
- Entertainment & Pop Culture
- Geography & Travel
- Health & Medicine
- Lifestyles & Social Issues
- Philosophy & Religion
- Politics, Law & Government
- Sports & Recreation
- Visual Arts
- World History
- On This Day in History
- Biographies
- Top Questions
- Week In Review
- Infographics
- Demystified
- Image Galleries
- One Good Fact
- Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.
- Britannica Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.
- #WTFact Videos In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.
- This Time in History In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.
- Demystified Videos In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.
- Student Portal Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.
- COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.
- 100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.
- Britannica Beyond We’ve created a new place where questions are at the center of learning. Go ahead. Ask. We won’t mind.
- Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century. Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them!
- SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!
- Introduction

The origins of tourism
Technology and the democratization of international tourism.
- Day-trippers and domestic tourism
- A case study: the beach holiday
- Related Content
- More Articles On This Topic
- Additional Reading
- Contributors
- Article History
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
- Social Science LibreTexts - Tourism
- Rice University - History and Overview of Tourism
- tourism - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
- tourism - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
- Table Of Contents

tourism , the act and process of spending time away from home in pursuit of recreation, relaxation, and pleasure, while making use of the commercial provision of services. As such, tourism is a product of modern social arrangements, beginning in western Europe in the 17th century, although it has antecedents in Classical antiquity .
Tourism is distinguished from exploration in that tourists follow a “beaten path,” benefit from established systems of provision, and, as befits pleasure-seekers, are generally insulated from difficulty, danger, and embarrassment. Tourism, however, overlaps with other activities, interests, and processes, including, for example, pilgrimage . This gives rise to shared categories, such as “business tourism,” “sports tourism,” and “ medical tourism ” (international travel undertaken for the purpose of receiving medical care).

By the early 21st century, international tourism had become one of the world’s most important economic activities, and its impact was becoming increasingly apparent from the Arctic to Antarctica . The history of tourism is therefore of great interest and importance. That history begins long before the coinage of the word tourist at the end of the 18th century. In the Western tradition, organized travel with supporting infrastructure , sightseeing, and an emphasis on essential destinations and experiences can be found in ancient Greece and Rome , which can lay claim to the origins of both “heritage tourism” (aimed at the celebration and appreciation of historic sites of recognized cultural importance) and beach resorts. The Seven Wonders of the World became tourist sites for Greeks and Romans.
Pilgrimage offers similar antecedents, bringing Eastern civilizations into play. Its religious goals coexist with defined routes, commercial hospitality, and an admixture of curiosity, adventure, and enjoyment among the motives of the participants. Pilgrimage to the earliest Buddhist sites began more than 2,000 years ago, although it is hard to define a transition from the makeshift privations of small groups of monks to recognizably tourist practices. Pilgrimage to Mecca is of similar antiquity. The tourist status of the hajj is problematic given the number of casualties that—even in the 21st century—continued to be suffered on the journey through the desert. The thermal spa as a tourist destination—regardless of the pilgrimage associations with the site as a holy well or sacred spring—is not necessarily a European invention, despite deriving its English-language label from Spa , an early resort in what is now Belgium. The oldest Japanese onsen ( hot springs ) were catering to bathers from at least the 6th century. Tourism has been a global phenomenon from its origins.
Modern tourism is an increasingly intensive, commercially organized, business-oriented set of activities whose roots can be found in the industrial and postindustrial West. The aristocratic grand tour of cultural sites in France , Germany , and especially Italy—including those associated with Classical Roman tourism—had its roots in the 16th century. It grew rapidly, however, expanding its geographical range to embrace Alpine scenery during the second half of the 18th century, in the intervals between European wars. (If truth is historically the first casualty of war, tourism is the second, although it may subsequently incorporate pilgrimages to graves and battlefield sites and even, by the late 20th century, to concentration camps .) As part of the grand tour’s expansion, its exclusivity was undermined as the expanding commercial, professional, and industrial middle ranks joined the landowning and political classes in aspiring to gain access to this rite of passage for their sons. By the early 19th century, European journeys for health, leisure , and culture became common practice among the middle classes, and paths to the acquisition of cultural capital (that array of knowledge, experience, and polish that was necessary to mix in polite society) were smoothed by guidebooks, primers, the development of art and souvenir markets, and carefully calibrated transport and accommodation systems.
Transport innovation was an essential enabler of tourism’s spread and democratization and its ultimate globalization . Beginning in the mid-19th century, the steamship and the railway brought greater comfort and speed and cheaper travel, in part because fewer overnight and intermediate stops were needed. Above all else, these innovations allowed for reliable time-tabling, essential for those who were tied to the discipline of the calendar if not the clock. The gaps in accessibility to these transport systems were steadily closing in the later 19th century, while the empire of steam was becoming global. Railways promoted domestic as well as international tourism, including short visits to the coast, city , and countryside which might last less than a day but fell clearly into the “tourism” category. Rail travel also made grand tour destinations more widely accessible, reinforcing existing tourism flows while contributing to tensions and clashes between classes and cultures among the tourists. By the late 19th century, steam navigation and railways were opening tourist destinations from Lapland to New Zealand , and the latter opened the first dedicated national tourist office in 1901.

