Lesson Two
Have you ever wondered why millions of people travel around the world each year?
Today, we'll explore what tourism really means in our modern world. Tourism is more than just
traveling for pleasure - it's a complex phenomenon that involves people, places, economies, and
cultures.
Lesson’s objectives : By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Define tourism and explain its basic concepts
2. Identify and describe different types of tourists
3. Classify various forms of tourism
4. Use appropriate vocabulary to discuss tourism concepts
What is Tourism ?
Tourism means the activity of visitors taking a trip to a main destination outside their
usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose, including business, leisure or
other personal purpose, other than to be employed by a resident entity in the place visited.
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism is defined as 'the movement
of people to places outside their usual environment for any purpose, including leisure, business,
or personal issues.'
he World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) defines tourism as "activities undertaken by people or groups of people
during their travels and their stay in locations different from the usual living space. These
activities can take place over a period of less than a year with the purpose of rest, business and
other reasons. "Therefore, tourism is a socio-cultural practice that is justified by the need to
cover the psychosocial needs of rest, recreation, travel, discovery of places, people and new
habits, the relationship with
people around us and the acquisition of new knowledge.
Exact Meaning of the word Tourism :
Tourism in simple words is :
Tourism is about a temporary or short-term movement away from the place where a
person normally lives and works. The tourist intends to return home at the end of the visit.
The length of the visit may be from just one night up to one year. This leads us to another
question :who is the tourist?
The Tourist in simple terms, travels to another location, away from their usual social
environment, for business, pleasure, or social reasons. By most accepted definitions, to be
classed as a tourist, a person needs to stay at that location for longer than 24 hours but for no
longer than one year.
Tourists may be motivated to travel by various factors, such as refreshment of body and mind
or the pursuit of excitement, entertainment, or pleasure. Alternatively, travelers may be driven
by cultural curiosity, self-improvement, business, a desire to visit friends and family, or to
form new relationships.
While business travelers are usually classed as tourists, it is worth noting that many definitions
of the word exclude those who travel to make an income in the place that they travel to.
There are other terms used to refer to the tourist like visitors or excursionists (residents or non-
residents) which has to do with the activities performed and the kind of tourism.
Categories of tourism :
UNWTO (UN’s World Tourism Organization) divides tourism into three main categories
broadly speaking three main forms of tourism based on the origin ,destination and country of
departure : the domestic, inbound, and outbound tourism.
Domestic tourism
Domestic tourism is defined as traveling within your
own country
of residence, either for business or leisure purposes.
It’s usually much easier to organize than international travel,
since you don’t need additional paperwork, health checks, and
you can simply take a domestic flight, bus, or train ride to your destination.
For example, if you live in Batna and go to Algiers for the weekend, this is
domestic tourism. Language barriers and culture shock are also not a factor in domestic
tourism (at least not in the majority of cases), making
it less stressful.
Inbound tourism
When you enter another country, this is inbound tourism for the destination country. For
example, if you travel from the USA to Spain, this is inbound tourism for Spain.
Inbound tourism is also a form of international tourism. This means that you need to prepare
all necessary paperwork in advance, as well as take care of additional formalities as needed,
such as vaccinations and health checks.
Outbound tourism
In outbound tourism, you go from your own country to another one. If we take the same example
as in the previous section, if you go from the USA to Spain, this is outbound tourism for the
USA, since you’re leaving the country.
Outbound tourism is a form of international travel and comes with its own set of formal
requirements.
Travel agents are familiar with those and might make traveling easier – but independent
travelers can also venture on their own and take care of their own paperwork. Many online
travel agencies are specialized in outbound tourism.
Derived groupings:
From the previous categories further groupings can be derived :
Figure1 : Tourism concepts by [Link] 2007
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
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
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
The 8 types of tourism according to motivation
We could also define the different tourism types based on the travelers’ motivations, goals,
and needs. These can be broken down into 8 main types of tourism:
1-Business tourism or business travel or Corporate travel : is a subset of tourism in which
travelers go to another location (domestic or international) for professional reasons, such as
to:
• Meet with business partners or prospects
• Attend an event, conference,exhibitions or trade show
• Visit another office location of the same company
• Organizing business dinners ,meetings or workshops
Crucially, business tourists are still classed as working, but are doing so away from their usual
place of work.
