portrait, but more important, it could have been made in my backyard—there was nothing of the place in the frame. Of course, you may want to shoot portraits, or to capture someone's expression at a particular moment, but often you are making the picture as a way of documenting your shared experience. You want to show enough of your friend to be able to recognize him—that vertical speck in the distance could be anybody. But you don't want to be so close that there's no context. If your friend is the primary subject, he has to be strong enough to draw attention and be recognizable but still keep some sense of where he is.

Photographing Strangers

It's best to ask permission if you want to photograph someone, especially if you are working in close. Engage them before you pull out your camera. Learn at least how to say "hello" and "May I make a photograph" in the local language—just showing that you've made a little effort helps. Explain to them what you want to do and what it is about them that made you want to make a picture. If approached in an open and friendly manner, most people will be agreeable—many are flattered that someone has shown an interest in them and what they do. In places where there's a lot of tourism, you may run into people who are tired of being photographed—many tourists are not courteous enough to ask permission, and local people can come to feel abused and exploited. The only way to overcome this is to spend time with the people or to go to parts of the place less frequented by tourists.

In many tourist destinations, people may ask for money if you want to photograph them. Many of these places are desperately poor, and people have few ways of getting hold of cash. The money they ask for is usually not very much to us, but may represent quite a lot to them. How you deal with these situations is up to you, but remember that every time you buy a postcard, you are happy to spend the money for a picture somebody else took. Why not spend a little on your own?

You cannot always ask permission, of course. If you are shooting a street scene or a wide shot of a market, you can't run up to everyone and ask if it's OK. In general, people do not mind this sort of photography—it's only when they're singled out that they get uncomfortable. But not always. Be sensitive to the scene in your viewfinder. If people are getting nervous, ask permission or move on.

Make use of people to give your images life and scale. If the facade of a particular building appeals to you, the picture may be that much better if you show people walking in front of it. They will give it scale and also let viewers know what sorts of people live there, how they dress, and the like. An outdoor café may be more interesting crowded with people than empty.

Related Topics

• TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
• PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

How to take perfect portrait photos

These breathtaking natural wonders no longer exist

The Cool List 2024: the 30 most exciting destinations to visit in 2024

Grief drove a photographer to India. That’s where she found joy.

This artist’s animal paintings bridge a gap between photography and reality

• Environment

History & Culture

• History & Culture
• History Magazine
• Gory Details
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Paid Content
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

Photographs in Tourism Destination Management Research in the Post-COVID-19 Era

• Conference paper
• First Online: 28 April 2022
• Cite this conference paper

• Argyri Moustaka 3 &
• Mary Constantoglou 4  

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics ((SPBE))

1035 Accesses

Main purpose of this paper is to explore how tourist photography in the post-COVID-19 era can contribute by creating experience value in coastal tourism and in destination management. An important reference is made on how the tourist photography contributes to the upgrading of the tourist product of the area and more precisely on a mass tourism destination in Greece, Halkidiki. Further, the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic is studied together with the consequences it generates in the destinations. More specifically, the study undertaken had to answer the following questions: What is the photographic image that tourists form in their minds when visiting Halkidiki? How does a photographic image contribute to a sustainable tourist development? Is there an increase in the display of photos from tourist destinations, in the COVID-19 and in the post-COVID-19 era, due to the greater use of the internet? How influential are photographs for traveling in the post-COVID-19 era? The study took place from March to May 2021 and was undertaken with the use of quantitative methodology. The results of the conducted research show that the creation of photographic images is related to clean and sandy beaches along with natural beauty. In addition, the photographic images can consolidate the tourism of the destination to a satisfactory level. This happens especially nowadays when virtual travel, through images, is boosted due to the pandemic COVID-19. As a general conclusion, photographic images influence the decision for a trip in the post-COVID-19 era.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info
• Durable hardcover edition

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbott, W., Donaghey, J., Hare, J., & Hopkins, P. (2013). An Instagram is worth a thousand words: An industry panel and audience Q&A. Library Hi Tech News, 30 (7), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-08-2013-0047

Article   Google Scholar  

Albers, P. C., & James, W. R. (1988). TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY. A Methodological Approach. Annals of TourmnRmorch , 15 , 134–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(88)90076-X

Balomenou, N., & Garrod, B. (2019). Photographs in tourism research: Prejudice, power, performance and participant-generated images. Tourism Management, 70 , 201–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.08.014

Balomenou, N., & Garrod, B. (2016). A review of participant-generated image methods in the social sciences. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 10 (4), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689815581561

Chopra-Gant, M. (2016). Pictures or it Didn’t happen: Photo-nostalgia, iPhoneography and the representation of everyday life. Photography and Culture, 9 (2), 121–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/17514517.2016.1203632

Collins- Kreiner, N., & Ram, Y. (2020). National tourism strategies during the Covid-19 pandemic. Annals of Tourism Research . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103076

Constantoglou, M. (2020). Destination management in Lesvos, Greece. Characteristics, preferences, images, satisfaction and overall experience. Business Ethics and Leadership, 4 (3), 81–106. https://doi.org/10.21272/bel.4(3).81-106.2020

Conti, E., & Heldt Cassel, S. (2019). Liminality in nature-based tourism experiences as mediated through social media. Tourism Geographies, 22 (2), 413–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2019.1648544

Conti, E., & Lexhagen, M. (2020). Instagramming nature-based tourism experiences: A netnographic study of online photography and value creation. Tourism Management Perspectives, 34 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2020.100650.

Cuomo, M. T., Tortora, D., Festa, G., Giordano, A., & Metallo, G. (2016). Exploring consumer insights in wine marketing: An ethnographic research on Winelovers. Psychology & Marketing, 33 (12), 1082–1090. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.20942

Deng, N., & Li, X. (2018). Feeling a destination through the “right” photos: A machine learning model for DMOs’ photo selection. Tourism Management, 65 , 267–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.09.010

Dinolp, A., & Gretzel, U. (2016). Selfie-taking as touristic looking. Annals of Tourism Research, 57 , 126–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.12.015

Dolnicar, S., & Zare, S. (2020). COVID19 and Airbnb: Disrupting the disruptor. Annals of Tourism Research, 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.102961.

Fast, K., Ljungberg, E., & Braunerhielm, L. (2019). On the social construction of geomedia technologies. Communication and the Public, 4 (2), 89–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/2057047319853049

FeifanXie, P., & Garner, K. (2009). An analysis of students’ photos of the novelty space on a field trip. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 9 , 176–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220903379240

Glaw, X., Inder, K., Kable, A., & Hazelton, M. (2017). Visual methodologies in qualitative research: Autophotography and photo elicitation applied to mental health research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16 (1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917748215

Gossling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C. M. (2020). Pandemics, tourism, and global change: A rapid assessment of Covid-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29 (1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1758708

Hall, C. M., Scott, D., & G¨ossling, S. (2020). Pandemics, transformations, and tourism: Be careful what you wish for. Tourism Geographies, 22 (3), 577–598. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1759131

Hang, H., Aroean, L., & Chen, Z. (2020). Building emotional attachment during COVID-19. Annals of Tourism Research, 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103006.

Hatten, K., Forin, T., & Adams, R. (2013). A picture elicits a thousand meanings: Photo elicitation as amethod for investigating cross-disciplinary identity development. In 120th ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. Atlanta . American Society for Engineering Education.

Google Scholar  

Hodgetts, D., Chamberlain, K., & Radley, A. (2007a). Considering photographs never taken during photo-production projects. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 4 (4), 263–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780880701583181

Hodgetts, D., Radley, A., Chamberlain, K., & Hodgetts, A. (2007b). Health inequalities and homelessness, considering material, spatial and relational dimensions. Journal of Health Psychology, 12 (5), 709–725. https://doi.org/10.1177/135910530708059

Hunter, W. C. (2008). A typology of photographic representations for tourism: Depictions of groomed spaces. Tourism Management, 29 , 354–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.03.008

International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 9 (2), 149–171. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940691000900203

Itani, O. S., & Hollebeek, L. D. (2021). Light at the end of the tunnel: Visitors’ virtual reality (versus in-person) attraction site tour-related behavioral intentions during and post-COVID-19. Tourism Management, 84 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104290

Jamal, T., & Higham, J. (2021). Justice and ethics: towards a new platform for tourism and sustainability. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29 (2–3) , 143–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1835933

Karl, M., Kock, F., Ritchie, B. W., & Gauss, J. (2021). Affective forecasting and travel decision-making: An investigation in times of a pandemic. Annals of Tourism Research, 87 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103139

Lo, I. S., & McKercher, B. (2015). Ideal image in process: Online tourist photography and impression management. Annals of Tourism Research, 52 , 104–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.02.019

Maclaran, P., & Brown, S. (2005). The center cannot hold: Consuming the utopian marketplace. Journal of Consumer Research, 32 (2), 311–323. https://doi.org/10.1086/432240

Meo, A. (2010). Picturing students’ habitus: The advantages and limitations of photo-elicitation interviewing in a qualitative study in the City of Buenos Aires.

Miao, L., Im, J., Fu, X., Kim, H., & Zhang, Y. E. (2021). Proximal and distal post-Covid travel behavior. Annals of Tourism Research, 88 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103159

Mills, G. E., Gay, L. R., & Airasian, P. (2017). Educational Research . Athens: Propompos.ISBN 978-618-5036-30-0.

Molinillo, S., Liébana-Cabanillas, F., Anaya-Sánchez, R., & Buhalis, D. (2018). DMO online platforms: Image and intention to visit. 65 , 116–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.09.021

Moustaka, A., & Constantoglou, M. (2021). Destination image as means of branding and marketing: Evidence from a mountainous city destination in Greece . Journal of Tourism Management Research, 8(1), 30–47. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.31.2021.81.30.47

Nanni, A., & Ulqinaku, A. (2020). Mortality threats and technology effects on tourism. Annals of Tourism Research . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.102942

Nepal, S. K. (2020). Adventure travel and tourism after COVID-19—Business as usual or opportunity to reset? Tourism Geographies, 22 (3), 646–650. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1760926

Nikjoo, A., & Bakhshi, H. (2019). The presence of tourists and residents in shared travel photos. Tourism Management, 70 , 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.08.005

Pan, B., & Li, X. (2011). The long tail of destination image and online marketing. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(1), 132–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.06.004

Pan, S., Lee, J., & Tsai, H. (2014). Travel photos: Motivations, image dimensions, and affective qualities of places. Tourism Management, 40 , 59–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.05.007

Park, E., & Kim, S. (2018). Are we doing enough for visual research in tourism? The past, present, and future of tourism studies using photographic images. International Journal Tourism Research, 20 (4), 433–441. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2194

Prideaux, B., Lee, L. Y. S., & Tsang, N. (2018). A comparison of photo-taking and online sharing behaviors of mainland Chinese and Western theme park visitors based on generation membership. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 24 (1), 29–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766716682554

Ritchie, B. W., & Jiang, Y. (2019). A review of research on tourism risk, crisis, and disaster management. Annals of Tourism Research, 79 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2019.102812

Scarles, C. (2010). Where words fail, visuals ignite: Opportunities for visual autoethnography in tourism research. Annals of Tourism Research, 37 (4), 905–926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.02.001

Schänzel, H. A., & Smith, K. A. (2011). Photography and children: Auto-driven photo-elicitation. Tourism Recreation Research, 36 (1), 81–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2011.11081664

Sheungting Lo, I., McKercher, B., Lo, A., Cheung, C., & Law, R. (2011). Tourism and online photography. Tourism Management, 32 , 725–731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.06.001

Souiden, N., Ladhari, R., & Chiadmi, N. E. (2017). Destination personality and destination image. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 32 , 54–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2017.04.003

Winter, T., & Adu-Ampong, E. A. (2021). Residents with camera: Exploring tourism impacts through participant-generated images . Annals of Tourism Research, 87 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103112

Yang, Y., Altschuler, B., Liang, Z., & Li, X. (accepted). Monitoring the global COVID-19 impact on tourism. Annals of Tourism Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103120

Zenker, S., & Kock, F. (2020). The coronavirus pandemic—A critical discussion of a tourism research agenda. Tourism Management, 81 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104164

Zenker, S., Braun, E., & Gyimόthy, S. (2021). Too afraid to travel? Development of a Pandemic (COVID-19) Anxiety Travel Scale (PATS ). Tourism Management, 84 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104286

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26335, Patra, Greece

Argyri Moustaka

University of the Aegean, Michalon 8, 82132, Chios, Greece

Mary Constantoglou

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

University of West Attica, Athens, Greece

Vicky Katsoni

Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania

Andreea Claudia Şerban

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Cite this paper.

