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Tourism Vocabulary

• Game Code: 174302
•  English     14      Public Empower B1
•   Play   Study   Slideshow   Share  Paige Ngo  207

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• What is it? A. a suitcase B. a handbag C. a backpack Backpack

• What is it? A. paper B. foreign currency C. Dolar Foreign Currency

• You can find the map, the information about the country you want to visit. A. a guide book B. a tour guide C. a forum A guide book

• It helps you to find a way to go. A. a comic B. a picture C. a map A Map

• You can not visit another country without it. A. an ID card B. a passport C. a card license A passport

• What is it? A. a suitcase (luggage) B. a handbag C. a backpack A suitcase (luggage)

• They protect your eyes from the sun. A. an umbrella B. Sunglasses C. Suntan lotion sunglasses

• It protects your skin from the sun. A. an umbrella B. Sunglasses C. Suntan lotion Suntan lotion

• It is where you usually stay when you go traveling. A. a boat B. a hotel C. a bridge A hotel

• Where are those people? A. at a hotel B. at a hostel C. at a house At a hostel

• A gift to your friends from the place you have just visited. A. a souvenirs B. a book C. a sticker A souvenirs

• Some countries require the tourist to have it before visiting their country. A. a luggage B. a visa C. a car A visa
• hotel, homestay, hostel, friend's house are..... A. accommodation B. name C. country Accommodation

• We prefer staying in a hotel than in a __________ A. place B. campsite C. Picnic Campsite

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27 Creative Word Wall Ideas for Small Spaces

Creating an engaging and informative environment in small spaces can be a challenge.

However, with these creative word wall ideas for small spaces, you can transform even the tiniest nook into an inspiring focal point.

From educational displays to motivational quotes, these suggestions will help you make the most of your limited space while maximizing its impact.

Interactive Vocabulary Hunt:

Engage learners in an interactive vocabulary hunt by designing a word wall with detachable words. Attach Velcro or magnetic strips to both the wall and the words. As students encounter new words in their reading or lessons, they can add these words to the word wall. This activity encourages active vocabulary acquisition and helps students take ownership of their learning. Plus, the tactile aspect of removing and reattaching words makes learning engaging and memorable.

Thematic Story Building:

Transform your word wall into a thematic story-building tool. Select a theme or a story starter and provide a selection of words related to the theme. Encourage students to use these words to construct creative sentences, paragraphs, or even short stories. This activity not only reinforces vocabulary but also enhances writing skills and sparks the imagination.

Word Association Challenge:

Challenge learners’ cognitive abilities with a word association activity. Choose a central word from the word wall and have students brainstorm related words, concepts, or synonyms. This can be done individually or in groups, fostering critical thinking and expanding their vocabulary web. The word associations can then be visually represented on the word wall, creating a dynamic display of interconnected words. Related: 20 Adorable Lobster Crafts for Preschoolers

Expressive Visual Definitions:

Encourage artistic expression and vocabulary development by having students visually represent word definitions. Assign each student a word from the word wall, and ask them to create a visual representation of the word’s meaning. This can be in the form of drawings, collages, or even photographs. Display these visual definitions alongside the corresponding words, transforming your word wall into an artistic and educational showcase.

Word Wall Scavenger Hunt:

Turn vocabulary learning into an exciting scavenger hunt. Hide small cards with words from the word wall around the classroom or learning space. Provide students with a list of definitions or descriptions corresponding to the hidden words. They must locate the cards and match them to the correct definitions. This hands-on activity encourages movement, and collaboration, and reinforces the understanding of word meanings.

Related: 23 Fun Brain Development Activities for 2 Year Olds

Vocabulary Puzzles and Crosswords:

Enhance word retention and problem-solving skills by creating vocabulary puzzles and crosswords on your word wall. Display the clues or definitions for each word, and have students arrange the provided letters to form the correct words. This activity promotes active engagement with the vocabulary while fostering a sense of achievement as students successfully solve each puzzle.

