Tourism: General Introduction

Question: Tourism - General introductory notes?

Ans: Tourism: General Introduction

Tourism refers to the act of traveling for leisure, recreation, or exploration, typically to places of interest or cultural, historical, natural, or recreational significance. It encompasses various types of travel experiences, such as vacations, business trips, educational travels, adventure tours, and cultural exploration. The tourism industry includes a wide array of services, such as transportation, hospitality, food, entertainment, and attractions that facilitate the movement of people from one location to another.

Tourism is an important sector of the global economy and plays a key role in many countries' GDP (Gross Domestic Product). It is also one of the largest sources of employment worldwide, encompassing roles in travel agencies, hotels, transportation services (airlines, railways, buses, etc.), guides, and various other industries linked to tourism and hospitality.

The growth of tourism has been facilitated by technological advancements, globalization, and increasing disposable income, leading to the widespread availability of affordable travel options. As more people are encouraged to explore diverse cultures and destinations, tourism has become a major component of social interaction, economic exchange, and cultural understanding.

Etymology of "Tourism"

The word tourist was used by 1772, and tourism by 1811.

William F.Theobald (1994) suggested that "etymologically, the word tour is derived from the Latin, 'tornare' and the Greek, 'tornos', meaning 'a lathe or circle. ('The movement around a central point or axis').  Like a circle, a tour represents a journey in that it is a round-trip, i.e., the act of leaving and then returning to the original starting point, and therefore, one who takes such a journey can be called a tourist."

  World Tourism Day - 27 September

In 1936, the League of Nations defined a foreign tourist as "someone travelling abroad for at least twenty-four hours". Its successor, the United Nations, amended this definition in 1945, by including a maximum stay of six months.

In 1941, Hunziker and Krapf defined tourism as people who travel "the sum of the phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, insofar as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning activity."

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

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

In 1994, the United Nations identified three forms of tourism in its Recommendations on Tourism Statistics:

The word "tourism" has its roots in the French word "tourisme", which means "a journey" or "a trip." The term is derived from the word "tour", meaning a "circular journey," from the Old French "turer", which means to "turn" or "circle." This is connected to the idea of making a circular journey from one place back to the starting point.

The word "tour" in English first appeared in the 17th century, often used to describe an extensive journey or a round trip. Over time, the term "tour" evolved to encompass the idea of organized travel for leisure or exploration. The term "tourism" itself was coined in the early 19th century to describe the act of traveling for pleasure or recreation. By the mid-19th century, with the growth of railways and tourism services, the term became more widely recognized and used in different languages.

Origin and Evolution of Tourism

The origin of tourism as an organized activity can be traced back to ancient civilizations, although its modern concept differs significantly. Some of the earliest forms of travel were linked to religious pilgrimages, trading, or exploration, which required people to travel long distances.

1. Ancient Civilizations:
• In Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, people traveled for reasons such as religion, trade, and military purposes. The wealthy in these societies also engaged in travel for leisure, and early forms of tourism were linked to sacred sites and ancient festivals.
• The Greeks are often credited with being among the earliest tourists, as they traveled to important cultural centers like Delphi and Olympia to attend sporting events and religious festivals.
2. Middle Ages:
• During the Middle Ages, travel was predominantly for religious reasons, with pilgrimages to holy sites like Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela forming a significant part of tourism.
• The Crusades also stimulated travel, as Christian knights journeyed to the Holy Land.
3. The Grand Tour (17th-18th Century):
• The idea of leisure travel evolved during the Renaissance period, culminating in what became known as the Grand Tour, which was popular among European aristocrats and young men of noble families during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• The Grand Tour involved traveling to cultural centers such as Rome, Paris, and Florence to appreciate art, history, and architecture, and it was seen as an essential part of education for the upper class.
4. Industrial Revolution (19th Century):
• The industrial revolution in the 19th century marked a significant shift in tourism. Advances in transportation (such as the steam engine, railroads, and steamships) made travel more accessible to a broader segment of society, not just the wealthy.
• Thomas Cook, a British entrepreneur, is often credited with pioneering organized tourism in the 19th century by arranging the first package tours and promoting affordable travel options for the general public.
• The growth of railways and the emergence of seaside resorts fueled mass tourism, as it became easier for people to visit popular vacation destinations.
5. 20th Century to Present:
• In the 20th century, tourism underwent rapid expansion, with the advent of commercial airlines making international travel more accessible and affordable to the middle class.
• The rise of mass tourism, alongside the development of modern tourism infrastructure (airports, hotels, travel agencies), transformed tourism into a global industry.
• Tourism has diversified into various forms, including ecotourism, adventure tourism, medical tourism, cultural tourism, and business tourism, catering to an increasingly diverse group of travelers seeking a wide range of experiences.
• Technological innovations, such as the internet, social media, and online booking platforms, have further revolutionized the tourism industry, enabling travelers to research, plan, and book trips independently.

Conclusion

Tourism, as we understand it today, is the result of centuries of evolution, from ancient religious journeys to the modern global industry that promotes travel for leisure, education, and exploration. With its vast range of forms, from cultural exploration to ecotourism and beyond, tourism plays a vital role in both the global economy and the cultural exchange between people from different regions and backgrounds.