Moustaka, A., Constantoglou, M. (2022). Photographs in Tourism Destination Management Research in the Post-COVID-19 Era. In: Katsoni, V., Şerban, A.C. (eds) Transcending Borders in Tourism Through Innovation and Cultural Heritage. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92491-1_48

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92491-1_48

Published : 28 April 2022

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-030-92490-4

Online ISBN : 978-3-030-92491-1

eBook Packages : Business and Management Business and Management (R0)

Share this paper

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

The History of Travel Photography

Discover how today’s photo tourism industry developed..

Travel photography is a popular niche in today’s tourism industry, but it wasn’t always. Photography was a technical endeavor in its early stages and travel was arduous and time-consuming. Over time, both tourism and photography evolved to be more convenient and accessible, allowing photography travel to develop into a popular industry. It is worth reflecting on the steps it took to get where we are today as travelers and photographers alike. – By Julie Connors

History of Photography

In its infancy, photography was rather more of a technical innovation than an art form. It was an accomplishment just to capture images on film and as a result, the quality of the images left something to be desired. As image quality improved, through refining development techniques, the early days of art photography emerged. Initially, photography was used for portraiture and preserving memories, but cameras were still rather immobile. Photography expanded to have scientific applications, as well, and it became a useful tool used for record keeping. For example, photography provided a method for chronicling species samples and industrial development. The broader scope of photography’s uses, created a need for transporting camera equipment. It was no easy task, but so began the process of making photography portable. The early development processes meant traveling with a portable darkroom, dangerous chemical and heavy metal or glass plates on which to develop the images. To think images were not being developed on film paper yet!

The Birth of the Tourism Industry

Along with the development of photography, so blossomed the tourism industry. At first, only the very rich could afford to travel. As transportation evolved, travel became more available to the average citizens. From roads, to railways, to finally airplanes, travel was made easier and more commonplace by these transportation developments. It became more convenient and affordable to travel for pleasure. So began the tourism industry, and as people started taking to exotic, far away destinations, they wanted to chronicle their travels.

The First Photography Travel

The advent of photography-based tourism was the next step. One might say it worked both ways; that the growth of tourism created a stimulus for photography, while the growth of photography, also provided an impetus for travel. People suddenly had an insight into unknown lands. Surely seeing photographs from a friend’s travels sparked interest in broadening one’s own experiences. One of the first travel photography expeditions was embarked on by Maxime du Camp and Gustave Flaubert. The Frenchmen left home to photograph North Africa and the Middle East, and the images and stories they returned with provided them with instant notoriety.

A turning point for travel photography came in 1888, when the first point-and-shoot camera was released by George Eastman, the founder of Kodak. The quality was far less, but the point in shoot camera made photography accessible to amateurs, as well. The most renowned of the first point in shoot cameras, was the Kodak Brownie, released nearly ten years later. Suddenly, cameras could be easily used and transported by everyone.

• Photo Safaris

One particular travel niche development within the growing tourism industry was safaris. Adventurers sought after the chance to encounter elusive African wildlife. The word safari comes from the Arabic word safar, meaning journey. Rather a broad term originally, the word safari has taken on a more specific meaning as we use it today. Safari almost exclusively refers to adventures in Africa, seeking wildlife. Safari’s originated from trade routes from Arabia countries throughout Africa. These trips were often harrowing journeys encountering dangerous terrain and wildlife.

The Big 5, originally a hunting term, has taken up a place in wildlife photography as well. For hunting, the Big 5 were the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. For this, these animals held a certain esteem for trophy hunters. For a photographer, the Big 5 represent the most sought after big game animals to photograph, for a variety of reasons. Some are quite dangerous, others elusive and all striking to photograph.

Photography Travel Today

These developments in tourism and photography have expanded to the photo tourism industry we have today. Photographers travel the world over capturing images of different landscapes, wildlife and cultures. The possibilities are practically endless for those who enjoy combining a passion for photography and travel. The number of places and sites to see around the world is almost overwhelming. Additionally, travel photography is not limited only to professionals. Photographers of all levels can take advantage of photographic tourism through guided photography holidays. Find out more about guided photo tours .

Share this post!

Recent posts.

• A Conservation Voyage through Mozambique’s Marine Kingdom
• The Unique Experience of a Cuba Photo Tour
• What to Expect from Photo Safaris in South Africa
• 9 Best Photo Tours for 2024
• Social Impact Photography: Results from our recent humanitarian photography workshop in Zambia
• Answers & Tips from Workshop Leaders
• Conservation Photography Programs
• Expert Interviews & Photography Tips
• Humanitarian Photography Programs
• Inspiration
• Landscape Photography Tours
• New Photography Workshops
• Penda Insights
• Photo Tours
• Photography Tips
• Photography Travel Tips
• Uncategorized

The Ibali Photo Collective Comes Full Circle

Comments are closed.

STAY IN TOUCH

Sign up to our free newsletter

GET IN CONTACT

[email protected]

QUICK LINKS

• Why Travel with Us
• Privacy Policy
• Logistics Services
• Intern With Us

PROUD MEMBERS OF

© 2024 Penda Photo Tours. All Rights Reserved

• South Africa
• United States
• Humanitarian
• Photography Safaris
• Landscape Photo Tours
• Humanitarian Photography Workshops
• Photography Internships
• General Photo Tours
• Our Story & Values
• Why Travel With Us
• Join our Team
• Going Green
• INSPIRATION
• PENDA TRUST

Articles Library

• Jun 4, 2021

The Importance of Photography in Tourism

Updated: Oct 29, 2023

Photography is one of the most important elements that can make tourism better. First of all, the things that make people visit a certain place are presented in a photograph. People who wish to let people know about a certain tourist destination would capture it and put it in advertisements. This is how photography is used in tourism. But if you are a photographer and you have this as a hobby, you will also be happy to know that you can also enjoy it as a tourist. Here are the different ways on how we can present the importance of photography in tourism:

The Joy of Exploration

As a tourist, you want to enjoy every travel opportunity. Being able to go to a certain destination will give you that unique feeling that you will remember all your life. The joy of exploration is something that you will be able to enjoy with a camera in your hand. There are a lot of beautiful things that you can capture. To be able to do so is a once in a lifetime experience for a lot of people. This is why whenever you are going to visit a certain destination, you should bring your camera with you and enjoy the exploration.

You Get to Relive Your Adventures

We have to admit it, there are some places that we can only visit once in a lifetime. There are also some places that are so far that you can only be there few times. For your favorite places and those that you have really dreamed of going, you should not forget to record your adventures. This way, you will always be able to relive the experience. With a camera, you will be able to capture those rare and very important events in your life as a traveler. As you go on with your life, you will always be reminded by the photo hanging on the wall or the ones you have posted on social media. This is how photography can help you relive your adventures.

You’ll meet Other Travel Photographers

If you are traveling for photography, there are different outdoor photography ideas that you should try. There are a lot of people who are into travel photography. The good news for you is that you might be able to meet them in your journey to capture moments. If you are traveling to be able to take great photos that will become part of your portfolio, you will be happy to find others like you. It would be a great thing to share experiences with people who have the same hobby or interest such as yours.

Related: A Home Beginner’s Guide to Photography for Social Media .

You’ll Cultivate Your Creativity

One of the best things about travel photography and being a tourist is that it can help you harness your creativity. Aside from the fact that traveling has that effect that can relax the brain, you can also make sure to learn a lot in photography if you are there to capture moments. You will realize that as the environment or the surroundings change, you will also learn new ways on how to take photos. You will learn the new styles and the best way to bring out the best in every subject.

Adds Thrilling Experience to Tourism

If you are a tourist, your main goal is to go to a certain place and experience things. The joy of being in a new place after having a lot of stressful experiences is such a great thing. And if you are there to take photos, you are also adding to the thrill in the whole experience. Tourism is best enjoyed when it is being recorded. If you want it to be more exciting, you should consider looking for the best things that you can photograph. You will find out that when you are holding your camera as you go around, it is easier for you to focus on the most beautiful things in the area.

Related: Pilgrim Tours

You Make Beautiful Memories

Are you traveling with friends? Are you there alone to meet new people? No matter how you want to travel, photography will help you make beautiful memories. If you are traveling with your family, you certainly need to make sure that your experience as a group will be preserved for the years to come. This is one way on how photography can help you make beautiful memories. There are also people you will just meet once and taking photos that will remind you of them is perfect.

Travel photography is one of the most popular activities for tourists. There are different ways on how you can enjoy this. If you know the different styles and you can spot the best subjects as you enjoy your journey, you will certainly add to the enjoyment. As you go from one place to another, do not forget to capture memories. When you are at home and you have to face the reality of your life again, these moments in a photo will help you go on.

Recent Posts

Overlooked Factors To Protect Your Company’s Reputation

Engaging Retail Customers Through Gamification

From Documents To Digital Data: How To Automate Your Financial Office

If you enjoyed this article, receive free email updates!

Thanks for subscribing!

Writing Services                                                           Lists and Leads                                                             Associations Directory

Join 20,000 subscribers who receive our newsletter with resources, events and articles

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Un standards for measuring tourism, share this content.

• Share this article on facebook
• Share this article on twitter
• Share this article on linkedin

Glossary of tourism terms

Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which involve tourism expenditure.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Activity/activities : In tourism statistics, the term activities represent the actions and behaviors of people in preparation for and during a trip in their capacity as consumers ( IRTS 2008, 1.2 ).

