tourism definition by different authors

What Is Tourism According to Different Authors?

By Robert Palmer

Tourism is a widely discussed topic, with various authors defining it in different ways. According to the World Tourism Organization, tourists are individuals who travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, or other purposes. However, let’s take a look at how other authors define tourism.

Author 1 – John Tribe

John Tribe defines tourism as “the temporary movement of people to destinations outside their normal places of work and residence, the activities undertaken during their stay in those destinations, and the facilities created to cater to their needs.”

According to Tribe’s definition, tourism includes three components: people’s movement from one place to another, activities they engage in while at the destination, and facilities created to cater to their needs. This definition emphasizes the role of infrastructure in making tourism possible.

Author 2 – Robert McIntosh

Robert McIntosh defines tourism as “the industry that provides services to travelers seeking leisure or recreation.”

McIntosh’s definition focuses on the industry aspect of tourism. He sees it as an economic activity that provides services to people seeking leisure or recreation. This definition highlights the importance of businesses that cater specifically to tourists’ needs.

Author 3 – Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper defines tourism as “a social and cultural phenomenon that encompasses the experiences of visitors and hosts.”

Cooper’s definition emphasizes the social and cultural aspects of tourism. He sees it as an experience shared between visitors and hosts which can lead to cultural exchange. This definition recognizes that both tourists and locals are involved in creating a tourist experience.

Author 4 – Richard Sharpley

Richard Sharpley defines tourism as “a system involving interactions among three groups: tourists, those who provide tourist services (such as hotels), and those who facilitate the exchange (such as travel agents).”

Sharpley’s definition focuses on the different groups involved in the tourism industry. He sees it as a system where tourists, service providers, and intermediaries (such as travel agents) interact to facilitate tourism. This definition highlights the role of intermediaries in making tourism possible.

In conclusion, different authors define tourism in different ways. While some emphasize the economic aspect of tourism, others focus on cultural exchange or infrastructure.

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Chapter 1. History and Overview

1.1 What is Tourism?

Before engaging in a study of tourism , let’s have a closer look at what this term means.

Definition of Tourism

There are a number of ways tourism can be defined, and for this reason, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) embarked on a project from 2005 to 2007 to create a common glossary of terms for tourism. It defines tourism as follows:

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 imply tourism expenditure (United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2008).

Using this definition, we can see that tourism is not just the movement of people for a number of purposes (whether business or pleasure), but the overall agglomeration of activities, services, and involved sectors that make up the unique tourist experience.

Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality: What are the Differences?

It is common to confuse the terms tourism , travel , and hospitality or to define them as the same thing. While tourism is the all-encompassing umbrella term for the activities and industry that create the tourist experience, the UNWTO (2020) defines travel as the activity of moving between different locations often for any purpose but more so for leisure and recreation (Hall & Page, 2006). On the other hand, hospitality can be defined as “the business of helping people to feel welcome and relaxed and to enjoy themselves” (Discover Hospitality, 2015, p. 3). Simply put, the hospitality industry is the combination of the accommodation and food and beverage groupings, collectively making up the largest segment of the industry (Go2HR, 2020). You’ll learn more about accommodations and F & B in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 , respectively.

Definition of Tourist and Excursionist

Building on the definition of tourism, a commonly accepted description of a tourist is “someone who travels at least 80 km from his or her home for at least 24 hours, for business or leisure or other reasons” (LinkBC, 2008, p.8). The United Nations World Tourism Organization (1995) helps us break down this definition further by stating tourists can be:

• Domestic (residents of a given country travelling only within that country)
• Inbound (non-residents travelling in a given country)
• Outbound (residents of one country travelling in another country)

Excursionists  on the other hand are considered same-day visitors (UNWTO, 2020). Sometimes referred to as “day trippers.” Understandably, not every visitor stays in a destination overnight. It is common for travellers to spend a few hours or less to do sightseeing, visit attractions, dine at a local restaurant, then leave at the end of the day.

The scope of tourism, therefore, is broad and encompasses a number of activities and sectors.

Spotlight On: United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible “for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism” (UNWTO, 2014b). Its membership includes 159 countries and over 500 affiliates such as private companies, research and educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations. It promotes tourism as a way of developing communities while encouraging ethical behaviour to mitigate negative impacts. For more information, visit the UNWTO website .

NAICS: The North American Industry Classification System

Given the sheer size of the tourism industry, it can be helpful to break it down into broad industry groups using a common classification system. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was jointly created by the Canadian, US, and Mexican governments to ensure common analysis across all three countries (British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, 2013a). The tourism-related groupings created using NAICS are (in alphabetical order):

• Accommodation
• Food and beverage services (commonly known as “F & B”)
• Recreation and entertainment
• Transportation
• Travel services

These industry groups (also commonly known as sectors) are based on the similarity of the “labour processes and inputs” used for each (Government of Canada, 2013). For instance, the types of employees and resources required to run an accommodation business whether it be a hotel, motel, or even a campground are quite similar. All these businesses need staff to check in guests, provide housekeeping, employ maintenance workers, and provide a place for people to sleep. As such, they can be grouped together under the heading of accommodation. The same is true of the other four groupings, and the rest of this text explores these industry groups, and other aspects of tourism, in more detail.

It is typical for the entire tourist experience to involve more than one sector. The combination of sectors that supply and distribute the needed tourism products, services, and activities within the tourism system is called the Tourism Supply Chain. Often, these chains of sectors and activities are dependent upon each other’s delivery of products and services. Let’s look at a simple example below that describes the involved and sometimes overlapping sectoral chains in the tourism experience:

Before we seek to understand the five tourism sectors in more detail, it’s important to have an overview of the history and impacts of tourism to date.

Long Descriptions

Figure 1.2 long description: Diagram showing the tourism supply chain. This includes the phases of travel and the sectors and activities involved during each phase.

There are three travel phases: pre-departure, during travel, and post-departure.

Pre-departure, tourists use the travel services and transportation sectors.

During travel, tourists use the travel services, accommodations, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, and transportation sectors.

Post-departure, tourists use the transportation sector.

[Return to Figure 1.2]

Media Attributions

• Front Desk by Staying LEVEL is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 Licence .

Tourism according the the UNWTO 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.

UN agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism worldwide.

Moving between different locations for leisure and recreation.

The accommodations and food and beverage industry groupings.

someone who travels at least 80 km from his or her home for at least 24 hours, for business or leisure or other reasons

A same-day visitor to a destination. Their trip typically ends on the same day when they leave the destination.

A way to group tourism activities based on similarities in business practices, primarily used for statistical analysis.

Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality in BC - 2nd Edition Copyright © 2015, 2020, 2021 by Morgan Westcott and Wendy Anderson, Eds is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Sociology of Tourism by Erdinç Çakmak LAST REVIEWED: 23 August 2022 LAST MODIFIED: 23 August 2022 DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199756384-0263

The sociology of tourism studies tourists’ relationships, roles, and motivations and the ongoing exchange among tourists, institutions, and host communities. Tourism cannot be treated in isolation since it embodies all tourism practices in a system they operate in. Thus, tourism is a complex sociocultural, economic, and political phenomenon and touches all levels of society. The investigation of tourism’s role in society, the tourism system’s effects on nature, tourism spaces, objects, practices, relationships, and the tourist typologies demand systematic sociological investigations. A researcher needs to consider the whole macro system through its members’ social, political, cultural, and economic interactions. In such a social context, both human and nonhuman actors continuously shape and reshape the tourism system, and the tourism system reshapes these actors’ values, attitudes, and behaviors. Researchers examining the sociology of tourism departed from several theoretical Perspectives , blended theory and method, and focused on sociological concepts to understand and explain the different aspects of tourism. This group of scholars has been working within the several cores of sociology (e.g., education, family, economy, development, religion, gender, language, migration, social inequalities, labor, art) and at the margins of emerging interdisciplinary formations, including those crossing many disciplines such as geography, anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, marketing, communication, women’s studies, history, and cultural studies. The sociology of tourism studies engendered transdisciplinary conversations both in academia and in practice, and the results of these studies have created pragmatic changes in tourism practices, habits, and governance.

Five scholars, judging from the Google Scholar citation counts of their critical works on the sociology of tourism, have contributed to the field in an original and pioneering way. These leading scholars’ abundant and consistent publications have provided the foundation for a sociological approach to tourism. They can be called the established leaders of the sociology of tourism, and are listed here alphabetically: Erik Cohen, Graham Dann, Marie-Françoise Lanfant, Dean MacCannell, and John Urry. Cohen 1972 opposed treating tourists as a homogenous mass and provided a heuristic tourist typology ranging from familiarity to strangeness. Later, Cohen 1984 classified tourism’s sociology into four main areas: tourist as a traveler, tourists’ relationships with hosts, the tourism system, and tourism impacts. MacCannell’s 1973 seminal article on staged authenticity spotlighted the relationship between tourism and (Western) modernity, which became an essential research agenda for the sociology of tourism in the last quarter of the twentieth century. MacCannell 1976 argued that alienated modern tourists are motivated by a quest for authenticity in their travels, but this quest is thwarted through a “staged authenticity” offered by host communities. Dann 1977 sought to answer the question “what makes tourists travel?” and employed the themes of anomie and collective representations in the sociology of tourism research. He combined anomie with status enhancement in a motivational study of tourists and provided the first empirical results of the presentation and profiles of anomic tourists. Besides this approach, Dann 1996 took a sociolinguistic approach and examined the promotional counterpart of tourist motivations in “the language of tourism” using semiotic analyses. Lanfant 1980 emphasized the international dimension of tourism. She argued that tourism is a “total social phenomenon” which challenges identity formation. Lanfant, et al. 1995 transcended the dichotomy between seeing tourism as either business or not business and suggested a novel approach reflecting the fundamental level of reality in tourism practice. Urry 1990 introduced Foucault’s concept of “gaze” into tourism discourse. Urry prioritized the visual sense of gaze and distinguished the tourist gaze as “romantic” and “collective” without concerning other Foucauldian issues of power and authority. By introducing the concept “gaze” into tourism, Urry made a crucial theoretical opening in the sociology of tourism, and other scholars followed him by focusing further on the body and other senses. Later in the decade, Urry 1999 proposed studying journeys, connections, and flows (both physical and virtual movements) as mobile theories and mobile methods and that this be placed at the top of the research agenda.

Cohen, E. 1972. Toward a sociology of international tourism. Social Research 39:64–82.

This article stresses the travel dimension of tourism and devises tourist typologies along a continuum from familiarity to strangeness. It emphasizes the differences among tourists and calls for further examination of their travel types’ attitudes, motivations, and behavior.

Cohen, E. 1984. The sociology of tourism: Approaches, issues, and findings. Annual Review of Sociology 10.1: 373–392.

DOI: 10.1146/annurev.so.10.080184.002105

This is a crucial academic text for understanding the classification of the sociology of tourism. Cohen classifies tourism into four main areas: tourists, their interaction with hosts, the tourism system, and tourism impacts. Following this article, scholars have given more attention to systematic empirical research in the field.

Dann, G. M. 1977. Anomie, ego-enhancement and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research 4.4: 184–194.

DOI: 10.1016/0160-7383(77)90037-8

This paper maintains that tourists’ anomie (i.e., absence of the general societal and ethical standards) needs to be investigated at the pre-travel level. This sociopsychological research is the first empirical research of tourists’ attitudes and behavior and it provides a firmer theoretical and empirical footing to the literature on tourist profiles.

Dann, G. M. 1996. The language of tourism: A sociolinguistic perspective . Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

This book analyzes the verbal framing of tourists’ experiences. Paradigms on social control, the tourist as a child, and the tourism media from the printed word to television screen have been brought together with semiotic analyses at a quality level.

Lanfant, M. F. 1980. Introduction: Tourism in the process of internationalisation. International Social Science Journal 32.1: 14–43.

This article captures the multipolarity of tourism as a particular form of consumption. The author provides insights into world tourism organizations and the role of international bodies and tour operators by using the methodological principles of systems analysis.

Lanfant, M. F., J. B. Allcock, and E. M. Bruner, eds. 1995. International tourism: Identity and change . London: SAGE.

This book offers a novel approach in examining how tourism transcends individual societies and has become an international fact. It emphasizes the necessity of understanding the local and global developments simultaneously. The volume argues that local social practices cannot be understood independently of the global, and that the global practices are never independent of the local setting in which they operate.

MacCannell, D. 1973. Staged authenticity: Arrangements of social space in tourist settings. American Journal of Sociology 79.3: 589–603.

DOI: 10.1086/225585

This academic article and the ensuing book have dominated the discussions in the sociology of tourism in the last quarter of the twentieth century. This study describes the alienation of Western tourists and their search for authentic experiences in other times and places while hosts modify a cultural practice for tourism.

MacCannell, D. 1976. The tourist: A new theory of the leisure class . New York: Schocken.

This is the most influential book in the sociology of tourism and it portrays the role of tourists in postindustrial society. Tourists seek meanings to their deepest longings and travel as pilgrims to the secular world, paying homage to various attractions that are symbols of modernity.

Urry, J. 1990. The tourist gaze: Leisure and travel in contemporary societies . London: SAGE.