Word of the Day Reflections:

Select a “Word of the Day” from the word wall and challenge students to reflect on its meaning and significance. Encourage them to write short reflections, and anecdotes, or even use the word in a sentence. Display these daily reflections next to the corresponding words, fostering a daily dose of vocabulary exploration and encouraging thoughtful language use. Related: 25 Great Show and Tell Letter G

Multilingual Word Showcase:

Celebrate linguistic diversity by incorporating a multilingual word wall. Choose a set of commonly used words and their translations in different languages. Not only does this celebrate various cultures, but it also offers an opportunity for language comparison and learning. Students can explore the similarities and differences between languages, broadening their cultural and linguistic horizons.

Vocabulary Bingo:

Put a twist on the classic game of Bingo by adapting it to a vocabulary-focused version. Create Bingo cards with words from the word wall. Call out definitions or synonyms, and students mark the corresponding words on their cards. This game encourages active listening, reinforces word meanings, and adds an element of friendly competition to vocabulary learning.

Word Wall Show and Tell:

Give students the opportunity to share their personal connections to the words on the word wall. Each student can choose a word that resonates with them and share why it holds significance. This can be related to personal experiences, interests, or aspirations. By sharing these connections, students not only deepen their understanding of the vocabulary but also build a sense of community within the learning space.

Word Wall Charades:

Add a fun twist to vocabulary practice with word wall charades. Write down words from the word wall on individual cards. Have students take turns selecting a card and acting out the word without speaking, while others guess what word it is. This activity promotes active recall and encourages students to embody the meanings of the words.

Word Synthesis Collage:

Foster a sense of creativity by having students create word synthesis collages. Provide magazines, newspapers, and art supplies. Each student selects a word from the word wall and then cuts out letters or images that represent the word’s meaning. They can arrange these cutouts into a collage, visually showcasing the word’s essence.

Alphabet Exploration Adventure:

Embark on an alphabet exploration adventure using the word wall. Assign each student a letter of the alphabet and have them find words on the word wall that start with that letter. Students can then present their findings, sharing the words they discovered and explaining their meanings. This activity reinforces letter-sound associations and vocabulary acquisition.

Word Wall Poetry Corner:

Transform your word wall into a poetic space by using the words as prompts for creating poetry. Encourage students to craft poems using the words on the word wall as inspiration. These poems can be displayed alongside the corresponding words, showcasing both creativity and vocabulary mastery.

Vocabulary Auction:

Engage students in a lively vocabulary auction. Assign a fictional amount of “money” to each student. Display words from the word wall with their definitions. Students bid on words they are confident in defining and using correctly in sentences. This activity adds an element of strategy and excitement to vocabulary learning while reinforcing word meanings.

Word Wall Memory Game:

Transform vocabulary review into a memory-enhancing game. Create pairs of word cards from the word wall, each with its corresponding definition. Shuffle the cards and place them face down. Students take turns flipping over two cards, trying to match words with their definitions. This game sharpens memory skills and reinforces word-meaning connections.

Word Wall Concept Mapping:

Encourage students to explore the relationships between words on the word wall through concept mapping. Select a central word and have students create a web of related words, synonyms, antonyms, and associations. This activity visually illustrates the interconnectedness of vocabulary concepts.

Word Wall Collaborative Storytelling:

Promote cooperative learning through collaborative storytelling. Display a few words from the word wall and have each student contribute a sentence to build a story. The challenge is to seamlessly integrate the chosen words while maintaining the narrative flow. This activity encourages teamwork and vocabulary integration.

Word Wall Debate Topics:

Elevate vocabulary engagement through structured debates. Choose words from the word wall that can serve as debate topics. Divide students into teams and have them argue for or against these topics using the chosen words effectively. This activity not only hones language skills but also encourages persuasive communication.

Word Wall Travel Diary:

Take students on a linguistic journey using the word wall. Imagine the words as stops on a travel itinerary. Assign each student a word and ask them to write a “travel diary entry” describing their imaginary experience at that word’s destination. This imaginative exercise deepens vocabulary understanding and storytelling abilities.

Word Wall Wordsearch:

Create interactive word search puzzles using words from the word wall. Generate a grid with hidden words and provide a list of definitions or clues. Students must find the words in the grid and mark them off as they’re discovered. This activity combines vocabulary exploration with the excitement of solving puzzles.

Word Wall Vocabulary Relay:

Infuse energy into vocabulary learning with a relay race. Divide students into teams and set up stations with word cards from the word wall. At each station, students must correctly define or use the word in a sentence before passing the baton to the next teammate. This fast-paced activity makes vocabulary practice engaging and competitive.