Activity (principal): The principal activity of a producer unit is the activity whose value added exceeds that of any other activity carried out within the same unit ( SNA 2008, 5.8 ).

Activity (productive): The (productive) activity carried out by a statistical unit is the type of production in which it engages. It has to be understood as a process, i.e. the combination of actions that result in a certain set of products. The classification of productive activities is determined by their principal output.

Administrative data : Administrative data is the set of units and data derived from an administrative source. This is a data holding information collected and maintained for the purpose of implementing one or more administrative regulations.

Adventure tourism : Adventure tourism is a type of tourism which usually takes place in destinations with specific geographic features and landscape and tends to be associated with a physical activity, cultural exchange, interaction and engagement with nature. This experience may involve some kind of real or perceived risk and may require significant physical and/or mental effort. Adventure tourism generally includes outdoor activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, rock climbing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, canyoning, mountain biking, bush walking, scuba diving. Likewise, some indoor adventure tourism activities may also be practiced.

Aggregated data : The result of transforming unit level data into quantitative measures for a set of characteristics of a population.

Aggregation : A process that transforms microdata into aggregate-level information by using an aggregation function such as count, sum average, standard deviation, etc.

Analytical unit : Entity created by statisticians, by splitting or combining observation units with the help of estimations and imputations.

Balance of payments : The balance of payments is a statistical statement that summarizes transactions between residents and non-residents during a period. It consists of the goods and services account, the primary income account, the secondary income account, the capital account, and the financial account ( BPM6, 2.12 ).

Bias : An effect which deprives a statistical result of representativeness by systematically distorting it, as distinct from a random error which may distort on any one occasion but balances out on the average.

Business and professional purpose (of a tourism trip): The business and professional purpose of a tourism trip includes the activities of the self-employed and employees, as long as they do not correspond to an implicit or explicit employer-employee relationship with a resident producer in the country or place visited, those of investors, businessmen, etc. ( IRTS 2008, 3.17.2 ).

Business tourism : Business tourism is a type of tourism activity in which visitors travel for a specific professional and/or business purpose to a place outside their workplace and residence with the aim of attending a meeting, an activity or an event. The key components of business tourism are meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The term "meetings industry" within the context of business tourism recognizes the industrial nature of such activities. Business tourism can be combined with any other tourism type during the same trip.

Business visitor : A business visitor is a visitor whose main purpose for a tourism trip corresponds to the business and professional category of purpose ( IRTS 2008, 3.17.2 ).

Central Product Classification : The Central Product Classification (CPC) constitutes a complete product classification covering goods and services. It is intended to serve as an international standard for assembling and tabulating all kinds of data requiring product detail, including industrial production, national accounts, service industries, domestic and foreign commodity trade, international trade in services, balance of payments, consumption and price statistics. Other basic aims are to provide a framework for international comparison and promote harmonization of various types of statistics dealing with goods and services.

Census : A census is the complete enumeration of a population or groups at a point in time with respect to well defined characteristics: for example, Population, Production, Traffic on particular roads.

Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism : Coastal tourism refers to land-based tourism activities such as swimming, surfing, sunbathing and other coastal leisure, recreation and sports activities which take place on the shore of a sea, lake or river. Proximity to the coast is also a condition for services and facilities that support coastal tourism. Maritime tourism refers to sea-based activities such as cruising, yachting, boating and nautical sports and includes their respective land-based services and infrastructure. Inland water tourism refers to tourism activities such as cruising, yachting, boating and nautical sports which take place in aquatic- influenced environments located within land boundaries and include lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, groundwater, springs, cave waters and others traditionally grouped as inland wetlands.

Coherence : Adequacy of statistics to be combined in different ways and for various uses.

Competitiveness of a tourism destination : The competitiveness of a tourism destination is the ability of the destination to use its natural, cultural, human, man-made and capital resources efficiently to develop and deliver quality, innovative, ethical and attractive tourism products and services in order to achieve a sustainable growth within its overall vision and strategic goals, increase the added value of the tourism sector, improve and diversify its market components and optimize its attractiveness and benefits both for visitors and the local community in a sustainable perspective.

Consistency : Logical and numerical coherence.

Country of reference : The country of reference refers to the country for which the measurement is done. ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Country of residence : The country of residence of a household is determined according to the centre of predominant economic interest of its members. If a person resides (or intends to reside) for more than one year in a given country and has there his/her centre of economic interest (for example, where the predominant amount of time is spent), he/she is considered as a resident of this country.

Country-specific tourism characteristic products and activities : To be determined by each country by applying the criteria of IRTS 2008, 5.10 in their own context; for these products, the activities producing them will be considered as tourism characteristic, and the industries in which the principal activity is tourism-characteristic will be called tourism industries ( IRTS 2008, 5.16 ).

Cultural tourism : Cultural tourism is a type of tourism activity in which the visitor's essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination. These attractions/products relate to a set of distinctive material, intellectual, spiritual and emotional features of a society that encompasses arts and architecture, historical and cultural heritage, culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries and the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions.

Data checking : Activity whereby the correctness conditions of the data are verified. It also includes the specification of the type of error or of the condition not met, and the qualification of the data and their division into "error-free data" and "erroneous data".

Data collection : Systematic process of gathering data for official statistics.

Data compilation : Operations performed on data to derive new information according to a given set of rules.

Data confrontation : The process of comparing data that has generally been derived from different surveys or other sources, especially those of different frequencies, in order to assess and possibly improve their coherency, and identify the reasons for any differences.

Data processing : Data processing is the operation performed on data by the organization, institute, agency, etc., responsible for undertaking the collection, tabulation, manipulation and preparation of data and metadata output.

Data reconciliation : The process of adjusting data derived from two different sources to remove, or at least reduce, the impact of differences identified.

Destination (main destination of a trip): The main destination of a tourism trip is defined as the place visited that is central to the decision to take the trip. See also purpose of a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.31 ).

Destination management / marketing organization (DMO) : A destination management/marketing organization (DMO) is the leading organizational entity which may encompass the various authorities, stakeholders and professionals and facilitates tourism sector partnerships towards a collective destination vision. The governance structures of DMOs vary from a single public authority to a public/ private partnership model with the key role of initiating, coordinating and managing certain activities such as implementation of tourism policies, strategic planning, product development, promotion and marketing and convention bureau activities. The functions of the DMOs may vary from national to regional and local levels depending on the current and potential needs as well as on the decentralization level of public administration. Not every tourism destination has a DMO.

Documentation: Processes and procedures for imputation,  weighting,  confidentiality  and suppression rules, outlier treatment and data capture should be fully documented by the  survey provider.  Such documentation should be made available to at least  the body financing the survey.

Domestic tourism : Domestic tourism comprises the activities of a resident visitor within the country of reference, either as part of a domestic tourism trip or part of an outbound tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39 ).

Domestic tourism consumption : Domestic tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a resident visitor within the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Domestic tourism expenditure : Domestic tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a resident visitor within the economy of reference, (IRTS 2008, 4.15(a)).

Domestic tourism trip : A domestic tourism trip is one with a main destination within the country of residence of the visitor (IRTS 2008, 2.32).

Domestic visitor : As a visitor travels within his/her country of residence, he/she is a domestic visitor and his/her activities are part of domestic tourism.

Durable consumer goods : Durable consumer goods are goods that may be used repeatedly or continuously over a period of a year or more, assuming a normal or average rate of physical usage. When acquired by producers, these are considered to be capital goods used for production processes, as is the case of vehicles, computers, etc. When acquired by households, they are considered to be consumer durable goods ( TSA:RMF 2008, 2.39 ). This definition is identical to the definition of SNA 2008, 9.42 : A consumer durable is a goodthat may be used for purposes of consumption repeatedly or continuously over a period of a year or more.

Dwellings : Each household has a principal dwelling (sometimes also designated as main or primary home), usually defined with reference to time spent there, whose location defines the country of residence and place of usual residence of this household and of all its members. All other dwellings (owned or leased by the household) are considered secondary dwellings ( IRTS 2008, 2.26 ).

Ecotourism : Ecotourism is a type of nature-based tourism activity in which the visitor's essential motivation is to observe, learn, discover, experience and appreciate biological and cultural diversity with a responsible attitude to protect the integrity of the ecosystem and enhance the well-being of the local community. Ecotourism increases awareness towards the conservation of biodiversity, natural environment and cultural assets both among locals and the visitors and requires special management processes to minimize the negative impact on the ecosystem.

Economic analysis : Tourism generates directly and indirectly an increase in economic activity in the places visited (and beyond), mainly due to demand for goods and services thatneed to be produced and provided. In the economic analysis of tourism, one may distinguish between tourism's 'economic contribution' which refers to the direct effect of tourism and is measurable by means of the TSA, and tourism's 'economic impact' which is a much broader concept encapsulating the direct, indirect and induced effects of tourism and which must be estimated by applying models. Economic impact studies aim to quantify economic benefits, that is, the net increase in the wealth of residents resulting from tourism, measured in monetary terms, over and above the levels that would prevail in its absence.

Economic territory : The term "economic territory" is a geographical reference and points to the country for which the measurement is done (country of reference) ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Economically active population : The economically active population or labour force comprises all persons of either sex who furnish the supply of labour for the production of goods and services as defined by the system of national accounts during a specified time-reference period (ILO, Thirteenth ICLS, 6.18).

Economy (of reference): "Economy" (or "economy of reference") is an economic reference defined in the same way as in the balance of payments and in the system of national accounts: it refers to the economic agents that are resident in the country of reference ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Education tourism : Education tourism covers those types of tourism which have as a primary motivation the tourist's engagement and experience in learning, self-improvement, intellectual growth and skills development. Education Tourism represents a broad range of products and services related to academic studies, skill enhancement holidays, school trips, sports training, career development courses and language courses, among others.

Employees : Employees are all those workers who hold the type of job defined as "paid employment" (ILO, Fifteenth ICLS, pp. 20-22).

Employer-employee relationship : An employer-employee relationship exists when there is an agreement, which may be formal or informal, between an entity and an individual, normally entered into voluntarily by both parties, whereby the individual works for the entity in return for remuneration in cash or in kind ( BPM6, 11.11 ).

Employers : Employers are those workers who, working on their own account with one or more partners, hold the type of job defined as a "self-employment job" and, in this capacity, on a continuous basis (including the reference period) have engaged one or more persons to work for them in their business as "employee(s)" (ILO, Fifteenth ICLS, pp. 20-22).

Employment : Persons in employment are all persons above a specified age who, during a specified brief period, either one week or one day, were in paid employment or self-employment (OECD GST, p. 170).

Employment in tourism industries : Employment in tourism industries may be measured as a count of the persons employed in tourism industries in any of their jobs, as a count of the persons employed in tourism industries in their main job, or as a count of the jobs in tourism industries ( IRTS 2008, 7.9 ).