After World War II , governments became interested in tourism as an invisible import and as a tool of diplomacy , but prior to this time international travel agencies took the lead in easing the complexities of tourist journeys. The most famous of these agencies was Britain’s Thomas Cook and Son organization, whose operations spread from Europe and the Middle East across the globe in the late 19th century. The role played by other firms (including the British tour organizers Frame’s and Henry Gaze and Sons) has been less visible to 21st-century observers, not least because these agencies did not preserve their records, but they were equally important. Shipping lines also promoted international tourism from the late 19th century onward. From the Norwegian fjords to the Caribbean , the pleasure cruise was already becoming a distinctive tourist experience before World War I , and transatlantic companies competed for middle-class tourism during the 1920s and ’30s. Between the World Wars, affluent Americans journeyed by air and sea to a variety of destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America .
Tourism became even bigger business internationally in the latter half of the 20th century as air travel was progressively deregulated and decoupled from “flag carriers” (national airlines). The airborne package tour to sunny coastal destinations became the basis of an enormous annual migration from northern Europe to the Mediterranean before extending to a growing variety of long-haul destinations, including Asian markets in the Pacific, and eventually bringing postcommunist Russians and eastern Europeans to the Mediterranean. Similar traffic flows expanded from the United States to Mexico and the Caribbean. In each case these developments built on older rail-, road-, and sea-travel patterns. The earliest package tours to the Mediterranean were by motor coach (bus) during the 1930s and postwar years. It was not until the late 1970s that Mediterranean sun and sea vacations became popular among working-class families in northern Europe; the label “ mass tourism,” which is often applied to this phenomenon, is misleading. Such holidays were experienced in a variety of ways because tourists had choices, and the destination resorts varied widely in history, culture, architecture, and visitor mix. From the 1990s the growth of flexible international travel through the rise of budget airlines, notably easyJet and Ryanair in Europe, opened a new mix of destinations. Some of these were former Soviet-bloc locales such as Prague and Riga , which appealed to weekend and short-break European tourists who constructed their own itineraries in negotiation with local service providers, mediated through the airlines’ special deals. In international tourism, globalization has not been a one-way process; it has entailed negotiation between hosts and guests.
- Introduction
- Accommodation
- Three main types of tourism
- Transport provision
- Visitor attraction
- Tour operations
- Travel agents
- Tourism development and promotion
- Trade associations and regulatory bodies
- Ancillary services
- Development of the travel and tourism industry
- Legislation
- Development of new destinations
- Transport development
- lifestyle changes
- New products and services
- Technological development
- New types of organisations
- working together and interrelationships
- Chains of distribution
- Interrelationships
- Alton towers
- Hilton Hotel
- Trends and factors
Give elaborate answer to the following. Describe any three types of tourism. - History and Political Science
Give elaborate answer to the following.
Describe any three types of tourism.
Explain any four types of tourism with examples.

Solution Show Solution
Introduction: Tourism can be defined as travelling to visit places in distant regions for a specific purpose. The types of tourism are as follows:
- Local and Interstate Tourism
- Local and Interstate tourism involves residents of one country travelling only within that country.
- This kind of tourism is not very overwhelming because it is within one’s own country.
- Also, it does not cause difficulties with language, procuring currency and documents.
- Moreover, this kind of tourism can be planned at a time suitable to the individual.
- International Tourism
- International tourism is an important type of tourism. It refers to tourism that crosses national borders.
- Due to the availability of railway, marine and air transport, it has become easier to travel abroad. There is a trans-European railway route. Marine transport has linked the coastal regions and aviation has brought the entire world closer.
- Moreover, due to the economic liberalisation policy of the Indian government (1991), the number of people travelling back and forth from India has increased greatly. People nowadays travel for studies, relaxation, sightseeing, shooting of films, professional assignments like meetings, agreements, etc.
- Various official documents are to be obtained for travelling abroad, for example - a passport, visa etc.
- Historical Tourism
- Historical tourism refers to a kind of tourism, where the tour focuses on the history; history of some place, people, things or events. It helps people satisfy their interest in history.
- In India, tours are arranged to different historical places and important historical sites such as forts in Rajasthan, ashrams of Mahatma Gandhi and Acharya Vinoba Bhave, important places related to the Indian War of Independence (1857), etc.
- Gopal Neelkanth Dandekar, a renowned Marathi writer, used to arrange hiking tours to forts in Maharashtra, to explore the sights closely linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his achievements.
- Geographic Tourism
- Geographic tourism involves visiting places to observe the special geographical features of a region.
- In order to satisfy this curiosity, tourists visit various natural & animal sanctuaries, beaches and unique geographical wonders like the Crater lake at Lonar & Ranjan Khalge (naturally carved out cavities in rocks) at Nighoj in Maharashtra.
- Health Tourism
- Health Tourism involves travelling for the purpose of receiving medical treatment or improving health or fitness.
- In India, the health services and facilities available are cheaper compared to other countries. Even the standard of these facilities is good, therefore, people from western countries undertake this type of tourism.
- Besides, tourists from countries with cold climates visit India to get ample sunlight.
- Learning Yoga and undertaking ayurvedic therapies are some other reasons for this type of tourism.
- Agro-Tourism
- Today Agro-tourism, also known as Agri-tourism, is rapidly developing.
- It is specially meant for the urban population who have very little exposure to rural life and agriculture.
- Indian farmers, nowadays, visit distant regions like agricultural research centres, agricultural-universities.
- Farmers also visit countries like Israel where experimentation in advanced technology of agriculture is carried out.
- Sports Tourism
- Sports Tourism, developed in the 20th century, refers to travel which involves attending a sporting event.
- Various sports events are organised at the international level, national level and state levels.
- Olympics, Wimbledon, World Chess Championship matches and International Cricket Tournaments etc., are some examples of sports events organised at the international level; an event like the Himalayan Car Rally is organised at the national level and the Maharashtra Kesari Wrestling competitions, etc; are organised at the state level.
- Tourism based on Special Events
- Travelling to and staying in places outside the usual environment for a specific purpose and for a fixed period of time is known as ‘tourism’.
- People who love to travel, look for special reasons to go on a tour and in the 21st century, it has become common to organise such events.
- Film festivals, various types of seminars and conferences, international book exhibitions, library festivals, etc., are examples of special events. People from different regions come to attend these events.
- For instance, every year many literature enthusiasts from Maharashtra come to attend the Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sammelan [Pan India Literary Convention] which is held annually in different places in India.
- Religious Tourism
- People belonging to various castes, religions, creeds, etc., visit religious places to worship the different gods and goddesses, and saints or to see the art, culture, traditions and architecture.
- Nowadays, people of various religious communities are spread globally. However, they remain united because of their mythological traditions and the places associated with those traditions.
- This creates a desire to travel to those places and it gives rise to religious tourism. d. Religious tourism fosters peace, unity and socio-cultural harmony among people.
- In order to provide good amenities on the pilgrim routes like Chardham Yatras and Bara Jyotirlingas, Ahilyabai Holkar undertook the construction by using her personal funds.
Conclusion: Hence, in this way tourism not only boosts the spirit of an individual but also enhances the economy of the nation.