This book takes a postmodernist perspective and describes the foundation of tourist behavior in the form of a tourist gaze. Here tourism becomes a performance and acts as a central element in the broad cultural changes in contemporary society.

Urry, J. 1999. Sociology beyond societies: Mobilities for the twenty-first century . London: Routledge.

In this book, Urry suggests the necessity of replacing the examination of society as the traditional basis of sociology from bounded clusters and objects of a region to networks and fluids in the borderless world. The book studies the physical and virtual movements of people, ideas, messages, money, and waste products across international borders.

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Definitions and Key Concepts

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Tourism is a highly complex phenomenon and can be fully understood only by adopting a multidisciplinary approach. In fact, the tourism activity has been studied by many disciplines, being economics, geography, sociology, and history the most productive; however, this book will focus only on the analysis of the economic aspects surrounding the tourism activity. Hence, our approach should contribute to the deep understanding of tourism as an economic phenomenon, by leaving to other disciplines the task of providing a more complete picture of how tourism works.

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For example, tourists are more inclined to eat fajitas when they travel to Mexico rather than in their home country. Similarly, the personal consumption of wine increases on average when tourists locate themselves in France or in Italy.

Leiper model has been widely used, for example, in cultural tourism (Richards 2002 ) or in sport tourism (Hinch and Higham 2001 ). For an overview, see Hall and Page, 2006 . It is also recommended to keep in mind that, in addition to Leiper model, the complexity of the tourism phenomenon has also been studied from the perspectives of both the Chaos Theory and the Theory of Structural Instability (see McKercher 1999 ; Russell and Faulkner 1997 , 1999 , 2004 ; Faulkner 2001 ; Blake et al. 2003 ; Ritchie 2004 ).

To learn more about the functions, instruments, and objectives of the UNWTO, read Case Study 15.2, along with Sect. 15.5.2.

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Guido Candela & Paolo Figini

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Candela, G., Figini, P. (2012). Definitions and Key Concepts. In: The Economics of Tourism Destinations. Springer Texts in Business and Economics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20874-4_2

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What is tourism? A definition of tourism

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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Tourism Destinations - From Geographical Areas to Dynamic Movements

The term " destination " is a commonly used term by both authors and tourism professionals alike, however, it is deemed to be ill defined. Previous attempts to create a widely accepted definition of the term have proved to be rather difficult. Hence, the purpose of this conceptual paper is to challenge the conventional understandings of the term tourism destinations, by creating a new theoretical understanding of said term. Rather than defining tourism destinations as geographical areas this paper focuses on the dynamic movements and spending patterns of tourists. It is the intention that this way of defining the tourism destination should challenge the traditional/conventional ways of understanding destinations, which is set by local municipalities and other public organisations depending on country. This fact calls for a discussion on new ways of evaluating tourism performance, where evaluation criteria should include a wider perspective than just focusing on the tourist spending within one political geographical defined area.

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Tourism – Definition, Types & Forms, History & Importance of Tourism

Tourism is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries and a major foreign exchange and employment generation for many countries. It is one of the most remarkable economic and social phenomena.

The word ‘tour’ is derived from the Latin word tornus, meaning ‘a tool for making a circle.’ Tourism may be defined as the movement of people from their usual place of residence to another place ( with the intention to return) for a minimum period of twenty-four hours to a maximum of six months for the sole purpose of leisure and pleasure.

According to WTO (1993), ” Tourism encompasses the activities of persons traveling and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes.”

The Rome conference on tourism in 1963 defined tourism as ‘ a visit to a country other than one’s own or where one usually resides and works. This definition, however, did not take into account domestic tourism, which has become a vital money-spinner and job generator for the hospitality industry.

The UNWTO defines tourists as ‘ people who travel to and stay in place outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.

According to the Tourism Society of Britain ,” tourism is the temporary short-period movement of people to destination outside the places where they usually live, work; and activities during their stay at these destinations.” This definition includes the movement of people for all purposes.

The development of technology and transportation infrastructure, such as jumbos jets, low-cost airlines, and more accessible airports, have made tourism affordable and convenient. There have been changes in lifestyle – for example, now retiree-age people sustain tourism around the year. The sale of tourism products on the internet, besides the aggressive marketing of the tour operators and travel agencies , has also contributed to the growth of tourism.

27 September is celebrated as world tourism every year. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of UNWTO were adopted. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the role of tourism within the international community.

History of Travel and Tourism

Inbound tourism, outbound tourism, domestic tourism, forms of tourism, classification of tourism, nature of tourism, importance of tourism, economic impacts, social impacts, cultural impacts, environmental impact, industries related to tourism, tourism products.

Travel is as old as mankind on earth. At the beginning of his existence, man roamed about the planet’s surface in search of food, shelter, security, and better habitat. However, with time, such movements were transformed into wanderlust.

About five thousand years ago, climate changes, dwindling food and shelter conditions hostile invaders made the people leave their homes to seek refuge elsewhere like the Aryans left their homes in Central Asia due to climate changes. Perhaps, this leads to the development of commerce, trade, and industry.

Religion, education, and cultural movement began during the Hindu and Chinese civilizations. Christian missionaries, Buddhist monks, and others traveled far and wide carrying religious messages and returned with fantastic images and opinions about alien people.

For centuries movement of people continued to grow due to the efficiency of transport and the assistance and safety with which the people could travel. By the end of the 15th century, Italy had become Europe’s intellectual and cultural center. It represented the classical heritage both for the intelligentsia and the aristocracy.

During the 16th century, travel came to be considered an essential part of the education of every young Englishman. Travel thus became a means of self-development and education in its broadest sense. The educational travel was known as the ‘ Grand Tour .’

The industrial revolution brought about significant changes in the pattern and structure of British society. Thus, the economy of Britain was greatly responsible for the beginning of modern tourism. It also created a large and prosperous middle class. Because of remarkable improvement in transportation systems in the latter half of the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th century, an increasing number of people began to travel for pleasure.

Travel was inspired initially by the need for survival (food, shelter, and security), the desire to expand trade, and the quest to conquer. As the transportation system improved, the curiosity for transforming the vast and virgin world into a close neighborhood created a new industry, i.e., Travel and Tourism .

However, the developments of rails, roads, steamships, automobiles, and airplanes helped to spread technology across the globe. Earlier travel was a privilege only for wealthy people, but with the industrial revolution, the scenario altogether changed. Transportation, as well as accommodation, became affordable to middle and working-class citizens.

Essentially, with the development of jet travel, communication, new technology, tourism, and travel became the world’s largest and fastest-growing industry.

Travel and tourism have recently emerged as a dominant economic force on the global scene, accounting for more than 12% of total world trade and growing at 8 percent annually.

Types of Tourism

Tourism has two types and many forms based on the purpose of visit and alternative forms of tourism. Tourism can be categorized as international and domestic tourism .