Enterprise : An enterprise is an institutional unit engaged in production of goods and/or services. It may be a corporation, a non-profit institution, or an unincorporated enterprise. Corporate enterprises and non-profit institutions are complete institutional units. An unincorporated enterprise, however, refers to an institutional unit —a household or government unit —only in its capacity as a producer of goods and services (OECD BD4, p. 232)

Establishment : An establishment is an enterprise, or part of an enterprise, that is situated in a single location and in which only a single productive activity is carried out or in which the principal productive activity accounts for most of the value added ( SNA 2008, 5.14 ).

Estimation : Estimation is concerned with inference about the numerical value of unknown population values from incomplete data such as a sample. If a single figure is calculated for each unknown parameter the process is called "point estimation". If an interval is calculated within which the parameter is likely, in some sense, to lie, the process is called "interval estimation".

Exports of goods and services : Exports of goods and services consist of sales, barter, or gifts or grants, of goods and services from residents to non-residents (OECD GST, p. 194)

Frame : A list, map or other specification of the units which define a population to be completely enumerated or sampled.

Forms of tourism : There are three basic forms of tourism: domestic tourism, inbound tourism, and outbound tourism. These can be combined in various ways to derive the following additional forms of tourism: internal tourism, national tourism and international tourism.

Gastronomy tourism :  Gastronomy tourism is a type of tourism activity which is characterized by the visitor's experience linked with food and related products and activities while travelling. Along with authentic, traditional, and/or innovative culinary experiences, Gastronomy Tourism may also involve other related activities such as visiting the local producers, participating in food festivals and attending cooking classes. Eno-tourism (wine tourism), as a sub-type of gastronomy tourism, refers to tourism whose purpose is visiting vineyards, wineries, tasting, consuming and/or purchasing wine, often at or near the source.

Goods : Goods are physical, produced objects for which a demand exists, over which ownership rights can be established and whose ownership can be transferred from one institutional unit to another by engaging in transactions on markets ( SNA 2008, p. 623 ).

Gross fixed capital formation : Gross fixed capital formation is defined as the value of institutional units' acquisitions less disposals of fixed assets. Fixed assets are produced assets (such as machinery, equipment, buildings or other structures) that are used repeatedly or continuously in production over several accounting periods (more than one year) ( SNA 2008, 1.52 ).

Gross margin : The gross margin of a provider of reservation services is the difference between the value at which the intermediated service is sold and the value accrued to the provider of reservation services for this intermediated service.

Gross value added : Gross value added is the value of output less the value of intermediate consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 3.32 ).

Gross value added of tourism industries : Gross value added of tourism industries (GVATI) is the total gross value added of all establishments belonging to tourism industries, regardless of whether all their output is provided to visitors and the degree of specialization of their production process ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.86 ).

Grossing up : Activity aimed at transforming, based on statistical methodology, micro-data from samples into aggregate-level information representative of the target population.

Health tourism : Health tourism covers those types of tourism which have as a primary motivation, the contribution to physical, mental and/or spiritual health through medical and wellness-based activities which increase the capacity of individuals to satisfy their own needs and function better as individuals in their environment and society. Health tourism is the umbrella term for the subtypes wellness tourism and medical tourism.

Imputation : Procedure for entering a value for a specific data item where the response is missing or unusable.

Inbound tourism : Inbound tourism comprises the activities of a non-resident visitor within the country of reference on an inbound tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39 ).

Inbound tourism consumption : Inbound tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a non-resident visitor within the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Inbound tourism expenditure : Inbound tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a non-resident visitor within the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.15(b) ).

Innovation in tourism : Innovation in tourism is the introduction of a new or improved component which intends to bring tangible and intangible benefits to tourism stakeholders and the local community, improve the value of the tourism experience and the core competencies of the tourism sector and hence enhance tourism competitiveness and /or sustainability. Innovation in tourism may cover potential areas, such as tourism destinations, tourism products, technology, processes, organizations and business models, skills, architecture, services, tools and/or practices for management, marketing, communication, operation, quality assurance and pricing.

Institutional sector : An aggregation of institutional units on the basis of the type of producer and depending on their principal activity and function, which are considered to be indicative of their economic behaviour.

Institutional unit : The elementary economic decision-making centre characterised by uniformity of behaviour and decision-making autonomy in the exercise of its principal function.

Intermediate consumption : Intermediate consumption consists of the value of the goods and services consumed as inputs by a process of production, excluding fixed assets whose consumption is recorded as consumption of fixed capital ( SNA 2008, 6.213 ).

Internal tourism : Internal tourism comprises domestic tourism and inbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident and non-resident visitors within the country of reference as part of domestic or international tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(a) ).

Internal tourism consumption : Internal tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of both resident and non-resident visitors within the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism consumption and inbound tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Internal tourism expenditure : Internal tourism expenditure comprises all tourism expenditure of visitors, both resident and non-resident, within the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism expenditure and inbound tourism expenditure. It includes acquisition of goods and services imported into the country of reference and sold to visitors. This indicator provides the most comprehensive measurement of tourism expenditure in the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.20(a) ).

International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities : The International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) consists of a coherent and consistent classification structure of economic activities based on a set of internationally agreed concepts, definitions, principles and classification rules. It provides a comprehensive framework within which economic data can be collected and reported in a format that is designed for purposes of economic analysis, decision-taking and policymaking. The classification structure represents a standard format to organize detailed information about the state of an economy according to economic principles and perceptions (ISIC, Rev.4, 1).

International tourism : International tourism comprises inbound tourism and outbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident visitors outside the country of reference, either as part of domestic or outbound tourism trips and the activities of non-resident visitors within the country of reference on inbound tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(c) ).

International visitor : An international traveller qualifies as an international visitor with respect to the country of reference if: (a) he/she is on a tourism trip and (b) he/she is a non-resident travelling in the country of reference or a resident travelling outside of it ( IRTS 2008, 2.42 ).

Job : The agreement between an employee and the employer defines a job and each self-employed person has a job ( SNA 2008, 19.30 ).

Measurement error : Error in reading, calculating or recording numerical value.

Medical tourism : Medical tourism is a type of tourism activity which involves the use of evidence-based medical healing resources and services (both invasive and non-invasive). This may include diagnosis, treatment, cure, prevention and rehabilitation.

Meetings industry : To highlight purposes relevant to the meetings industry, if a trip's main purpose is business/professional, it can be further subdivided into "attending meetings, conferences or congresses, trade fairs and exhibitions" and "other business and professional purposes". The term meetings industry is preferred by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Reed Travel over the acronym MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) which does not recognize the industrial nature of such activities.

Metadata : Data that defines and describes other data and processes.

MICE : See meetings industry.

Microdata : Non-aggregated observations, or measurements of characteristics of individual units.

Mirror statistics : Mirror statistics are used to conduct bilateral comparisons of two basic measures of a trade flow and are a traditional tool for detecting the causes of asymmetries in statistics (OECD GST, p. 335).

Mountain tourism : Mountain tourism is a type of tourism activity which takes place in a defined and limited geographical space such as hills or mountains with distinctive characteristics and attributes that are inherent to a specific landscape, topography, climate, biodiversity (flora and fauna) and local community. It encompasses a broad range of outdoor leisure and sports activities.

National tourism : National tourism comprises domestic tourism and outbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident visitors within and outside the country of reference, either as part of domestic or outbound tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(b) ).

National tourism consumption : National tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of resident visitors, within and outside the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism consumption and outbound tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

National tourism expenditure : National tourism expenditure comprises all tourism expenditure of resident visitors within and outside the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism expenditure and outbound tourism expenditure ( IRTS 2008, 4.20(b) ).

Nationality : The concept of "country of residence" of a traveller is different from that of his/her nationality or citizenship ( IRTS 2008, 2.19 ).

Non-monetary indicators : Data measured in physical or other non-monetary units should not be considered a secondary part of a satellite account. They are essential components, both for the information they provide directly and in order to analyse the monetary data adequately ( SNA 2008, 29.84 ).

Observation unit : entity on which information is received and statistics are compiled.

Outbound tourism : Outbound tourism comprises the activities of a resident visitor outside the country of reference, either as part of an outbound tourism trip or as part of a domestic tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39(c) ).

Outbound tourism consumption : Outbound tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a resident visitor outside the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Outbound tourism expenditure : Outbound tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a resident visitor outside the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.15(c) ).

Output : Output is defined as the goods and services produced by an establishment, a) excluding the value of any goods and services used in an activity for which the establishment does not assume the risk of using the products in production, and b) excluding the value of goods and services consumed by the same establishment except for goods and services used for capital formation (fixed capital or changes in inventories) or own final consumption ( SNA 2008, 6.89 ).

Output (main): The main output of a (productive) activity should be determined by reference to the value added of the goods sold or services rendered (ISIC rev.4, 114).

Pilot survey : The aim of a pilot survey is to test the questionnaire (pertinence of the questions, understanding of questions by those being interviewed, duration of the interview) and to check various potential sources for sampling and non-sampling errors: for instance, the place in which the surveys are carried out and the method used, the identification of any omitted answers and the reason for the omission, problems of communicating in various languages, translation, the mechanics of data collection, the organization of field work, etc.

Place of usual residence : The place of usual residence is the geographical place where the enumerated person usually resides, and is defined by the location of his/her principal dwelling (Principles and recommendations for population and housing censuses of the United Nations, 2.20 to 2.24).

Probability sample : A sample selected by a method based on the theory of probability (random process), that is, by a method involving knowledge of the likelihood of any unit being selected.

Production account : The production account records the activity of producing goods and services as defined within the SNA. Its balancing item, gross value added, is defined as the value of output less the value of intermediate consumption and is a measure of the contribution to GDP made by an individual producer, industry or sector. Gross value added is the source from which the primary incomes of the SNA are generated and is therefore carried forward into the primary distribution of income account. Value added and GDP may also be measured net by deducting consumption of fixed capital, a figure representing the decline in value during the period of the fixed capital used in a production process ( SNA 2008, 1.17 ).

Production : Economic production may be defined as an activity carried out under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit that uses inputs of labour, capital, and goods and services to produce outputs of goods or services ( SNA 2008, 6.24. ).

Purpose of a tourism trip (main): The main purpose of a tourism trip is defined as the purpose in the absence of which the trip would not have taken place ( IRTS 2008, 3.10. ). Classification of tourism trips according to the main purpose refers to nine categories: this typology allows the identification of different subsets of visitors (business visitors, transit visitors, etc.) See also destination of a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 3.14 ).

Quality of a tourism destination : Quality of a tourism destination is the result of a process which implies the satisfaction of all tourism product and service needs, requirements and expectations of the consumer at an acceptable price, in conformity with mutually accepted contractual conditions and the implicit underlying factors such as safety and security, hygiene, accessibility, communication, infrastructure and public amenities and services. It also involves aspects of ethics, transparency and respect towards the human, natural and cultural environment. Quality, as one of the key drivers of tourism competitiveness, is also a professional tool for organizational, operational and perception purposes for tourism suppliers.

Questionnaire and Questionnaire design : Questionnaire is a group or sequence of questions designed to elicit information on a subject, or sequence of subjects, from a reporting unit or from another producer of official statistics. Questionnaire design is the design (text, order, and conditions for skipping) of the questions used to obtain the data needed for the survey.