- Maharashtra Board Question Bank with Solutions (Official)
- Balbharati Solutions (Maharashtra)
- Samacheer Kalvi Solutions (Tamil Nadu)
- NCERT Solutions
- RD Sharma Solutions
- RD Sharma Class 10 Solutions
- RD Sharma Class 9 Solutions
- Lakhmir Singh Solutions
- HC Verma Solutions
- RS Aggarwal Solutions
- RS Aggarwal Class 10 Solutions
- TS Grewal Solutions
- ICSE Class 10 Solutions
- Selina ICSE Concise Solutions
- Frank ICSE Solutions
- ML Aggarwal Solutions
- NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Maths
- NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics
- NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry
- NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology
- NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Maths
- NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics
- NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Chemistry
- NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology
- NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths
- NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science
- NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Maths
- NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science
- CBSE Study Material
- Maharashtra State Board Study Material
- Tamil Nadu State Board Study Material
- CISCE ICSE / ISC Study Material
- Mumbai University Engineering Study Material
- CBSE Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Arts
- CBSE Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Commerce
- CBSE Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Science
- CBSE Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 10
- Maharashtra State Board Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Arts
- Maharashtra State Board Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Commerce
- Maharashtra State Board Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Science
- Maharashtra State Board Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 10
- CISCE ICSE / ISC Board Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Arts
- CISCE ICSE / ISC Board Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Commerce
- CISCE ICSE / ISC Board Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 12 Science
- CISCE ICSE / ISC Board Previous Year Question Paper With Solution for Class 10
- Entrance Exams
- Video Tutorials
- Question Papers
- Question Bank Solutions
- Question Search (beta)
- More Quick Links
- Privacy Policy
- Terms and Conditions
- Shaalaa App
- Ad-free Subscriptions
Select a course
- Online Classes
- Textbook Solutions
- Study Material
- Change mode

IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
space tourism mass tourism ecotourism beach holiday day trip tourism, the act and process of spending time away from home in pursuit of recreation, relaxation, and pleasure, while making use of the commercial provision of services.
There are many types of tourisms like a) Local and interstate b) International c) Geographic d) Health e) Agricultural f) Historical. 2. Important among them are Geographic Tourism, Health Tourism, and Historical Tourism. 3. Geographical Tourism: It is to observe the special geographic features of a place or a region.
18 Different Types of Tourism 1. Domestic Tourism 2. International Tourism 3. Outbound Tourism 4. Business Tourism 5. Adventure Tourism 6. Wildlife Tourism 7. Medical Tourism 8. Wellness Tourism 9. Pilgrimage and Spiritual Tourism 10. Cultural Tourism 11. Dark Tourism 12. Culinary Tourism 13. Celebrity Tourism or Film Tourism 14.
The types of tourism are as follows: Local and Interstate Tourism Local and Interstate tourism involves residents of one country travelling only within that country. This kind of tourism is not very overwhelming because it is within one’s own country. Also, it does not cause difficulties with language, procuring currency and documents.