Tourism has two types and various forms. Based on the movement of people, tourism is categorized into two kinds. These are the following:

International Tourism

When people visit a foreign country, it is referred to as International Tourism . To travel to a foreign country, one needs a valid passport, visa, health documents, foreign exchange, etc.

International tourism is divided into two types; Inbound Tourism & Outbound Tourism.

This refers to tourists of outside origin entering a particular country. Traveling outside their host/native country to another country is called inbound tourism for the country where they are traveling. For example, when a tourist of Indian origin travels to Japan, it is  Inbound tourism for Japan because foreign tourists come to Japan.

This refers to tourists traveling from the country of their origin to another country. When tourists travel to a foreign region, it is outbound tourism for their own country because they are going outside their country. For example, when a tourist from India travels to Japan, it is outbound tourism for India and Inbound tourism for Japan.

The tourism activity of the people within their own country is known as domestic tourism . Traveling within the same country is easier because it does not require formal travel documents and tedious formalities like compulsory health checks and foreign exchange. A traveler generally does not face many language problems or currency exchange issues in domestic tourism.

Tourism has various forms based on the purpose of the visit and alternative forms. These are further divided into many types according to their nature. Forms of tourism are the following:

Some most basic forms of tourism are the following:

• Adventure Tourism
• Atomic Tourism
• Bicycle Tours
• Beach Tourism
• Cultural Tourism
• Industrial Tourism
• Medical Tourism
• Religious Tourism
• Rural Tourism
• Sex Tourism
• Space Tourism
• Sports Tourism
• Sustainable Tourism
• Virtual Tourism
• War Tourism
• Wildlife Tourism

Tourism can be classified into six distinct categories according to the purpose of travel. These are the following:

1) Recreational : Recreational or leisure tourism takes a person away from the humdrum of everyday life. In this case, people spend their leisure time in the hills, sea beaches, etc.

2) Cultural tourism satisfies cultural and intellectual curiosity and involves visits to ancient monuments, places of historical or religious importance, etc.

3) Sports/Adventure : Trips taken by people with a view to playing golf, skiing and hiking, fall within this category.

4) Health : Under this category, people travel for medical, treatment or visit places where there are curative possibilities, for example, hot springs, spa yoga, etc.

5) Convention Tourism : It is becoming an increasingly important component of travel. People travel within a country or overseas to attend conventions relating to their business, profession, or interest.

6) Incentive Tourism : Holiday trips are offered as incentives by major companies to dealers and salesmen who achieve high targets in sales. This is a new and expanding phenomenon in tourism, These are in lieu of cash incentives or gifts, Today incentive tourism is a 3 billion dollar business in the USA alone.

Tourism as a socio-economic phenomenon comprises the activities and experiences of tourists and visitors away from their home environment and are serviced by the travel and tourism industry and host destination. The sum total of this activity experience and services can be seen as a tourism product.

The tourism system can be described in terms of supply and demand. Tourism planning should strive for a balance between demands and supply. This requires an understanding not only of market characteristics and trends but also of the planning process to meet the market needs.

Often tourists from core generating markets are identified as the demand side; the supply side includes all facilities, programs, attractions, and land uses designed and managed for the visitors. These supply-side factors may be under the control of private enterprises, non-profit organizations, and the government. New and innovative forms of partnerships are also evolving to ensure the sustainable development and management of tourism-related resources.

The supply and demand side can be seen to be linked by flows of resources such as capital, labor, goods, and tourist expenditures into the destination, and flows of marketing, promotion, tourist artifacts, and experiences from the destination back into the tourist generating region.

In addition, some tourist expenditures may leak back into the visitors generating areas through repatriation of profits of foreign tourism investors and payment for improved goods and services provided to tourists at the destination. Transportation provides an important linkage both to and from the destination.

For planning purposes, the major components that comprise the supply side are:

• Various modes of transportation and other tourism-related infrastructure.
• Tourist information.
• Marketing and promotion.
• The community of communities within the visitor’s destination area.
• The political and institutional frameworks for enabling tourism.

The tourism system is both dynamic and complex due to many factors linked to it and because of the existence of many sectors contributing to its success. These factors and sectors are linked to the provision of the tourist experience and the generation of tourism revenue and markets .

The dynamic nature of the tourism system makes it imperative to scan the external and internal environment of the destinations on a regular basis so as to make changes when necessary to ensure a healthy and viable tourism industry.

Thus, it is now an accepted fact that tourism development can no longer work in isolation of the environment and the local communities, nor can it ignore the social and cultural consequences of tourism.

Tourism and hospitality , which are inextricably linked to each other, are among the major revenue-earning enterprises in the world. They happen to be among the top employers too. There has been an upmarket trend in tourism over the last few decades as travel has become quite common. People travel for business, vacation, pleasure, adventure, or even medical treatments.

Tourism constitutes an important industry today. It has opened up new vistas for the play of economic emancipation. It provides a very potent contribution by strengthening and developing the financial resources of a country. Moreover, it is a process in which mutual material and mental benefits occur. Furthermore,

• Tourism fetches foreign exchange in the form of invisible exports, which results in the manifold progress of the nation.
• Tourism generates jobs. These employments are the main contribution of tourism to generating national income. But one should remember that employment in the tourism industry is often seasonal.
• Tourism often leads to the commercialization of art forms and especially handicrafts. Art items with cultural or religious meaning are sought by tourists as souvenirs. As more and more tourists visit a destination, souvenir production has increased, often leading to mass production. This production also generates income.

With several business-related activities associated with tourism, the industry has a tremendous potential to generate employment as well as earn foreign exchange. Many countries, such as Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, and the Caribbean, whose economies are primarily driven by tourism. Tourism can contribute to the economic growth of a country in the followings ways:

Employment Generation

It creates a large number of jobs among direct services providers (such as hotels , restaurants, travel agencies , tour operators , guide and tour escorts, etc.) and among indirect services providers (such as suppliers to the hotels and restaurants, supplementary accommodation, etc.)

Infrastructure Development

Tourism spurs infrastructure development. In order to become an important commercial or pleasure destination, any location would require all the necessary infrastructure, like good connectivity via rail, road, and air transport , adequate accommodation, restaurants, a well-developed telecommunication network, and, medical facilities, among others.

Foreign Exchange

The people who travel to other countries spend a large amount of money on accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, etc. Thus, an inbound tourist is an important source of foreign exchange for any country.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) predict in 1997 that the twenty-first-century economy would be dominated by three industries: telecommunications, information technology, and tourism. The travel and tourism industry has grown by 500 percent in the last 25 years.

Now withstanding this bright outlook and prospects, the tourism and hospitality industries are very vulnerable to the fluctuations of national economies and happenings in the world, especially terrorist attacks that have at times dealt severe blows to business.