Reference period : The period of time or point in time to which the measured observation is intended to refer.

Relevance : The degree to which statistics meet current and potential users' needs.

Reliability : Closeness of the initial estimated value to the subsequent estimated value.

Reporting unit : Unit that supplies the data for a given survey instance, like a questionnaire or interview. Reporting units may, or may not, be the same as the observation unit.

Residents/non-residents : The residents of a country are individuals whose centre of predominant economic interest is located in its economic territory. For a country, the non-residents are individuals whose centre of predominant economic interest is located outside its economic territory.

Response and non-response : Response and non-response to various elements of a survey entail potential errors.

Response error : Response errors may be defined as those arising from the interviewing process. Such errors may be due to a number of circumstances, such as inadequate concepts or questions; inadequate training; interviewer failures; respondent failures.

Rural tourism : Rural tourism is a type of tourism activity in which the visitor's experience is related to a wide range of products generally linked to nature-based activities, agriculture, rural lifestyle / culture, angling and sightseeing. Rural tourism activities take place in non-urban (rural) areas with the following characteristics:

• Low population density;
• Landscape and land-use dominated by agriculture and forestry; and
• Traditional social structure and lifestyle

Same-day visitor (or excursionist): A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Sample : A subset of a frame where elements are selected based on a process with a known probability of selection.

Sample survey : A survey which is carried out using a sampling method.

Sampling error : That part of the difference between a population value and an estimate thereof, derived from a random sample, which is due to the fact that only a subset of the population is enumerated.

Satellite accounts : There are two types of satellite accounts, serving two different functions. The first type, sometimes called an internal satellite, takes the full set of accounting rules and conventions of the SNA but focuses on a particular aspect of interest by moving away from the standard classifications and hierarchies. Examples are tourism, coffee production and environmental protection expenditure. The second type, called an external satellite, may add non-economic data or vary some of the accounting conventions or both. It is a particularly suitable way to explore new areas in a research context. An example may be the role of volunteer labour in the economy ( SNA 2008, 29.85 ).

SDMX, Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange : Set of technical standards and content-oriented guidelines, together with an IT architecture and tools, to be used for the efficient exchange and sharing of statistical data and metadata (SDMX).

Seasonal adjustment : Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique to remove the effects of seasonal calendar influences on a series. Seasonal effects usually reflect the influence of the seasons themselves, either directly or through production series related to them, or social conventions. Other types of calendar variation occur as a result of influences such as number of days in the calendar period, the accounting or recording practices adopted or the incidence of moving holidays.

Self-employment job : Self-employment jobs are those jobs where remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits (or the potential of profits) derived from the goods or services produced.

Self-employed with paid employees : Self-employed with paid employees are classified as employers.

Self-employed without employees : Self-employed without employees are classified as own-account workers.

Services : Services are the result of a production activity that changes the conditions of the consuming units, or facilitates the exchange of products or financial assets. They cannot be traded separately from their production. By the time their production is completed, they must have been provided to the consumers ( SNA 2008, 6.17 ).

Social transfers in kind : A special case of transfers in kind is that of social transfers in kind. These consist of goods and services provided by general government and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISHs) that are delivered to individual households. Health and education services are the prime examples. Rather than provide a specified amount of money to be used to purchase medical and educational services, the services are often provided in kind to make sure that the need for the services is met. (Sometimes the recipient purchases the service and is reimbursed by the insurance or assistance scheme. Such a transaction is still treated as being in kind because the recipient is merely acting as the agent of the insurance scheme) (SNA 2008, 3.83).

Sports tourism : Sports tourism is a type of tourism activity which refers to the travel experience of the tourist who either observes as a spectator or actively participates in a sporting event generally involving commercial and non-commercial activities of a competitive nature.

Standard classification : Classifications that follow prescribed rules and are generally recommended and accepted.

Statistical error : The unknown difference between the retained value and the true value.

Statistical indicator : A data element that represents statistical data for a specified time, place, and other characteristics, and is corrected for at least one dimension (usually size) to allow for meaningful comparisons.

Statistical metadata : Data about statistical data.

Statistical unit : Entity about which information is sought and about which statistics are compiled. Statistical units may be identifiable legal or physical entities or statistical constructs.

Survey : An investigation about the characteristics of a given population by means of collecting data from a sample of that population and estimating their characteristics through the systematic use of statistical methodology.

System of National Accounts : The System of National Accounts (SNA) is the internationally agreed standard set of recommendations on how to compile measures of economic activity in accordance with strict accounting conventions based on economic principles. The recommendations are expressed in terms of a set of concepts, definitions, classifications and accounting rules that comprise the internationally agreed standard for measuring indicators of economic performance. The accounting framework of the SNA allows economic data to be compiled and presented in a format that is designed for purposes of economic analysis, decision-taking and policymaking ( SNA 2008, 1.1 ).

Total tourism internal demand : Total tourism internal demand, is the sum of internal tourism consumption, tourism gross fixed capital formation and tourism collective consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.114 ). It does not include outbound tourism consumption.

Tourism : Tourism refers to the activity of visitors ( IRTS 2008, 2.9 ).

Tourism characteristic activities : Tourism characteristic activities are the activities that typically produce tourism characteristic products. As the industrial origin of a product (the ISIC industry that produces it) is not a criterion for the aggregation of products within a similar CPC category, there is no strict one-to-one relationship between products and the industries producing them as their principal outputs ( IRTS 2008, 5.11 ).

Tourism characteristic products : Tourism characteristic products are those that satisfy one or both of the following criteria: a) Tourism expenditure on the product should represent a significant share total tourism expenditure (share-of-expenditure/demand condition); b) Tourism expenditure on the product should represent a significant share of the supply of the product in the economy (share-of-supply condition). This criterion implies that the supply of a tourism characteristic product would cease to exist in meaningful quantity in the absence of visitors ( IRTS 2008, 5.10 ).

Tourism connected products : Their significance within tourism analysis for the economy of reference is recognized although their link to tourism is very limited worldwide. Consequently, lists of such products will be country-specific ( IRTS 2008, 5.12 ).

Tourism consumption : Tourism consumption has the same formal definition as tourism expenditure. Nevertheless, the concept of tourism consumption used in the Tourism Satellite Account goes beyond that of tourism expenditure. Besides the amount paid for the acquisition of consumption goods and services, as well as valuables for own use or to give away, for and during tourism trips, which corresponds to monetary transactions (the focus of tourism expenditure), it also includes services associated with vacation accommodation on own account, tourism social transfers in kind and other imputed consumption. These transactions need to be estimated using sources different from information collected directly from the visitors, such as reports on home exchanges, estimations of rents associated with vacation homes, calculations of financial intermediation services indirectly measured (FISIM), etc. ( TSA:RMF 2008, 2.25 ).

Tourism destination : A tourism destination is a physical space with or without administrative and/or analytical boundaries in which a visitor can spend an overnight. It is the cluster (co-location) of products and services, and of activities and experiences along the tourism value chain and a basic unit of analysis of tourism. A destination incorporates various stakeholders and can network to form larger destinations. It is also intangible with its image and identity which may influence its market competitiveness.

Tourism direct gross domestic product : Tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP) is the sum of the part of gross value added (at basic prices) generated by all industries in response to internal tourism consumption plus the amount of net taxes on products and imports included within the value of this expenditure at purchasers' prices ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.96 ).

Tourism direct gross value added : Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) is the part of gross value added generated by tourism industries and other industries of the economy that directly serve visitors in response to internal tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.88 ).

Tourism expenditure : Tourism expenditure refers to the amount paid for the acquisition of consumption goods and services, as well as valuables, for own use or to give away, for and during tourism trips. It includes expenditures by visitors themselves, as well as expenses that are paid for or reimbursed by others ( IRTS 2008, 4.2 ).

Tourism industries : The tourism industries comprise all establishments for which the principal activity is a tourism characteristic activity. Tourism industries (also referred to as tourism activities) are the activities that typically producetourism characteristic products. The term tourism industries is equivalent to tourism characteristic activities and the two terms are sometimes used synonymously in the IRTS 2008, 5.10, 5.11 and figure 5.1 .

Tourism product : A tourism product is a combination of tangible and intangible elements, such as natural, cultural and man-made resources, attractions, facilities, services and activities around a specific center of interest which represents the core of the destination marketing mix and creates an overall visitor experience including emotional aspects for the potential customers. A tourism product is priced and sold through distribution channels and it has a life-cycle.

Tourism ratio : For each variable of supply in the Tourism Satellite Account, the tourism ratiois the ratio between the total value of tourism share and total value of the corresponding variable in the Tourism Satellite Account expressed in percentage form ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.56 ). (See also Tourism share).

Tourism Satellite Account : The Tourism Satellite Account is the second international standard on tourism statistics (Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008 –TSA:RMF 2008) that has been developed in order to present economic data relative to tourism within a framework of internal and external consistency with the rest of the statistical system through its link to the System of National Accounts. It is the basic reconciliation framework of tourism statistics. As a statistical tool for the economic accounting of tourism, the TSA can be seen as a set of 10 summary tables, each with their underlying data and representing a different aspect of the economic data relative to tourism: inbound, domestic tourism and outbound tourism expenditure, internal tourism expenditure, production accounts of tourism industries, the Gross Value Added (GVA) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) attributable to tourism demand, employment, investment, government consumption, and non-monetary indicators.

Tourism Satellite Account aggregates : The compilation of the following aggregates, which represent a set of relevant indicators of the size of tourism in an economy is recommended ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.81 ):

• Internal tourism expenditure;
• Internal tourism consumption;
• Gross value added of tourism industries (GVATI);
• Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA);
• Tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP).

Tourism sector : The tourism sector, as contemplated in the TSA, is the cluster of production units in different industries that provide consumption goods and services demanded by visitors. Such industries are called tourism industries because visitor acquisition represents such a significant share of their supply that, in the absence of visitors, their production of these would cease to exist in meaningful quantity.

Tourism share : Tourism share is the share of the corresponding fraction of internal tourism consumption in each component of supply ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.51 ). For each industry, the tourism share of output (in value), is the sum of the tourism share corresponding to each product component of its output ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.55 ). (See also Tourism ratio ).

Tourism single-purpose consumer durable goods : Tourism single-purpose consumer durables is a specific category of consumer durable goods that include durable goods that are used exclusively, or almost exclusively, by individuals while on tourism trips ( TSA:RMF 2008 , 2.41 and Annex 5 ).

Tourism trip : Trips taken by visitors are tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.29 ).

Tourist (or overnight visitor): A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Tourism value chain : The tourism value chain is the sequence of primary and support activities which are strategically fundamental for the performance of the tourism sector. Linked processes such as policy making and integrated planning, product development and packaging, promotion and marketing, distribution and sales and destination operations and services are the key primary activities of the tourism value chain. Support activities involve transport and infrastructure, human resource development, technology and systems development and other complementary goods and services which may not be related to core tourism businesses but have a high impact on the value of tourism.