Word Wall Mystery Story:

Spark creativity by using the word wall to inspire mystery stories. Display a set of words and have students incorporate them into a collaborative mystery story. Each student contributes a portion of the story, ensuring that the selected words are skillfully woven into the narrative. This activity fosters teamwork and imaginative storytelling.

Word Wall Character Profiles:

Expand vocabulary while developing character-building skills. Assign each student a word from the word wall and have them create a character profile based on that word’s traits. Students can include the character’s personality, strengths, weaknesses, and role in a story. This activity cultivates vocabulary usage in context and encourages character development.

Word Wall Rhyme Challenge:

Explore the rhythmic side of language through a rhyming challenge. Choose a word from the word wall as the “rhyme of the day.” Students must come up with as many words as possible that rhyme with the chosen word. This playful activity enhances phonemic awareness, creativity, and vocabulary breadth.

Recommended:

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Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

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What is tourism? A definition of tourism

Disclaimer: Some posts on Tourism Teacher may contain affiliate links. If you appreciate this content, you can show your support by making a purchase through these links or by buying me a coffee . Thank you for your support!

Whilst most of us have been tourists at some point during our lives, you might find yourself asking ‘what is tourism?’ or ‘what is the definition of tourism’?

Having studied, worked in and taught tourism management for many years, I can tell you that there is no straight-cut answer to this question! In fact, I do tell you- in this YouTube video below!

The tourism industry is argued to be the largest industry in the world, providing more employment than any other industry. Note, however, the use of the word ‘argued’. You see, the tourism industry is somewhat grey in nature. Elements that some may consider ‘tourism’, others may not. Some people believe they are ‘ tourists ‘, when others do not. Some things are black and white, and others are not.

In this post I will explain why there is no simple explanation in answer to the question ‘what is tourism?’. I will explain the diversity of the tourism industry and provide a range of definitions of tourism that have been developed by academics and practitioners.

What is tourism?

Tourism is the generic term used to cover both demand and supply that has been adopted in a variety of forms and used throughout the world. 

Tourism essentially refers to the activities undertaken by visitors, also known as the visitor economy. The tourism industry encompasses all activity that takes place within the visitor economy.

This includes activities that are directly related to the tourist, such as staying in a hotel, ordering a meal or visiting a tourist attraction. It also includes indirect activities, such as the transport company which delivers the food to the restaurant in which the tourist eats or the laundry company that has a contract with the hotel for cleaning bed sheets.

It is largely due to the indirect contributions to tourism, that defining and measuring the tourism industry is so difficult!

Tourism comes in many different shapes and sizes and there are many different types of tourism . There is mass tourism , niche tourism and special interest tourism. There is domestic tourism and international tourism . There is inbound tourism and outbound tourism .

Whilst there is a range of different forms of tourism, they all come under the broad tourism umbrella, nonetheless. This is because they all revolve around visitors and they all feed the visitor economy in one way or another.

A definition of tourism

Tourism is a phenomenon with no universally accepted definition, owing to the complexity and individualism of the travellers themselves and the activities that they choose to undertake.

The most widely utilised definition of tourism, proposed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United States (UN) Nations Statistics Division (1994), prescribes that in order to qualify as a tourist one must travel and remain in a place outside of their usual residential environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business or other purposes.

Matheison and Wall (1982) on the other hand, do not impose a timeframe, simply stating that one must travel to a destination temporarily.

Leiper (1979) believed that defining tourism is more complex than this, proposing that there are three approaches that can be taken. The economic stance focuses on tourism as a business, the technical stance focusses on the tourist in order to provide a common basis by which to collect data and the holistic stance attempts to include the entire essence of the subject.

The Cambridge Dictionary define tourism quite simply as; ‘the business of providing services such as transport, places to stay or entertainment for people who are on holiday’.

Read also: – The importance of tourism – Types of tourism: A glossary – Outbound tourism | Understanding the basics – The structure of the tourism industry – Domestic tourism tourism explained – The history of tourism

Whilst such attempts to define the concept of tourism may be useful from a generic perspective, the practical application of such definitions is difficult when applied to specific tourism types, such as those outlined in this post outlining the different types of tourism.