In recent years, there have been a few setbacks in tourism, such as the terrorist siege of the Taj and Oberoi in Mumbai, India (26 November 2008); the attack on the World Trade Centre in the United States of America (11 September 2001); bombing in a hotel on the Indonesian island of Bali (12 October 2002); tsunami in Southeast Asia and South Asia on 26 December 2004, in which thousands of the lives where lost and consequently tourism was hit. Nonetheless, the sector is now getting back to business.

Impacts of Tourism

Tourism is a multi-dimensional activity. The scope of tourism activities is so wide and varied that it cannot be restricted to any particular field of activity. Tourism has ramifications in almost all sectors and is influenced by the performance of each of these sectors directly or indirectly. Tourism in any country can be an apt reflection of the nation’s economic and social endowment apart from its natural wealth.

Tourism has vast potential to bring about changes in the country’s economic, environmental, societal, and cultural edifice. Tourism has two basics: the supply of facilities and the demand for participation. The twin market forces of supply and demand interact to produce tourism patterns. These patterns are associated with economic, social, cultural, environmental, and ecological impacts.

Establishing or developing a tourism industry involves expenditure, gains, costs, and benefits. If these impacts are considered from the outset of planning, strengths and opportunities can be maximized while weaknesses and threats can be minimized.

Each destination will be different in terms of tourism characteristics . The cost and benefits of tourism will vary in each destination and can change over time, depending on tourism and other activities in a destination’s local and regional context.

Tourism activities impact the economy of the country as well as the local economy of the destination.

Economics Benefits

• Tourism generates local employment, directly in the tourism sector and in the support and resource management sectors.
• Tourism stimulates profitable domestic industries, hotels and other lodging facilities, restaurants and food services, transportation systems, handicrafts, and guide services.
• Tourism generates foreign exchange for the country and injects capital and new money into the local economy.
• Tourism helps to diversify the local economy.
• Improved tourism infrastructure.
• Increase tax revenues from tourism.

Economic Costs

• Higher demand created by tourism activity may increase the price of land, housing, and a range of commodities necessary for daily life.
• Demands for health services provision and police service increase during the tourist seasons at the expense of the local tax base.

Tourism also affects the society of the destination in good as well as bad ways. It benefits and costs the local communities.

Social Benefits

• The quality of a community can be enhanced by economic diversification through tourism.
• Recreational and cultural facilities created for tourism can be used by local communities as well as domestic/international visitors.
• Public space may be developed and enhanced through tourism activity.
• Tourism Enhances the local community’s esteem and provides an opportunity for greater understanding and communication among people of diverse backgrounds.

Social Costs

• Rapid tourism growth can result in the inability of local amenities and institutions to meet service demands.
• Without proper planning and management, litter, vandalism, and crime often accompany tourism development.
• Tourism can bring overcrowding and traffic congestion.
• Visitors bring with them material wealth and apparent freedom. The youths of the host community are particularly susceptible to the economic expectations these tourists bring which can result in complete disruption of traditional community ways of life.
• The community structure may change, e.g. community bonds, demographics, and institutions.
• The authenticity of the social and cultural environment can be changed to meet tourism demands.

Tourism activities also affect the culture of the host country. There are many positive and negative cultural impacts of tourism.

Cultural Benefits

• Tourism can enhance local cultural awareness.
• Tourism can generate revenue to help pay for the preservation of archaeological sites, historic buildings, and districts.
• Despite criticism about the alteration of cultures to unacceptable levels, the sharing of cultural knowledge and experience can be beneficial for hosts and guests of tourism destinations and can result in the revival of local traditions and crafts.

Cultural Costs

• Youth in the community begin to emulate the speech and attire of tourists.
• Historic sites can be damaged through tourism development and pressures.
• There can be long-term damage to cultural traditions and the erosion of cultural values, resulting in cultural change beyond a level acceptable to the host destination.

Tourism impacts the environment in positive as well as negative ways. These impacts are following below.

Environmental Benefits

• Parks and nature preserves may be created and ecological preservation supported as a necessity for nature-based tourism.
• Improved waste management can be achieved.
• Increased awareness and concern for the environment can result from nature-based tourism activities and development.

Environmental Costs

• A negative change in the physical integrity of the area.
• Rapid development, over-development, and overcrowding can forever change the physical environment and ecosystems of an area.
• Degradation of parks and preserves.

Over the years, tourism has become a popular global activity. Depending upon the nature and purpose of their travel, tourists, need and demand certain facilities and services. This has given rise to a wide range of commercial activities that have acquired industry proportions. Thus travel and tourism nowadays represent a broad range of related industries.

Hotels are a commercial establishment that provides accommodation, meals, and other guest services. In the travel and tourism industry, the hotel industry plays a very significant role, as all tourists need a place to stay at their destinations, and require many more services and facilities to suit their specific needs and tastes.

Restaurants

Restaurants are retail establishments that serve prepared food and beverages to customers. In the travel and tourism industry, restaurants and other food and beverage outlets are very important as tourists like to experiment with the local cuisines of the places they are visiting.

Retail and Shopping

The retail industry is very important as tourists shop for their day-to-day necessities as well as look for mementos and souvenirs. In recent years, some cities in the world have been promoted as shopping destinations to attract people with a penchant for shopping by offering various products, such as garments, electronic goods, jewelry, and antiques. New York, Paris, London, and Milan in Italy are famous as fashion havens of the world.

Transportation

It is the movement of people and goods from one place to another. A well-developed transport industry, as well as infrastructure, is integral to the success of any travel and tourism enterprise.

Travel Agencies

A travel agency is a retailing business that sells travel-related products and services, particularly package tours, to customers on the behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise liners, hotels, railways, and sightseeing.

Travel agencies play a very important role as they plan out the itinerary of their clients and make the necessary arrangements for their travel, stay, and sightseeing, besides facilitating their passport, visa, etc.

Tour Operators

A tour operator assembles the various elements of a tour. It typically combines tour and travel components to create a holiday. Tour operators play an important role in the travel and tourism industry.

Tourist Destinations

A tourist attraction is a place of interest for tourists, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, nature or building beauty or amusement opportunities. These are the basic fundamentals of the tourism industry.

Cultural Industries

Cultural or creative industries are responsible for the creation, production, and distribution of goods and services that are cultural in nature and usually protected by intellectual property rights. As tourists like to visit places of cultural significance and soak in the culture of the area, the cultural industry is very important to travel and tourism.

Leisure, Recreation, and Sport

Leisure or free time is a period of time spent out of work and essential domestic activity. Recreation or fun is spending time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of the body or mind. While leisure is more like a form of entertainment or rest, recreation requires active participation in a refreshing and diverting manner.