Travel / traveller : Travel refers to the activity of travellers. A traveller is someone who moves between different geographic locations, for any purpose and any duration ( IRTS 2008, 2.4 ). The visitor is a particular type of traveller and consequently tourism is a subset of travel.

Travel group : A travel group is made up of individuals or travel parties travelling together: examples are people travelling on the same package tour or youngsters attending a summer camp ( IRTS 2008, 3.5 ).

Travel item (in balance of payments): Travel is an item of the goods and services account of the balance of payments: travel credits cover goods and services for own use or to give away acquired from an economy by non-residents during visits to that economy. Travel debits cover goods and services for own use or to give away acquired from other economies by residents during visits to other economies ( BPM6, 10.86 ).

Travel party : A travel party is defined as visitors travelling together on a trip and whose expenditures are pooled ( IRTS 2008, 3.2 ).

Trip : A trip refers to the travel by a person from the time of departure from his/her usual residence until he/she returns: it thus refers to a round trip. Trips taken by visitors are tourism trips.

Urban/city tourism : Urban/city tourism is a type of tourism activity which takes place in an urban space with its inherent attributes characterized by non-agricultural based economy such as administration, manufacturing, trade and services and by being nodal points of transport. Urban/city destinations offer a broad and heterogeneous range of cultural, architectural, technological, social and natural experiences and products for leisure and business.

Usual environment: The usual environment of an individual, a key concept in tourism, is defined as the geographical area (though not necessarily a contiguous one) within which an individual conducts his/her regular life routines ( IRTS 2008, 2.21 ).

Usual residence : The place of usual residence is the geographical place where the enumerated person usually resides (Principles and recommendations for population and housing censuses of the United Nations, 2.16 to 2.18).

Vacation home : A vacation home (sometimes also designated as a holiday home) is a secondary dwelling that is visited by the members of the household mostly for purposes of recreation, vacation or any other form of leisure ( IRTS 2008, 2.27 ).

Valuables : Valuables are produced goods of considerable value that are not used primarily for purposes of production or consumption but are held as stores of value over time ( SNA 2008, 10.13 ).

Visit : A trip is made up of visits to different places.The term "tourism visit" refers to a stay in a place visited during a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.7 and 2.33 ).

Visitor : A visitor is a traveller taking a trip to a main destination outside his/her usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose (business, leisure or other personal purpose) other than to be employed by a resident entity in the country or place visited ( IRTS 2008, 2.9 ). A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Wellness tourism : Wellness tourism is a type of tourism activity which aims to improve and balance all of the main domains of human life including physical, mental, emotional, occupational, intellectual and spiritual. The primary motivation for the wellness tourist is to engage in preventive, proactive, lifestyle-enhancing activities such as fitness, healthy eating, relaxation, pampering and healing treatments.

9 Things to See in Moscow's Red Square

 Sir Francis Canker/Getty Images

In most cases, you'll be entering Red Square from the north, passing landmarks such as the Bolshoi Theatre and Duma parliament building as you make your way southward. Although you don't necessarily have to pass through the Voskresensky (or Resurrection in English) Gates in order to gain access to the square these days, they definitely provide a sense of arrival, to say nothing of the way their left arch frame's St. Basil's Cathedral if you look from just the right angle.

An interesting fact is that while a gate of some kind has stood here since the mid-16th century, the one you currently see wasn't built until 1994, having been destroyed in 1931 so that tanks could enter and exit Red Square during military parades.

St. Basil's Cathedral

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson 

Few sights are as iconic not only of Moscow and Red Square but indeed of Russia than St. Basil's Cathedral, whose colorful, onion-shaped domes are a symbol of the country around the world. Officially known as the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, this church has stood since 1561, which is quite miraculous when you consider all the turbulent history that has transpired since then.

Among other things, religion was severely prohibited during the Soviet period , which led some to believe that this emblem of the Russian Orthodox church might not withstand the tenure of the USSR. 

An interesting fact is that St. Basil's is the so-called "Kilometer Zero" of Russia; all of Moscow's main roads (which can take you anywhere in Russia) begin at the exits to Red Square. In this way, St. Basil's iconic status also has an extremely tangible element.

The Kremlin

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

When you think of The Kremlin, it's unlikely that positive images enter your mind. The fact that simply saying the word "Kremlin" is too vague a descriptor (most Russian cities have their own Kremlin complexes; you should say "Moscow Kremlin") notwithstanding, this misunderstood place is incredibly beautiful, even if you don't like the policy that comes out of it.

Senate Square

In spite of its name, which refers to the role the building that rises above the square played during Imperial Russia, Senate Square is actually home to Russia's presidential administration, currently helmed by Vladimir Putin. In order to see where Russia's legislature operates from, walk just outside Red Square to the Duma parliament building.

Dormition Cathedral

Dating back to the year 1479, the gold-domed Dormition Cathedral pays homage to an Orthodox religious feast that commemorates the death of the Virgin Mary . As is the case with St. Basil's, it is curious that such a conspicuously religious structure was able to survive through the Soviet period.

Armoury Chamber

Though it takes its name from the fact that it housed Russia's royal arsenal when it was built in the 16th century, the most notable resident of the Kremlin's Armoury Chamber today is the Russian Diamond Fund.

Notable Kremlin Towers

Robert Schrader

The interior of the Moscow Kremlin is more beautiful and inviting than you'd expect, but the walls and towers that rise around it better live up to the intimidation with which the complex is associated. 

Borovitskaya Tower

Named to commemorate the dense forest that once stood atop the mount where it's built, this tower is extremely picturesque. Built in the late 15th century, it's visible from most places in the square, and also as you walk along the Moskva River.

Nikolskaya Tower

Also built in the year 1491, this tower currently suffered destruction at the hands of Napoleon's army in the 19th century. What you see now is the result of an 1816 re-design and renovation, though artillery fire during the Russian Revolution also caused superficial damage to the tower, named to honor St. Nikolas of Mozhaysk , so it's difficult to know which elements of it are original.

Spasskaya Tower

Known in English as the "Savior's Tower," this iconic, star-topped tower is perhaps the best-known of all the Kremlin's towers. Built in 1491 like the other two towers on this list, it's certainly the most photographed. As a result of its proximity to St. Basil's, it often makes its way into tourists' pictures.

Mausoleum of Lenin

Just as it's strange to learn how many religious monuments survived through the Soviet period, it's a bit odd to think that Lenin's preserved body still sits in a mausoleum just beneath the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square, given the lack of consensus about the ultimate impact of his Revolution, even in Russia.

It's not guaranteed that you'll be able to see the body (which, believe it or not, seems to be improving with age ) when you go, and if you do you will likely have to wait in line, but even strolling past the outside of the Lenin Mausoleum, flanked by stone-faced guards that almost look like statues, illuminates the gravity of his body still being here.

GUM Shopping Center

You might cringe, at least initially, when you realize that one of the most iconic stops on a tour of Red Square is a department store—until you see said department store, that is. Built in 1893 and known during Soviet times as the State Department Store, GUM  ( Glávnyj Universáľnyj Magazín​ or Main Universal Store in English) hearkens back to the grandeur of the late 19th century, both seen from the outside (especially, when lit up at night) and the interior, which might have you feeling like you're further west in Europe.

A trip inside GUM is a particularly good idea during winter, when frigid temperatures outside will have you savoring the heat, the quality of souvenirs, confections and other goods sold inside notwithstanding. Also, make sure not to confuse GUM with CDM, which sits near the Bolshoi Theatre, even though both are stunning and iconic in their own right.

State Historical Museum

The Russian State Historical Museum is located near Voskresensky Gates, though you should wait until after you've seen the first few attractions of Red Square and the Kremlin to head back there and go inside. To be sure, as you pass by its facade (whose late-19th century grandeur somewhat obscures that fact that it's currently a museum accessible to the public) you might not even think to try and gain entry.

Once inside the museum, you can plan to spend at least a couple of hours, given that artifacts here date back to the very beginning of the Russian state in the ninth century. As is the case with GUM, this will be a particularly alluring prospect if you visit in winter, when Moscow is arguably at its most beautiful, but certainly at its least tolerable. 

Minin-Pozharsky Monument

It's somewhat easy to disregard this monument, which pays homage to the two Russian princes who ended the so-called "Time of Troubles" in the mid-16th century, during which Polish-Lithuanian forces occupied Russia, among other awful things including a famine. That's because the statue currently sits just at the base of St. Basil's Cathedral, which makes it very difficult to photograph or even see without being overwhelmed by that much more famous edifice.

Though the statue originally sat at the very center of Red Square, it came to be an obstacle to the movement of tanks during the Soviet period, much like the Voskresensky Gates. As a result, authorities moved it during that time, and it's stayed where you currently find it ever since.

Kazan Cathedral

Taken by itself, the smokey-pink Kazan Cathedral is an architectural marvel; originally built in the 17th century, the church you find here today, located just north of the GUM department store, dates back only to 1993.

Unfortunately, since it sits not only in the shadow of GUM, but also in the shadow St. Basil's and the Towers of the Kremlin, it's easy to miss entirely if you aren't looking. As a result, you might wait until you've seen just about everything else in Red Square before coming here to take photos, and to appreciate the understated beauty of this oft-overlooked cathedral.

Moskva River

As you head south from St. Basil's Cathedral to exit Red Square, make sure to walk onto Bolshoy Moskvoretskiy Bridge, which crosses the Moskva River. If you look due north, you can get an excellent shot of the church framed, on the left, by the towers of the Kremlin. Directing your gaze a bit to the west allows you to see the skyscrapers of Moscow City as they rise above the Kremlin's walls.

Walking westward along the riverbank is also a worthwhile excursion, for the views it provides of Red Square and the Kremlin, as well as the fact that doing so takes you to other iconic Moscow attractions, including Gorky Park and the Pushkin Museum. The views you enjoy from the river and the bridge are particularly stunning at night, though you should make sure you bring a tripod if you want to get a clear picture, given how strong winds over and near the river can be.

Moscow - Russian Rivers and Waterways Port of Call

Moscow Metro: The Complete Guide

25 Best Things to Do in Moscow

The Impressive Castles of Eastern Europe

St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow: Planning Your Visit

St. Petersburg, Russia

10 Must-Visit Palaces and Castles in Russia

Top 12 Things to Do in Kazan, Russia

The Top 12 Things to Do in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

The Top 12 Things to Do in Astrakhan

Soviet Sights in Moscow – Moscow USSR Sites

A Guide to the 4th Arrondissement in Paris

The Top 15 Places to Visit in Russia

The Top 12 Things to Do in Novgorod, Russia

The Top 15 Things to Do in Bordeaux, France

A Guide to Moscow: Capital of Russia, City of Domes

Discover the world

Where do you want to go :.

• Destinations
• Travelers & Locals
• Tours & Guides

320 Places and 555 Members

1250 Places and 2400 Members

2050 Places and 1500 Members

820 Places and 3400 Members

1050 Places and 2650 Members

1000 Places and 4340 Members

775 Places and 350 Members

800 Places and 750 Members

Join the Fun!