In fact, Robinson and Novelli (2007), in their introduction to the niche tourism phenomena, postulate that tourists have developed as consumers, becoming increasingly sophisticated in their needs and preferences as a result of an emergent culture of tourism.

Despite such acknowledgements of the progressive and adaptive nature of tourism, particularly evident through the limitless introduction of new and niche tourism forms, there appear to have been no attempts to develop the commonly accepted definitions of tourism in parallel.

As such, I would argue that there is a need the definition of tourism to be revisited by academics and industry practitioner, to ensure that it is representative of the tourism industry that operates today.

How would you define the term tourism?

For more information on what makes up the tourism industry, I recommend the key text Tourism: Principles and Practice by John Fletcher, available from Amazon here .

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90 English Tourism Vocabulary Words and Phrases [With Sample Dialogues]

English is the most common language used in the international tourism industry.

People who work in the tourism industry use it to communicate with tourists from all over the world.

If you work in tourism or hope to find a job in the industry, it helps to know the right words and phrases for this type of work.

Interacting with Customers

Greeting customers, asking customers questions , responding to questions, checking for understanding, common scenarios in tourism english, giving recommendations, giving directions , making friendly small talk, jobs in hospitality and tourism, jobs at hotels and resorts, bar and restaurant staff, jobs at travel and tourism companies, more tourism vocabulary in english, how to learn english tourism vocabulary, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

You always want to welcome customers or guests with a friendly, professional greeting :

• Good morning (before 12 p.m.)
• Good afternoon (between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.)
• Good evening (after 5 p.m.)
• Welcome to… [company name] . My name is… [your name] .

Be sure to always use a respectful term to refer to your customers:

• Miss — Young women (under age 30)
• Ma’am — Mature women (over age 30)
• Sir — Men of all ages

For example, using these terms you can now greet customers in a very respectful way:

• Good morning, miss .
• Good afternoon, sir .

If you are working at a hotel, restaurant or tour agency, you can greet a customer and then ask them this question:

Do you have a reservation with us?

To answer the phone, you only need one simple phrase:

Hello, you’ve reached [company name]. This is [your name]. How may I help you?

If you are working with customers in a hotel, before they go to their rooms you can say one of these phrases:

• We hope you enjoy your stay!
• Please let us know if you have any questions or comments during your stay.

You will want to make sure your customers are safe and happy while they are with you. You can do this by asking friendly and polite questions, such as:

• How are you doing this morning? (or afternoon/evening)
• Have you been having a good time?
• Is there anything else we can do to make your experience more enjoyable?

Customers will have many questions, and sometimes you will not know the answer. You may need to ask a coworker or supervisor. When this happens, you can use the following phrases:

• I will get that information for you right away.
• That’s a great question! I will check with my supervisor and let you know.

As a guide, host or receptionist, you will need to double-check for understanding. These phrases are simple and quick ways to make sure you have understood the guest or customer:

• I heard you ask (about flights) . Is that correct?
• So, you said (you wanted to visit the ruins) , right?
• Okay, I understand that (your flight leaves at 3 PM) . Is that correct?

To ask for clarification

Your guest may use vocabulary that you are unfamiliar with. Likewise, they might have an accent that is difficult for you to understand. Here are some polite ways to ask them to repeat or clarify what they said:

• I’m sorry, I didn’t quite understand that. Can you say that again?
• Pardon my English, but I didn’t understand that. Can you say that again?
• I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Can you describe what you mean?

To invite your guests to ask questions

You can make all of your guests feel welcome by encouraging them to ask questions:

• Does anyone have any questions?
• Yes, sir? / Yes, ma’am? Do you have a question?
• Please feel free to raise your hand any time if you have a question.
• So, any questions?

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When working in tourism, you might need to give directions to tourists, share recommendations for a good restaurant or attraction or make friendly conversation.

In these scenarios, you will play the part of the “guide,” but it could be any job where you interact with tourists. Practice these dialogues so you feel confident using these words and phrases in your interactions.

• For (authentic cuisine, family activities, etc.), I recommend…
• My favorite place is…
• Personally, I suggest…

Tourist: Excuse me, do you know a good place for ice cream?