As people in the world’s wealthier regions lead an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, the need for recreation has increased. These play a significant role in the travel and tourism sector.

A tourism/tourist product can be defined as the sum of the physical and psychological satisfaction it provides to tourists, during their ‘traveling and sojourn’ en route at the destinations.

Since the travel and tourism industry is an agglomeration of too many sectors that promote travel-related services. These sectors are referred to as travel vendors and their services and goods are called ‘travel products’. A tourism product includes five main components such as physical plant, services, hospitality, freedom of choice, and a sense of involvement.

Thus, whatever the natural and man-made resources and services brought about the consumption of tourists are called tourism products .

Charecterstatics Of Tourism Products

By now, you must have understood what a tourism product is. Now let us look at some of its characteristics:-

1) Intangible : Tourism is an intangible product means tourism is such a kind of product that can not be touched or seen and there is no transfer of ownership, But the facilities are available for a specified time and for a specified use. For e.g. a room in the hotel is available for a specified time.

2) Psychological : The main motive to purchase a tourism products is to satisfy the psychological need after using the product, by getting an experience while interacting with a new environment. And experiences also motivate others to purchase that product.

3) Highly Perishable : Tourism product is highly perishable in nature means one can not store the product for a long time. Production and consumption take place while a tourist is available. If the product remains unused, the chances are lost i.e. if tourists do not purchase it.

A travel agent or tour operator who sells a tourism product cannot store it. Production can only take place if the customer is actually present. And once consumption begins, it cannot be stopped, interrupted, or modified. If the product remains unused, the chances are lost i.e. if tourists do not visit a particular place, the opportunity at that time is lost. It is due to tourism reason that heavy discount is offered by hotels and transport-generating organizations during the offseason.

4) Composite Product : Tourist product is a combination of different products. It has not a single entity in itself. In the experience of a visit to a particular place, various service providers contribute like transportation The tourist product cannot be provided by a single enterprise, unlike a manufactured product.

The tourist product covers the complete experience of a visit to a particular place. And many providers contribute to the tourism experience. For instance, the airline supplies seats, a hotel provides rooms and restaurants, travel agents make bookings for stay and sightseeing, etc.

5) Unstable Demand : Tourism demand is influenced by seasonal, economic political, and other factors. There are certain times of the year that see greater demand than others. At these times there is a greater strain on services like hotel bookings, employment, the transport system, etc.

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How Different Authors Describe the Typology of Tourists

Posted by Md. Harun Ar Rashid | Oct 14, 2023 | Travel and Tourism

How Different Authors Describe the Typology of Tourists:

The world of tourism is a diverse tapestry woven together by travelers with distinct preferences, motivations, and behaviors. Understanding these differences is essential for the tourism industry to tailor experiences that resonate with a wide array of tourists. Different authors have embarked on the quest to classify and categorize these travelers into distinct typologies. This endeavor serves as a vital compass guiding the design of tourism products and services. In this article, we delve into the fascinating landscape of how various authors describe the typology of tourists.

Cohen’s Tourist Typology:

Cohen’s Tourist Typology, developed by Erik Cohen in 1972, classifies tourists into four distinct categories: Organized Mass Tourists, Individual Mass Tourists, Explorers, and Drifters. This typology provides insights into the motivations, behaviors, and characteristics of these different tourist groups. Here, a brief description of each category, with examples and explanations.

1. Organized Mass Tourists: Organized Mass Tourists are the most common type of travelers in the world. They are characterized by their preference for structured, group-oriented, and pre-packaged travel experiences. These tourists seek convenience, predictability, and social interaction during their journeys. They typically follow pre-planned itineraries and may travel in large groups.

Travel Preferences:

• Organized Mass Tourists tend to choose all-inclusive vacation packages, guided tours, and cruises.
• They value the comfort of having transportation, accommodation, and activities pre-arranged by tour operators.
• These tourists are often attracted to well-known tourist destinations and landmarks.
• They enjoy participating in group activities and often stay in large resorts or on cruise ships.
• A family booking a week-long, all-inclusive resort vacation in the Caribbean.
• A group of retirees embarking on a guided tour of European capitals.
• A couple booking a Mediterranean cruise with scheduled shore excursions.

2. Individual Mass Tourists: Individual Mass Tourists are similar to Organized Mass Tourists but exhibit a slightly higher level of independence. They prefer the convenience of organized travel but may choose to deviate from the itinerary occasionally. They have a desire for some flexibility in their travel experiences.

• Individual Mass Tourists may participate in organized tours but also venture out on their own during the trip.
• They enjoy exploring well-trodden destinations with the option to customize some parts of their itinerary.
• These tourists are comfortable navigating independently, such as using public transportation.
• A couple on a European tour who occasionally break away to explore a city on their own.
• A solo traveler who takes a guided day trip but also explores the destination alone in the evening.
• A family that uses a combination of guided tours and self-guided activities during their vacation.

3. Explorers: Explorers are tourists who seek unique and culturally enriching experiences. They are motivated by a desire for adventure, cultural immersion, and discovery. These travelers are more self-reliant and are open to stepping out of their comfort zones to explore less-touristed destinations.

• Explorers often engage in independent travel, seeking to connect with local cultures and communities.
• They may visit off-the-beaten-path locations, remote villages, or destinations known for their cultural authenticity.
• These tourists are interested in activities like hiking, wildlife safaris, and interacting with local residents.
• A backpacker exploring Southeast Asia and staying in small, locally-run guesthouses.
• A couple trekking in the Andes Mountains and engaging in homestays with indigenous communities.
• A solo traveler embarking on a wildlife expedition in the Amazon rainforest.

4. Drifters: Drifters are the most unconventional and spontaneous type of tourist. They are motivated by freedom, novelty, and unpredictability. They prefer to avoid planned itineraries and often do not set specific destinations or timelines. Drifters have a strong desire to break away from conventional tourism.

• Drifters travel without detailed plans, choosing their destinations on a whim.
• They often rely on hitchhiking, camping, and staying in budget accommodations.
• These tourists enjoy the thrill of serendipity, connecting with fellow travelers and locals along the way.
• A young traveler backpacking through Europe with no set route or return date.
• An individual embarking on a road trip with no fixed destinations, relying on spontaneous decisions.
• A couple hitchhiking across South America, camping in remote areas and meeting locals on their journey.

Smith’s Tourist Typology:

Smith’s Tourist Typology, which was developed by Valene Smith in 1989. This typology classifies tourists into seven distinct categories based on their motivations, behaviors, and travel preferences. Each category offers unique insights into the various ways people approach and experience travel.