Create your travel profile. Meet like minded travelers. Share the places you love.

Tour Guide or Travel Agent?

Create a free profile and list your travel offers.

A Social Network Connecting Travelers and Locals

Travel is all about new experiences. No matter where you're going, Touristlink gives you opportunity to get a real feel of the culture. Meet up with a local for a coffee or beer, find travel companions to share the journey. Touristlink makes it easy to arrange your trip directly with the person organizing it. With over 50,000 tour operators and 150,000 travelers and locals signed up we are the largest social network connecting travelers and locals. Learn More >

Want to get started? Sign up and tell us where you're going. Share your trip plan with other travelers and locals and meet someone new or broadcast it to local guides to find the best deal or discover a tour you have not heard about. How it Works >

Post a Trip. Here is how it works

Travel is all about new experiences. No matter where you're going, Touristlink gives you opportunity to get a real feel of the culture. Meet up with a local for a coffee or beer, find travel companions to share the journey, or if you want arrange a tour with an independent guide. If you are looking to find a tour guide we will email your trip plan to relevant local guides and tour operators.

Post your trip

It takes just a few seconds to post your trip details to the Touristlink community.

Get Connected

Once it's posted locals and other travelers going the same place can see it and contact you. If you're looking for a guide or great travel deal will email your trip plan to the local tour operators so they may contact you.

Enjoy your Trip

Half of travel is meeting new and interesting people. Take a chance and see where Touristlink takes you. Get started.

Explore World

• Places To Visit
• Recreation / Outdoor
• Tourist Essentials
• Shopping / Nightlife
• Popular Destinations
• Towns & Villages
• Universities
• Skyscrapers
• Historic Houses
• States/Regions
• Heritage Sites
• Key Buildings
• Neighborhoods
• Famous Streets
• Plazas and Squares

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more I agree

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Dec 28 2016

7 First Impressions of Moscow, Russia (From a Street Photography Perspective)

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the second largest city in Europe by population. It’s an urban, cosmopolitan city of the highest level, with more than enough glitz to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of European and Russian that makes it stand out on its own. And the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen.

So here are my first impressions of Moscow, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

7 First Impressions of Moscow  (From a Street Photography Perspective)

1. big city with so much to discover.

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own. 

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

2. Museum Metro

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to definitely check out:

• Novoslobodskaya 
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya 
• Komsomolskaya 
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

3. Not as walkable as Saint-Petersburg

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have a lot of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

4.  Gorky Park is like a Russian Central Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Half the city under construction

European cities in general seem to be filled with more construction than usual lately. But while this won’t be true forever, Moscow was filled with the most I’ve ever seen. Moscow already has the most skyscrapers in Europe, with many being less than a decade old. In only the last few years, the three tallest skyscrapers in Europe have opened here, giving it five of Europe’s ten tallest. The 2018 FIFA Word Cup is bringing much of this on, but the city is pushing to complete a skyline here than will rival any in the world.

The recession has slowed down the construction some, but the government is pushing it on. So all over the city, there were sidewalks covered with wood boards and lined with striped construction walls. At first, it was a little disappointing from a street photography perspective to see so much blocked by construction. After a while, though, it became something to capture. The striped construction materials and signs are colorful and all the workers created some interesting activity. It will be interesting to see what the city looks like when everything is complete, but for now, the construction provides interest itself.

6. Learn the Russian Alphabet

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, it can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

7. Where East Meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with a museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more European package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline and modernities with soviet emblems and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet nostalgia, and a whole lot more.

Russia’s Metropolis

Moscow is famous around the world, but it might not be completely what you expect from Russia’s capital. The city’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it brings something changed over time since its Soviet days. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. Most might say it feels more like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

If any of you have been to Moscow before, tell me about your experience and impressions of the city and country in the comments below! And stay tuned for more on Moscow, including some of the best Street Photography shots I captured while there.

Click Here for More First Impressions on Cities Around the World 

(from a street photographer’s perspective)

Comment Here! Cancel reply

For patreon exclusive educational content:.

Limited Edition Postcard Prints!

Street Photography Workshops

Donations Always Appreciated

I'll always keep Shooter Files free for everyone, but any donations would be greatly appreciated and help me keep it going. Many thanks to everyone following along!

Cheers! -f.d. walker

Search the Files

For Exclusive Patron Content:

23 Best & Fun Things to Do in Moscow (Idaho)

Would you like to know the best and fun things to do in Moscow, idaho?

The historic city of Moscow, Idaho, is located in the county seat of Latah County, and it houses the famous University of Idaho founded in 1890.

Moscow, Idaho, has one of the fertile landscapes of rolling hills located on the Idaho Washington boundary where agricultural products are cultivated and harvested in due season.

Watch out for old brick buildings along the cozy downtown area, dating back from the 20th century with many community events such as bustling artwork in June and weekly farmers’ markets spring through fall.

The magnificent city boasts one of the best universities in the world. The University of Idaho stands as the main structure of the town, which plays important roles such as sporting life, culture, society, and many more.

Additionally, the city is surrounded by the Palouse landscape, where wheat fields can be explored east and west and on the two-paced rail trails. For a fun time in Moscow, here are the top things to do in Moscow, Idaho.

Things to do in Moscow, Idaho

1. explore mcconnell mansion.

The historic McConnell Mansion is located on the evergreen Adams Street near the blocks east of Main Street, an old stately building.

The magnificent building serves as headquarters to the Latah County Historical Society, making it one of the best skyscrapers of Moscow, Idaho.

The mansion features a well-decorated room with authentic furnishings and expensive appliances, making it a lovely environment.

Additionally, the beautiful facility also puts up a piece of portable learning equipment and fascinating exhibits and furniture imported from the most region of the world; the premises is always worth visiting.

Address: 110 S Adams St, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

2. University of Idaho Arboretum & Botanical Garden

Explore the beautiful scenes of the evergreen University of Idaho Arboretum & Botanical Garden, a perfect addition to your list of best things to do in Moscow, Idaho.

The 63 acres of land is located just south of the president’s residence near the University’s golf arena with the beautiful Palouse hills in the background.

The University of Idaho Arboretum & Botanical Garden is open for everyone with free admission; the greenhouse is laid out on Hayfield in the 1980s.

The historic arena boasts ancient high specimen trees, including a mighty giant Sequoia located on the north side of the president’s residence.

Additionally, the beautiful scenery houses on the south end a display garden for ornamental willows, butterfly garden, xerophytes, and the irises and heather.

Address: Johnson Cutoff Rd, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

3. Seasons Public House

One of the fun things to do in Moscow, Idaho, is visiting the famous Seasons Public House close to the Best Western PLUS University Inn.

The Seasons Public House boasts unique exhibits such as the brioche bun and Cougar Gold cheese, making it the top attraction of Moscow, Idaho.

The historic Seasons Public House serves one of the best dishes in the town; lunch and dinner are well secured in the public establishment.

The Seasons Public House makes rare products such as the elk burger mixed with the Cougar Gold cheese caramel tart with espresso ice cream.

Additionally, the center is open to every individual and serves only lunch and dinner on weekdays and a special menu on Sunday.

Address: 1516 W Pullman Rd, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

4. Latah Trail

A day in this paved trail from Moscow to twelve miles long towards the east makes what to do in Moscow, Idaho, for fun.

The city is located close to Troy, and the famous Latah Trail was completed in 2008 arrayed in some 30 miles to the southeast.

The magnificent Latah Trail allows for plenty of space for pedestrians and cyclists in the summer, cross-country skiers after a snowfall in the winter, and snowfall.

The center stands as one of the top attractions around Moscow, Idaho; children can access the trail with no difficulty climbing slight slopes.

Additionally, enjoy breathtaking panoramas at the Palouse with coniferous forest connected with the Chipman Palouse Trail.

Address: Moscow, ID, USA

5. Moscow Community Theatre

A day in Moscow, Idaho is worth spending in the Moscow Community Theatre.

The historic Moscow Community Theatre is located in downtown Moscow making it one of the top attractions; the theatre stores essential city documentaries.

The magnificent Moscow Community Theatre is a non-profit theatre organization that entertains people around Moscow, Idaho, for free.

It offers a lifetime experience to people of all ages and grades to participate in affordable and enjoy quality community theatre games on the Palouse.

Additionally, the Moscow Community Theatre was founded based on encouraging and training the younger generation on the importance of theatre and not letting finance be a significant disruption to people of low income.

Address: PO Box 9072 Moscow, ID 83843, United States.

6. Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center

Visiting the beautiful Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center for vacation and tours stands as one of Moscow, Idaho, attractions

The historic Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center are well known for their famous horse breed synonymous with the Palouse region and its colorful spotted coat.

It features unique exhibits such as the Appaloosas’ various coat patterns give a foresight about the Nez Perce people and their need for the Appaloosas.

The Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center are well located in the Idaho-Washington state line, where the museum serves the need of the people of Idaho.

Additionally, the center displays cases with lots of objects, from white and black photography to saddles and Native American artifacts, and there are sections of extensive library and theatre.

Address: 2720 Pullman Rd, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

7. Bucer’s Coffeehouse & Pub

One of the unique things to do in Moscow, Idaho, is visiting the magnificent Bucer’s Coffeehouse & Pub and exploring the unique taste of fine coffee.

The historic Bucer’s Coffeehouse & Pub boast of tasty roasted fine coffee and fresh wines for the city of Moscow, Idaho, to enjoy and spend some time out.

It also produces excellent espresso, with a unique local draughted beer, baking delicate pastries and grilling sandwiches, and lots of tasty products on parade.

The Bucer’s Coffeehouse & Pub is one of the best places to enjoy great food and drinks around the city, and it allows for minor events, parties, and social gatherings.

Additionally, the vibrant center offers live music from both local and invited artists from across the globe, making it one of the crowded centers in the city.

8. Moscow Farmers’ Market

The magnificent Moscow Farmers’ Market serves as a host to many farmers with fresh, eatable products for the people.

The historic Moscow farmer’s market is located on Main Street, where the best Moscow farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs reside with friendly goods ranging from fresh farm produce to stock foods.

The Moscow farmer’s market gives a maximum opportunity for artisans, farmers, and people in business to connect with visitors and city residents who need their goods.

It features many vendors for fruits, vegetables, plants, local grass-fed meat, flowers, jams, honey, home decorations, hand-forged knives, pastries, and many more.

Additionally, the market offers live music on most weekends and newly prepared food from caked rice to beans, samosas, and tacos.

Address: 403 S Main St, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

Considering a vacation in Nebraska?, do not miss exploring the top attractions and fun activities in Kearney , and  Lincoln

9. Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

Enjoy live jazz music in the prestigious Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has been located in the University of Idaho since the 1960s, making it one of the most attended festivals in Moscow, Idaho.

The historic event is one of the oldest and largest educational jazz festivals globally, with about half of the population of the city in attendance.

It hosts about 100 workshops, a dozen world-class jazz artists, over 400 student performances each year, and special exhibits with other educational activities.