Guide: Oh, yes. For really good ice cream, I recommend Maria’s. It’s located about six blocks from here, and it’s my favorite place. Personally, I suggest the chocolate cherry flavor. I think your family will like it.

Tourist: Great, thanks!

If you work in tourism, you will need to give directions to visitors. Here are some key phrases you might use to explain how to get somewhere: 

• Go straight
• Stop at the…
• Continue until…
• Take the subway (or bus, train, etc.)
• Follow the signs for…
• At the traffic light
• At the next street (or light, block, etc.)
• In five blocks
• Near the hotel (or beach, station, etc.)
• On the main plaza

See this post for more words and phrases for giving directions: 

Asking for and giving directions in English is a helpful skill, and this guide will show you the important vocabulary you need to know, with audio pronunciation included!…

Tourist: Can you tell me how to get to the theater?

Guide: Sure! The theater is near the train station. You need to go straight down this street for one block. At the next street, turn left. Continue until you see a sign for the theater, in about five blocks. If you’re lost, you can follow the signs for the train station. Does that make sense?

Tourist: Yes, thank you!

Here’s a helpful video to practice basic phrases for giving directions:

Here are some phrases that you can use when you want to make friendly conversation with a guest or visitor:

• So, are you enjoying your time in (Paris) so far?
• Tell me, what is your favorite part of the city so far?
• What do you think of the (architecture, food, beach, festival, etc.) ?

This vocabulary will help you a lot when you are working in the tourism industry or searching for jobs. 

• Bellhop / baggage handler — the person who will open the front door for guests and carry their bags to their rooms
• Concierge / receptionist — the person at the front desk who welcomes the guests, gives out room keys, helps guests make reservations and takes payments for reservations
• Maid / housekeeper — the person who cleans the hotel rooms ( see English vocabulary for housekeeping here ) 
• Janitor — the person responsible for cleaning everything outside of hotel rooms, such as the lobby and other common areas 
• Groundskeeper — the person who takes care of all the plants outside the hotel
• Maintenance worker — the person who fixes anything that stops working in the hotel 
• Manager / supervisor — the person who makes sure everything goes well at the hotel, hires employees, teaches new employees how to do their jobs and makes sure that guests are happy
• Event planner — the person who makes sure the hotel is ready for big events such as business conventions (meetings) or weddings 

Here are a couple of vocabulary guides for working in hotels:

Practicing English for receptionists can help you greet and assist hotel guests with ease. By studying the right phrases, you can prepare yourself to handle common…

Knowing hotel vocabulary in English is essential if you want to work in the hospitality industry. Check out our list of 100+ vocabulary words and phrases on everything…

These jobs might exist at a hotel if it has a bar and/or restaurant. 

• Bartender — the person who makes and serves drinks at the bar 
• Host / hostess — the person who stands at the entrance to the restaurant and welcomes guests, brings them to a table and takes reservations on the phone and in person
• Server / waiter / waitress — the person who serves customers who are eating at the restaurant (“waiter” refers to a male, “waitress” refers to a female and “server” can refer to any gender)
• Busboy / busser — the person who makes sure that tables are clean and ready for customers
• Chef / cook — the person who prepares food at the restaurant

If you work or want to work in a bar or restaurant, check out this vocabulary guide next:

Click here to learn English for restaurant staff! Here, we have information about six essential restaurant positions, the common phrases used by each one and study…

There are entire companies that exist just to help travelers book their trips. If you work for one of these companies, you will either work in an office or outside the office helping travelers enjoy their time in your city or country.

• Secretary / administrative assistant — someone who takes care of the whole office by organizing paperwork, making and receiving phone calls, organizing the office schedule and taking reservations for tours and trips
• Travel agent — someone who helps people find the most affordable flights, hotels, etc. and helps them buy tickets and make reservations before they travel
• Tour guide — someone who goes out with tourists and takes them on adventures to explore towns, cities, farms, mountains, jungles and more
• Taxi driver / private driver — someone who drives tourists in a taxi or private car between different places, and sometimes on a tour around the area
• Shuttle driver — someone who drives a large vehicle (usually a small bus or large van) to transport groups of people between places, such as from the hotel to some popular tourist destinations or between the hotel and the airport
• Airline agent — someone who works at the desk of an airline (a company that owns airplanes and provides transportation services with them)
• Flight attendant — someone who takes care of passengers on airplanes by serving food and drinks and giving safety instructions ( see English vocabulary for flight attendants here )
• Cruise attendant — someone who takes care of people on boats and ships by doing the same things as flight attendants, providing services like food and drinks and giving safety instructions
• Translator — someone who translates between different languages in writing, such as for tourism guides or flyers 
• Interpreter — someone who translates between two languages by listening and speaking, often to help tourists and visitors understand and speak with local people
• Recreational guide — someone who goes with tourists to do activities like yoga, surfing, cycling, running, hiking and climbing mountains