1. Explorer: Explorers are adventurous travelers who seek new and unique experiences. They are driven by the desire to discover less-traveled and off-the-beaten-path destinations. These tourists are typically open-minded, curious, and willing to take risks.

• Explorers often prefer independent travel, seeking authentic and immersive experiences.
• They may choose to explore remote and adventurous destinations, such as rainforests, deserts, or mountains.
• Interacting with local cultures and participating in activities that challenge them physically and mentally is appealing to them.
• A backpacker embarking on a solo journey to explore the uncharted regions of Patagonia.
• A group of friends venturing into the heart of the Amazon Rainforest to engage with indigenous communities.
• An individual seeking to hike and camp in remote areas like the Arctic tundra or the Himalayas.

2. Elite Tourists: Elite tourists are typically well-off travelers who prioritize luxury, exclusivity, and high-end experiences. They have a strong desire for comfort and personalized service during their trips.

• Elite tourists often choose upscale accommodations, fine dining, and private transportation.
• They seek out exclusive and opulent experiences, such as staying in luxury resorts, private islands, or elegant city hotels.
• Personalized services, such as private butlers or chauffeurs, are highly valued by these travelers.
• A couple enjoying a lavish honeymoon in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives.
• High-net-worth individuals chartering private yachts for Mediterranean island-hopping.
• Business executives staying in luxury penthouse suites while attending international conferences.

3. Off-Beat Tourists: Off-beat tourists are motivated by a desire to explore unconventional and unique destinations that are often overlooked by mainstream tourists. They value authenticity and seek unusual experiences.

• Off-beat tourists are intrigued by quirky and off-the-wall attractions or destinations.
• They may visit unconventional places like ghost towns, abandoned factories turned into art installations, or festivals celebrating unusual themes.
• These tourists have a knack for discovering hidden gems and appreciating the unconventional.
• A group of friends exploring the art installations in the abandoned ruins of Detroit.
• A solo traveler venturing to the remote and surreal landscapes of Iceland.
• A couple attending quirky festivals like the Tomato Fight in Buñol, Spain.

4. Unusual Tourists: Unusual tourists are drawn to destinations and experiences that are considered exotic and culturally distinct. They are fascinated by places and activities that are vastly different from their own cultural norms.

• Unusual tourists prioritize immersive cultural experiences and interactions with local communities.
• They often visit places with unique traditions, rituals, and practices.
• Authenticity and the opportunity to witness unconventional customs are central to their travel experiences.
• Travelers living with indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest to experience their way of life.
• Individuals participating in the vibrant and colorful Holi Festival in India.
• Tourists visiting Morocco to explore the bustling markets of Marrakech and engage with local artisans.

5. Incipient Mass Tourists: Incipient Mass Tourists represent a transitional stage between niche and mass tourism. They are somewhat adventurous but still value some level of comfort and convenience during their travels.

• Incipient Mass Tourists are open to emerging and less-visited destinations.
• They seek a balance between adventure and having some basic infrastructure in place.
• These tourists appreciate unique experiences but also value convenience and amenities.
• Travelers exploring the cultural richness of Myanmar before it became a major tourist hotspot.
• Individuals embarking on eco-tourism experiences in Costa Rica, appreciating the balance between adventure and comfort.
• Couples visiting emerging destinations in Eastern Europe, such as Budapest or Sofia, before they become heavily touristed.

6. Mass Tourists: Mass Tourists represent a substantial segment of travelers who prefer well-established, tourist-friendly destinations and standard tourist activities. They often value convenience and comfort during their trips.

• Mass tourists are drawn to well-known cities and tourist landmarks.
• They enjoy guided tours, group travel, and familiar, tourist-friendly activities.
• Convenience and comfort are their top priorities when traveling.
• Tourists visiting iconic cities like Paris, Rome, or Tokyo to explore renowned landmarks.
• Families going on package holidays to popular beach destinations like Cancún or Bali.
• Couples choosing guided bus tours to explore multiple cities within a limited time frame.

7. Charter Tourists: Charter tourists select pre-packaged tours offered by tour operators, giving up some control over their itineraries in exchange for convenience and affordability.

• Charter tourists rely on tour operators for transportation, accommodations, and activities.
• They often travel in groups with fixed schedules and pre-arranged activities.
• Charter tourists choose these packages for their affordability and ease of planning.
• Families booking all-inclusive resort vacations in destinations like the Dominican Republic.
• Seniors embarking on guided river cruises through Europe, where the operator manages the entire journey.
• Friends joining organized bus tours to explore multiple European countries in a short time.

Amex’s Tourist Typology:

Amex divided tourists in five categories:

1. Adventurer: Adventurers are well-educated and inquisitive tourists who actively seek out new and unique travel experiences. They are characterized by their curiosity and open-mindedness, always looking to broaden their horizons.

Travel Preferences: Adventurers are motivated by novelty and the thrill of exploration. They often choose destinations that offer opportunities for cultural immersion and adventurous activities. They are willing to take risks and embrace the unknown.

Examples: Adventurers may embark on treks to remote regions like the Himalayas, explore the Galápagos Islands to witness unique wildlife, or participate in cultural exchanges with indigenous communities. Their itineraries are often flexible, allowing them to adapt to new discoveries along the way.

2. Worriers: Worriers are tourists who, due to a lack of self-confidence or anxieties, may have concerns about traveling, particularly by air. They tend to prefer domestic holidays over international ones, seeking familiarity and comfort in their trips.

Travel Preferences: Worriers often opt for domestic getaways to avoid long flights. They may choose well-known destinations and activities that do not involve excessive risk. Familiarity and a sense of security are essential for their travel choices.

Examples: Worriers might opt for weekend getaways to nearby cities, road trips, or cabin retreats. They are likely to stick to destinations they have visited before and activities that do not involve strenuous physical or emotional challenges.

3. Dreamers: Dreamers are travelers with high aspirations and a penchant for envisioning exotic and luxurious destinations. However, their actual travel experiences may not align with their grand aspirations, often leading to visits to more ordinary places.

Travel Preferences: Dreamers aspire to travel to far-off, glamorous locations, but they may not always have the means or opportunity to do so. Consequently, their travel experiences often take them to more typical destinations.

Examples: Dreamers might dream of lavish getaways to the Maldives but end up visiting a picturesque beach on a more accessible coast. Their trips might still be enjoyable, but they may not live up to their grand visions.

4. Economizer: Economizers perceive that travel doesn’t significantly add value to their lives and view it as an unnecessary expense. They are always conscious of their travel spending and tend to be frugal.

Travel Preferences: Economizers seek to minimize travel costs and often opt for budget-friendly accommodations and activities. They may consider travel as a practical necessity rather than a leisure pursuit and are reluctant to spend extra on special amenities.