Sometimes, business travelers are extending their trips for leisure or are combining the two
under what is now known as “Bleisure” (from business and leisure).
2-Leisure tourism or Recreational Tourism:
Tourism which is primarily motivated by leisure, enjoyment and relaxation can be categorized
as recreational tourism.
Leisure tourism is a broad category that can encompass many different others like : adventure
tourism, ecotourism, cultural tourism, urban tourism, and more.
Leisure tourism is simply defined as tourism during free time, in which someone relaxes and
experiences a different environment than his own.
Local tourist attractions are often a major focus of leisure tourism, or to chill in a resort complex
and simply book a bunch of spa treatments, for example.
Food is also a major motivator for many leisure travelers. Many tourists visit new destinations
to taste authentic local foods. Food tourism can be considered a subset of leisure tourism.
3-Shopping tourism
Shopping tourism is a popular type of travel among those who want to get a hold of brands
and objects that aren’t locally available, be it clothes, food, jewelry, souvenirs, electronics, or
something entirely different.
Fashion tourism is a subset of shopping tourism and among the top tourist destinations for it
are cities like Milan, New York, Paris, London, and more.
4-Cultural tourism
Cultural tourism is a type of tourism where the traveler is motivated by a desire to learn about
and engage with the history, traditions, practices and cultural attractions of a location.
Cultural tourism is probably the idea of a dream vacation, where someone gets to experience
another country’s cultural heritage, such as architectural monuments, literature, theater, music,
cuisine, museums and religious sites, attending festivals, engaging with the arts or even learning
the local language and more.
Because of the rich tapestry of its history, Europe is a popular destination for cultural tourism,
and many European countries see a large number of tourists each year.
For those who want to travel to experience different cultures, UNESCO’s list of world heritage
sites might be a list worth exploring, as it regroups the most significant cultural and natural sites
of the whole world.
5-Sports tourism Sports or adventure tourism is another type of leisure
tourism that is related to a sports activity. It includes people who are going to
spectate and people who are participating in the event such as
rafting, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, diving, cycling, and more.
Sports tourism might be related to fans traveling to follow their favorite sports team or people
to see see a major sporting event, such as, the Olympics or the FIFA soccer World Cup or the
US Open in tennis.
6-Rural tourism
Rural tourism is popular with those who need a break from the hustle and bustle of city life ;
that is focused on areas away from major settlements like towns and cities.
Typically, it’s a form of sustainable tourism involving active participation in a rural way of
life. Examples include camping trips, hiking trips, agritourism, which is typically focused on
farms or ranches, and ecotourism, hence, it is a form of responsible travel to natural rural areas
to experience a simpler lifestyle and a calmer, less polluted environment.
Local people might benefit from rural tourism in many different ways, while visitors might
engage in different tourism activities, such as hiking, orienteering, hunting, fishing, and more.
7-Mountain tourism
Mountain tourism is popular among sports enthusiasts, as it offers lots of opportunities to be
active in nature: skiing, hiking, and mountain biking being just a few of the many.
Sustainability has been a major consideration in mountain tourism in recent years, because
mountains often have fragile ecosystems that cannot tolerate a huge number of visitors or
mass tourism.
8-Urban tourism
Urban tourism is a form of tourism that is hugely popular among different demographics, from
backpackers to luxury travelers and from recent graduates to retirees.
Top urban tourist destinations in 2022 include Paris, Dubai, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome,
London, and New York, among others, and attract a large number of international tourists each
year.
Many people travel – but for completely different reasons
People travel for many different reasons and in many different ways –Beyond the ones listed,
there are plenty of other types of tourism, such as medical tourism, religious tourism, wellness
tourism, dark tourism, and more. Broadly speaking, however, we could consider leisure and
business tourism to be among the two main categories based on travelers’ motivation.