Here is a list of common tourism-related English words. You might be asked questions with these words or you might need to use them yourself. Make sure you’re familiar with them and can use them in full sentences.

• Tourist – someone who travels to different places for enjoyment or to see new things
• Attractions — places of interest that are often visited by tourists, such as museums or amusement parks
• Landmark – a special or famous place that people can easily recognize, often used for giving directions
• Destination – a place to which people travel for leisure, business or other purposes
• Guide – a person who helps tourists by showing them around and giving them information about a place
• Guidebook – a book that provides information for travelers about a particular destination, including attractions, hotels and restaurants
• Souvenir – a small item that people buy to remember a place they visited, like a keychain or a postcard
• Itinerary – a plan or schedule that shows the activities or places someone will visit during their trip
• Accommodation – a place where travelers can stay overnight, such as a hotel, hostel or campground 
• Transportation – the way people travel from one place to another, such as by car, bus, train or airplane
• Passport – a document issued by a government that proves a person’s identity and nationality, allowing them to travel internationally
• Visa – a stamp or document given by a country’s government that allows someone to enter or stay in that country for a certain period of time, usually for tourism, work, or study
• Business district — also called the financial district, this is the center of the city where many offices, banks and companies are located
• Entertainment district — a part of a city where there are lots of restaurants, bars, theaters and other fun places
• Dining district — an area within a city with a lot of restaurants 
• Custom — a traditional way of doing something that is common in a particular culture or society
• Highlight — the most interesting or exciting part of something, often the main attraction 
• Scenery — the natural features of an area, such as mountains, rivers or forests, that people find beautiful to look at
• Surroundings — the area or environment around a particular place, including nearby buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods
• Depart — to leave from a place, especially when traveling
• Arrive — to reach or get to a place or destination, especially when traveling
• Recommend — to suggest or advise someone to do something because you think they will enjoy it
• Read the “English for International Tourism” textbooks. They are available in low-intermediate ,  intermediate  and  high-intermediate levels. As long as you have a foundation in English, this series is perfect for learning how to communicate with coworkers and tourists in different tourism-related scenarios. Here are some more English for Tourism books we recommend.  
• Take an English for Tourism course. You can find some great courses on Udemy, such as this English for Business and Tourism course aimed at low-intermediate to intermediate students. Or take lessons with a tutor who specializes in tourism on Preply .
• Complete tourism English courses on Memrise. Focus on Memrise English courses for tourism. These lessons feature English vocabulary words and phrases that anyone in the tourism industry would use in their daily activities. Try spending at least 30 minutes a day using Memrise to brush up on your tourism vocabulary—you’ll notice a difference!
• Follow travel vloggers on YouTube. Look for channels or specific videos about the place where you will be working. Engage in discussions in the comments as well! Not only will that make using YouTube more fun , but it will also require you to learn and use new words during your chats back and forth with others.
• Participate in discussions on travel forums. Travel forums allow you to use your new tourism vocabulary with native speakers and practice written English . On TripAdvisor , you can talk with English speakers about traveling, hotels, restaurants, transportation and more. The /r/travel subreddit is a great place to talk about everything related to tourism. 
• Give yourself daily homework. A great place to start is  the tourism section of ESL Conversation Questions . You’ll find a variety of tourism-related topics that you can discuss with your friends and coworkers. If you’re a hospitality professional, check out Oxford University Press’ free online workbook series, English for Careers . 

Bookmark this page so you can come back and view this tourism vocabulary whenever you have some free time.

Soon you will be able to communicate with any tourist who crosses your path!

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If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

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Sustainability Leaders United

Geoffrey wall, geography professor at university of waterloo, canada.