Additionally, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival honors public music shows, dance, and recorded jazz music, with the famous honored artist Lionel Hampton always present.

10. Bill Chipman Palouse Trail

Walking along the beautiful pathway of Bill Chipman Palouse Trail is one of the best things to do in Moscow, Idaho, for visitors and interested individuals.

The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail is located on the west of Moscow along the right of way of the old Union Pacific Railroad across Pullman, Washington.

The historic Bill Chipman Palouse Trail has a shallow gradient with many interpretative signs along the route, making it a fun area and a scenario for great photoshoots.

The center is close to Pullman, Washington, which is home to the flagship campus of Washington State University and stands as one of the largest institutions of higher education in the United States.

Additionally, the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail offers gorgeous landscapes and a telecommuter route for motorcycles between the two university campuses.

Address: Perimeter Drive, Pullman, WA 99163, United States.

The famous event is one of the top places to visit in Moscow, Idaho, with lots of people coming out to express their desire concerning the matters of the city and interacting with one another.

DEFY is a rallying cry and an attitude that promotes people’s freedom from norms and allowance for individualism in Moscow, Idaho.

The DEFY event cut across all activities, from the rules guiding social, educational, religious, health, and even sporting activities.

The historic DEFY gives the community a space to express themselves, be free about specific policies, and agitate for change where necessary.

Additionally, the beautiful city of Moscow, Idaho, is constrained in many ways with laws but DEFY gives everyone a safe place for reasonable society expectations.

Address: 231 Warbonnet Dr, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

12. Prichard Art Gallery

The Prichard Art Gallery offers a lovely rundown of exhibitions, educational programs, and events.

 The facility is located in downtown Moscow near the famous University of Idaho and has been functional once in 1986 before moving to its current location on Main Street.

 The Prichard Art Gallery allows about 17,000 visitors a year with lots of fun things to do and see, such as beautiful art walks, fine arts, sculptures, and many more.

It features many creative members from the Idaho College of Arts and Architecture with local, regional exhibits and a whole spectrum of national and international media.

Additionally, the beautiful exhibits presented are rotated at short intervals, so there is always something new to see at each interval with craftspeople from the area and unique gift shops.

Address: 414 S Main St, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

13. BookPeople of Moscow

The historic BookPeople of Moscow is a famous center for independent bookstores, making it a perfect addition to your list of cool things to do in Moscow, Idaho.

The BookPeople of Moscow is located in the downtown area and provides a place to browse and research exciting topics buy new and used books.

The magnificent BookPeople of Moscow s stored, operated, and owned by the community members in Moscow, Idaho, for scientific research works and historical fiction.

The famous BookPeople of Moscow store contains fiction and nonfiction books for visitors and interested individuals across the States.

Additionally, you can explore many items such as puzzles, journals, gift cards, greeting cards, new books, and other great gift items.

Address: 521 S Main St, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

14. Idaho Repertory Theatre

The historic Idaho Repertory Theatre is one of the fun things to do in Moscow, Idaho, which offers plenty of accommodation opportunities from RV parks, breakfasts, and quaint beds to hotels.

Pullman and Moscow are close university towns making it a crowded zone of young people with lots of fun activities available to make life lovable.

The magnificent Idaho Repertory Theatre hosts the Best Western PLUS University Inn, which is one of the most recommended hotels for foreign visitors.

The wonderful establishment boasts about 173 renovated guest rooms, lovely poolside rooms, sauna, onsite restaurant, snack shop, central courtyard, exercise room, and many more.

Additionally, the Idaho Repertory Theatre provides a free shuttle, hot breakfast, free WiFi, night cookies, and a wide range of drinks for visitors and interested individuals.

Address: 604 S Rayburn St, Moscow, ID 83844, United States

15. Rendezvous Park

The Moscow park stands as one of the best places to enjoy live music and karaoke beats.

 The center hosts a challenging time out with three days of nonstop music and famous artists’ presentation of beautiful artwork.

 A team of volunteers spearheads the historic Rendezvous Park brought together by their passion for music and art culture.

 It features the sharing of creative ideas from desperate lovers of music and art, people with one object of promoting harmony in Moscow, Idaho.

 Additionally, the famous rendezvous park music starts in the late afternoon, but it is always advised to get there early to enjoy the open-air performances and shows every night.

Address: 3333 Swan Valley Hwy, Swan Valley, ID 83449, United States

For a fun road trip in Kentucky, do not miss exploring the top things to do in Elizabethtown , things to do in Bardstown , and things to do in Williamstown .

16. Colter’s Creek Winery

Explore the taste of great grapes and handcrafted wines in the famous Colter’s Creek Winery, making it one of the top places to visit in Moscow, Idaho, for wine lovers

The historic Colter’s Creek Winery is located in the country south of Moscow and has all most everything you need to make an excellent wine for the people of Moscow, Idaho.

The center gained official recognition in 2006 with the designation of the AVA (American Viticultural Area) by the Lewis Clark Valley.

It contains a tasting room and a storefront in Moscow, the growing of grapes is done on the sunny slopes where the potlatch flows directly into the Clearwater River.

Additionally, the beautiful Colter’s Creek has planted vineyards of various grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, gamut Riesling, and many handcrafted wines.

Address: 215 S Main St #2807, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

17. Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center

Lovers of aquatic sports and aquatic activities will enjoy the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center .

During the summer period in Moscow, where the sun is on the high side, the public outdoor pool is a fantastic place to find yourself with a splash pad and water park around.

The Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center features a 25-yard six-lane pool for swimmers, both professional and interested individuals, to get the laps in.

The center allows the parent to bring in children to enjoy a wonderful timeout with the toddler-friendly slide, interactive equipment, tumble buckets and giant slides for bigger kids.

Additionally, the beautiful Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center is open for everyone from June through September, with lots of fun features to explore, such as picnic tables, free WiFi, and many more.

Address: 830 N Mountain View Rd, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

18. Ghormley Park

The magnificent Ghormley Park is open for both family and friends to enjoy a paradise away from home. Do add to your list of fun things to do in Moscow, Idaho.

The wonderful park is bordered on the south side by the beautiful paradise Creek making the city’s favorite relaxation zone with shades of tall trees everywhere; the park is filled with fresh air.

The park covers about ten acres of land with a large picnic shelter for recreational activities, social gatherings, and events of all kinds and age grades.

The historic Ghormley Park boasts of unique features such as public amenities for a baseball arena, softball, horseshoes, and basketball court.

Additionally, the park is open to everyone, including the young and the old, with a perfect playground for kids and children events BBQ grills fitted around the area; it is a fun site indeed.

Address: 400 Home St, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

19. Idaho Vandals (Kibbie Dome)

The historic Kibbie Dome is a sports complex that houses the Idaho Vandals making it a perfect addition to your list of Moscow, Idaho, activities

 The historic 16,000-seater multipurpose complex is open to everyone to catch live football games, both men and female, basketball games, tennis, and other outdoor games.

The magnificent Kibbie Dome was established in the early 1970s as an open-air stadium for sporting activities, religious gatherings, and even political and community activities.

The Idaho Vandals football team engage in several completion, most especially in the Sky Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), making it an exciting place to spend some time out.

Additionally, the Vandals basketball team has dominated the championship for along that. It was named after the famous coach Hec Edmundson (1886-1964) for his resilient works in the game; it is indeed a place of fun.

Address: 875 Perimeter Dr, Moscow, ID 83844, USA

20. Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre

Visiting the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre is one of the best fun things in Moscow, Idaho, to enjoy the best outdoor experience.

This historic Spanish revival cinema dated to 1920 and was founded on the silent movie house wth the prestigious vaudeville stage, one of the portable structures on the ground

The Arts complex is located downtown Moscow and serves as the main movie theatre of the city, with many recent foreign and home country documentaries displayed daily.

It is paraded in a Deco Art style facade with many classical, independent, international movies and community stage performances from young ones.

Additionally, the beautiful Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre allows for other events such as Art gallery exhibits, modeling, and fashion show.

Address: 508 S Main St, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

21. Palouse Ice Rink

The famous Palouse Ice Rink stands as one of the recommended sites to spend vacation and tour.

The wonderful Palouse Ice Rink is located in the southeastern region of the town; it attracts a crowd from all over the city due to its conducive environment.

The temporary building is in the form of an aircraft hangar with plans and fundraisers ongoing for a more considerable and permeant structure to entertain the people of the city.

The center offers regular public skating sessions during the daytime and in the evening session, allowing for skate rental at a very affordable price.

Additionally, the Palouse Ice Rink also boasts unique features Palouse Adult League, Hockey pick-up hockey, league curling, drop-in late-night curling, and many more.

Address: 1021 Harold Ave, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

22. Fondo on the Palouse

The magnificent Fondo on the Palouse takes you on a fantastic journey down the trail.

The beautiful Fondo on the Palouse hosts many sporting activities such as bike riding other motorsports, which sets off from Moscow.

The public establishment has organized most cycling events, normally premiered on the stage from the last Saturday of June every year.

The 15-mile route family Fondo moves from Moscow to Troy; it can be extended based on a particular order, with the 50-mile ride along the Bill Chipman Palouse trails and Latah also available.

 Additionally, interested individuals can also engage in the 200-mile grand Moscow Fondo, which passes through Deary, Troy, Princeton, and many more before returning to Moscow at last.

Do add to your bucket list of things to do in Moscow, Idaho.

  Address: 513 S Main St Moscow, Idaho 83843, United States.

23. Moscow Artwalk

The famous Moscow Artwalk is one of the modern sites in the city with lots of fun things to do and see around, a perfect addition to your bucket list of best things to do in Moscow, Idaho.

The historic site was established in 2004; it stands as one of the landmark structures in the Palouse region, making it one of the favorites in the city.

The center engages about 100 artists and 60 businesses around the downtown area who participate in artistic events and vibrant cultural activities.

The magnificent Moscow Artwalk produces a wide range of exhibits and live music, live demonstrations by artists, dance shows, workshops on the main Street.

Additionally, the famous center hosts a cultural feast for some selected person who engages in the self-guided trail with different passport systems and stamps to qualify you for the prize and entry draw, a place of enjoyment and relaxation for anyone.

Address: S Main St, Moscow, ID 83843, United States.

Have more time in Idaho, do not miss exploring the top attractions and things to do in Meridian , and  things to do in Rexburg .

Plan Your Trip to Moscow

Exploring the beautiful city of Moscow, Idaho, is one of the best fun and worthy experience for your vacation, tours, and camp meetings for interested individuals.

Moscow, Idaho is a sure place to visit if you intend not to run out of fun places and ideas during your visit; there are many fun places to go, such as Fondo on the Palouse, Ghormley Park, Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center, and many more.

This destination is ideal for visitors who want to explore the many picturesque areas and scenes for movie production, events, and public gatherings.

Remember this post whenever you find yourself in the city of Moscow, Idaho, because all the information and resources that you need are right here to access you make the best of this fantastic city.

From the list of fun things to do in Moscow, Idaho, be sure to enjoy your visit. Happy Travels!