➢ Religious Tourism or Spiritual Travel :
As the name suggests, religious tourism is tourism for reasons related to religion and
spirituality, such as pilgrimage or educational visits to sacred locations. It can form a crucial
part of some religions Some of the biggest examples of religious tourism include Hajj and
Umrah pilgrimages to Mecca by Muslims, or visits to the Vatican City by Christians. Another
example would be a trip to a Buddhist temple or retreat.
➢ Sustainable Tourism also known as Eco Tourism :
Sustainable tourism aims to minimize the impact of tourism on the environment, nature and
local communities. At its best, it balances the needs of local people, businesses and travelers,
while protecting wildlife, helping to make the tourism industry more viable in the long term.
Examples of sustainable practices include reducing waste, using renewable energy, sourcing
food locally, or switching to transportation methods with lower emissions.
➢ Adventure Tourism
Adventure tourism describes forms of tourism that include an element of risk and where
physical exertion and special skills may be needed. It provides tourists with an opportunity to
enjoy thrills or unique experiences and encourages them to step away from their usual way of
life to try something more adventurous.
Examples of activities that fall under the definition of adventure tourism include mountain
climbing, bungee jumping, scuba diving and trekking.
➢ Domestic Tourism and Staycations
Domestic tourism is a form of tourism where a person travels to another location within the
country they usually reside in. This may include staycations, weekend breaks and other
similar trips.
➢ Medical Tourism or Health Tourism
Medical tourism or health tourism occurs when an individual travels to another country for the
purpose of receiving medical treatment. It can have negative connotations, as it may put
excessive pressure on a healthcare system, but some countries actively target people from other
countries and advertise access to specific treatments like Turkey .
Historically, medical tourism primarily appealed to people living in countries with a poor
healthcare system. However, in more recent times, a number of countries have found that
offering cosmetic procedures or access to experimental treatments can attract a large number
of visitors.
➢ Agritourism – Farm and Ranch Stays
Agritourism combines agricultural activities with tourism and will typically involve a tourist
staying on a farm, ranch or similar property. It allows the tourist to experience day-to-day life
in an agricultural setting, teaching them aspects of the business’ operations, while providing
entertainment
Common examples of activities that tourists may participate in include feeding animals,
riding horses, picking fruit and eating meals made on the farm, using produce from the farm.
➢ Dark Tourism, Black Tourism or Grief Tourism
Dark tourism, or black tourism, is a sub-section of the tourism industry focused on places that
are associated with tragedies. Sometimes described as grief tourism, it will include visits to
battlefields, prison camps, sites associated with disaster, and other historical locations linked to
death and suffering.
➢ Culinary Tourism or Food and Drink Tourism
Culinary or food tourism describes travel that is primarily motivated by food experiences.
People may travel to a different part of the world to try local cuisine and become immersed in
a country’s culture through food.
This form of tourism primarily appeals to food enthusiasts, but also attracts people who work
with food, such as chefs and restaurant owners.
In conclusion, tourism is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that shapes our modern
world. It is not just about travel - it's about creating experiences, connecting cultures, and
contributing to global development.
Practice : Answer beifly the following questions :
a)To be considered as a tourist, for how long a person can stay in a different place ?
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b) Can a person making money at the touristic place be considered as a tourist ?
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c) What does the word « bleisure » means ?
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d) Among the many types of tourism, cite those considered to be SUSTAINABLE :
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Vocabulary: Tourism
Match the phrases on the left with the phrases on the right.
• boat charter • all day trips which include everything
• flexible • prices from cheap to expensive
• full day packages • Saturday and Sunday diving trips which include everything
• happy to negotiate • rent a boat
• long term and short term hire rates • We can change arrangements easily
• from budget to superior • We can discuss the price
• trips by arrangement • The price depends on how long you hire. (Longer term rates are cheaper.)
• weekend dive packages • We can organise things depending on what you need.