In this interview, we hear from Geoffrey Wall , Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Professor Wall shares unique insights into the realities of the world of tourism academia: what is working and what is holding the field back.

He also discusses the people who have influenced him most over the past 40 years, the biggest obstacle to truly sustainable tourism, the future of tourism in China, and what makes a sustainability leader. A wealth of information and some genuine food for thought.  

Learn about:

• His key insights from a long career in tourism studies;
• Which organizations and persons have served him as inspiration;
• What characterizes a sustainability leader;
• How taking a long-term perspective can help to move tourism in the direction of sustainability;
• Why the travel phase of tourism needs more scrutiny regarding its sustainability;
• Which aspects in tourism planning require more attention;
• The main shortcomings of tourism education and research, and the priorities;
• Why tourism development in China (still) fails on the sustainability front.

Geoffrey, looking back at your distinguished career in tourism studies, which have been your main professional insights/lessons learned?

My early work on the impacts of tourism predates the wave of interest in sustainable development , although I think it prepared me well to engage with the latter topic. The same is true of climate change .

Although primarily an academic, I have always thought it important to ask the ‘so what?’ question, and I have had a variety of opportunities to be involved in planning exercises at a variety of scales, from multi-national to local. Thus, I have spent my career trying to understand the implications of different types of tourism for destinations with different characteristics in the belief that the resulting insights can be used to inform tourism planning.

I have generally adopted a broad perspective, involving economic, environmental and socio-cultural dimensions.

Much of my work has been conducted in the developing world, particularly Indonesia and China, where residents are often disadvantaged by so-called development. I acknowledge that tourism is a business but, accepting this, I have tried to argue and illustrate that it is necessary to take a long-term perspective and address environmental and cultural dimensions to move the system in the direction of sustainability.

Based on those insights, where do you see the priorities for (sustainable) tourism research in the near future?

I have found sustainable development to be a difficult concept to deal with because it can mean different things to different people. To guide research or planning it requires further refinement, for example, the development of indicators.

I seldom use the term ‘sustainable tourism’, because I believe that sustainability demands a multi-sectoral perspective – tourism is not independent but engages and competes with other sectors for the use of scarce resources such as land, labour, capital, water, energy and waste assimilation capacity. I have borrowed the notion of sustainable livelihoods from rural studies to guide much of my recent work. I find this to be a more tangible concept to work with.

Much of my work has focused on destinations where the imprint of tourism is concentrated. However, tourism requires travel, and the impacts of the travel phase have received much less attention, by myself as well as by others.

The travel phase is only now receiving the scrutiny that it deserves, and consumption of energy, especially in long-haul travel, should force one to question if tourism, in its contemporary forms, can ever be sustainable. Even ecotourists may travel long distances, use transportation and other infrastructure, and visit fragile areas so that, somewhat paradoxically, they may even have greater impacts per head than mass tourists.

Thus, a more full accounting of the impacts of different types of tourism is required and, if done, may give rise to some surprises. Perhaps, fortunately, most tourists are still mass tourists, and more thought needs to be given to ways of making mass tourism more sustainable.

What motivated you to publish “ Tourism: Change, Impacts and Opportunities ” in 2006? Which are the book’s key messages?

The 2006 manuscript was a replacement for “Tourism: Economic, Physical and Social Impacts” which was published in 1982 and reprinted numerous times without modification. Much had happened since that time, including the rise to prominence of sustainable development, the proliferation of niche forms of tourism such as ecotourism , as well as a massive increase in the relevant literature. Thus, re-writing rather than updating was required.

The title was modified to draw attention to the positive as well as the negative consequences of tourism (the word ‘impact’ often having a negative connotation) and to emphasize that residents and destinations commonly seek tourism development in the belief that it will improve the lives of residents who respond in a variety of ways and are not simply impacted.

It is my belief that a thorough understanding of impacts is necessary to inform planning and management which, at root, are about managing change. However, I have come to understand that while tourism planning might address the viability of attractions, the desires of tourists and the like, it also should give considerable attention to the desires of residents.

Thus, a substantial part of tourism planning should address the needs of residents. For this to occur, it is important that clear and appropriate goals and objectives should be specified for tourism plans. The development of tourism should not be an end in itself but should be a means of addressing more fundamental societal problems, whether these be jobs and incomes, protecting the environment and heritage, celebrating culture, supporting national identity or whatever.

Much of your research, reviewing and writing has involved projects in Asia (particularly mainland China and Taiwan) – do you see growing interest and momentum for sustainability and sustainable tourism in this region?

There are substantial differences between Taiwan and mainland China, not only in political systems but also in environmental awareness and the effective protection and interpretation of special environments in reserves, such as national parks. Tourism has grown rapidly, in line with China’s economy, and it is viewed in China as a ‘pillar industry’. China is now a major player in international tourism and also has massive domestic tourist flows.

Sustainability rhetoric is widespread and enshrined in legislation at all levels in China, and much of the rest of the world, but implementation is another matter. There is still a strong emphasis on short-term economic gains that override longer-term environmental and cultural perspectives. Massive air pollution as well as issues of water quantity and quality, and less discussed land degradation and pollution, are attracting increasing public attention. Fortunately, many educated young people in China are becoming increasingly aware and concerned about these things, although most are not in a position to make their feelings known or to initiate change.

Which organizations or persons have served you as inspiration?

I was fortunate to receive a good education in strong universities in several countries, as well as encouragement to pursue my interests in tourism (as differentiated from hospitality) at a time when little academic attention was being given to this topic. My home discipline, geography, supported the adoption of broad perspectives that spanned physical, human, technological and other dimensions of real-world problems in diverse parts of the world.

Within tourism, I have great admiration for the work of my good friend Richard Butler . I have also benefited greatly from exposure to the ideas and occasional collaborations with colleagues at the University of Waterloo who have encouraged me to place tourism in a broader context. In particular, I mention Geoff McBoyle , a climatologist, who encouraged me to publish my research on tourism and recreation, and later collaborated with me on research on tourism and climate change; and Bruce Mitchell , a water resources specialist who introduced me to many aspects of resource management. Ian Burton, a leading scholar on hazards and, more recently, climate change, emphasized the human dimensions of environmental problems and put a young academic in touch with novel ideas on human-environment relationships and an international network of scholars.

It is also important to emphasize that I have learned a great deal from my graduate students. It is not possible for a person with limited language skills to work successfully in other cultures in the absence of the inputs and insights of intermediaries.

I do not teach graduate students: rather we explore together and learn from each other. If I had my time again, I would put more effort into learning other languages, for I believe that you cannot truly understand another culture if you do not speak the language.

In your view, what characterizes a sustainability leader?

Leadership in any area requires a willingness to empower others, and ability to listen as well as suggest what should be done, early recognition of needs/opportunities and a perspective that turns problems into opportunities, commitment and diligence but time for reflection, respect that has been earned and so on.

In the context of sustainability, both depth and breadth are required. It is desirable to be an expert in something so that one has insights pertaining to a specific field than can be offered and shared. At the same time, it is important to have a broad perspective and to be able to put one’s knowledge in context. For example, although a tourism specialist, my most interesting and probably useful work has been in the exploration of such themes as coastal zone management, community development, biodiversity strategy, eco planning, heritage planning, and indigenous economies.

Academics in countries such as the UK witness growing pressure to demonstrate the relevance and ROI – societal impact – of academic research. In your view, which is the best way to do this?

I view myself as being a traditional academic whose main aims are to generate and share knowledge. I have not felt pressure to be relevant, although I have always felt it important to point out the implications of my research. However, I have been involved in many planning exercises and international projects where recommendations must be made.

Unfortunately, many tourism researchers feel that they do not get the respect which they deserve.

Tourism education and research has become more and more inward looking, as young scholars read and are encouraged to publish in specialized journals to the neglect of engagement with other disciplines and the place of tourism in societal issues. Having a degree in tourism may or may not mean you know something about tourism, but it increasingly guarantees you know nothing about anything else!’

Thank you, Geoffrey.

Connect with Geoffrey Wall on LinkedIn .

In a 2011 study , Dr Wall was found to be the most influential scholar in the study of tourism, based on citations in his research field. With more than 200 articles published in refereed journals, 100 book chapters, more than 20 authored or edited books and monographs, and over 100 graduate students supervised, Geoffrey Wall has been as prolific a scholar as he has been influential.

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