Examples: Economizers may choose budget hotels, eat at affordable local eateries, and use public transportation instead of private transfers. Their trips are typically focused on the essentials and cost-effectiveness.

5. Indulgers: Indulgers are affluent travelers who can afford and are willing to pay for extra comfort and luxury during their journeys. They are accustomed to high standards and seek opulence in their travel experiences.

Travel Preferences: Indulgers are motivated by a desire for comfort and luxury. They often stay in five-star accommodations, dine at gourmet restaurants, and enjoy premium services. Their travel experiences are defined by extravagance and exclusivity.

Examples: Indulgers may book stays at luxury resorts on private islands, charter private jets for their trips, and dine at Michelin-starred restaurants. Their travel choices reflect a preference for high-end, pampered experiences.

Plog’s Tourist Typology:

Stanley Plog’s Tourist Typology, developed in 1977, categorizes tourists into three primary groups: Allocentric (The Wanderers), Psycho-Centric (The Repeaters), and Mid-Centric (Combination).

1. Allocentric (The Wanderers): Allocentrics are adventurous and open-minded travelers who are motivated by a strong desire to explore new and unique experiences. They thrive on novelty and are eager to take risks in their travels. These individuals are often curious and enthusiastic about discovering the unfamiliar.

• Allocentrics prefer independent travel that allows them to chart their own course.
• They are drawn to less-touristed and off-the-beaten-path destinations where they can interact with local cultures.
• Adventure and unpredictability are central to their travel experiences, as they actively seek new and diverse activities.
• Backpackers setting out on a solo journey to explore uncharted regions in South America.
• Travelers who undertake expeditions to challenging environments like the polar regions or deep rainforests.
• Individuals seeking out unique cultural experiences in remote villages and indigenous communities.

2. Psycho-Centric (The Repeaters): Psycho-Centrics are tourists who are risk-averse and prefer familiar, structured, and predictable travel experiences. They are motivated by comfort, security, and the reassurance of known environments. These travelers are inclined toward well-known destinations and routines.

• Psycho-Centrics often choose package tours and all-inclusive vacations, as they value convenience and predictability.
• They are drawn to well-established and popular tourist destinations where they can engage in familiar activities.
• These tourists prefer the reassurance of predefined itineraries and well-structured experiences.
• Families booking a week-long package holiday to a beach resort in a popular tourist destination.
• Couples taking a guided tour to explore iconic cities in Europe like Paris, Rome, or London.
• Seniors opting for cruises to well-trodden destinations where they can enjoy organized activities and entertainment.

3. Mid-Centric (Combination): Mid-Centrics fall somewhere between Allocentrics and Psycho-Centrics. They strike a balance between seeking new experiences and valuing familiar ones. These travelers are open to some adventure but also appreciate the comfort and convenience of established destinations.

• Mid-Centrics often participate in both organized and independent travel. They enjoy mixing adventure with more mainstream experiences.
• They may explore emerging destinations or lesser-known attractions while also engaging in familiar tourist activities.
• Flexibility and the option to customize their itineraries are important to them.
• A family on vacation exploring cultural sites in an emerging destination but also spending time at a resort with well-known amenities.
• Friends choosing to visit a popular tourist city but also exploring less-visited neighborhoods and local markets.
• Couples who combine adventurous activities, such as hiking or wildlife safaris, with guided city tours in various destinations.

There are further subcategories known as “Near-Allocentric” and “Near-Psychocentric.” These subcategories represent travelers who exhibit characteristics that are intermediate between the main typologies, indicating a degree of flexibility and a combination of traits. Let’s explore these subcategories:

4. Near-Allocentric: Near-Allocentrics share similarities with Allocentrics but exhibit a slightly lower willingness to take risks and embrace the unknown. They are more adventurous than Mid-Centrics but not as daring as pure Allocentrics.

• Near-Allocentrics are drawn to destinations and experiences that offer some level of adventure but with a safety net.
• They may explore less-visited regions, but they appreciate a degree of comfort and infrastructure.
• These tourists often seek unique cultural experiences but with some familiar elements to ensure a more comfortable trip.
• Travelers exploring remote areas in Southeast Asia while staying in comfortable guesthouses.
• Couples who venture off the beaten path in a foreign country but book accommodations with known international hotel chains.
• Individuals seeking cultural immersion through homestays in rural villages but with access to basic amenities.

5. Near-Psychocentric: Near-Psychocentrics exhibit traits similar to Psycho-Centrics but are more open to occasional deviations from familiar travel patterns. They have a higher degree of flexibility in their travel choices.

• Near-Psychocentrics may explore mainstream tourist destinations but with a willingness to adapt their itineraries occasionally.
• They are open to occasional surprises and diversions in their travel experiences.
• While they generally prefer well-structured trips, they may include unique or less-known activities in their plans.
• Tourists visiting major cities but choosing to explore unconventional neighborhoods or unique local experiences.
• Families opting for package holidays but being open to trying local cuisine and engaging in cultural events.
• Friends traveling to popular resorts but taking day trips to explore hidden gems in the region.

Types of Tourism:

Let’s explore two broad types of tourism: Domestic Tourism and International Tourism:

1. Domestic Tourism: Domestic tourism refers to the act of traveling and exploring tourist destinations within one’s own country. It involves residents of a particular country traveling for leisure, recreation, or holiday purposes within the national borders.

Characteristics:

• Tourists: Domestic tourists are individuals or groups of people who reside within a specific country and choose to travel and experience various destinations within that same country.
• Travel Purposes: Domestic tourism can encompass a wide range of purposes, including vacations, weekend getaways, visiting friends and family, exploring cultural and historical sites, and engaging in various recreational activities.
• Accessibility: Domestic tourism is generally more accessible, as it doesn’t involve crossing international borders. It often involves shorter travel distances and less complexity related to visas and immigration.
• Economic Impact: Domestic tourism has a significant economic impact on a country. It boosts the local economy by generating revenue for accommodation, transportation, restaurants, and various attractions. It also provides employment opportunities.
• Cultural and National Identity: Domestic tourism can foster a sense of national identity and pride as residents explore their own country’s heritage, culture, and natural beauty.
• Safety and Familiarity: Traveling within one’s own country can provide a sense of safety and familiarity, making it a popular choice for families, individuals, and groups.
• A family from New York City taking a weekend trip to explore the historic sites of Washington, D.C.
• A group of friends from London embarking on a road trip to explore the scenic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.
• A couple from Sydney spending a relaxing week on the beaches of the Gold Coast in Australia.

2. International Tourism: International tourism, also known as outbound tourism, refers to the act of traveling across international borders to explore and experience destinations in foreign countries. It involves residents of one country visiting and spending time in another country for leisure, business, or other purposes.

• Tourists: International tourists are individuals or groups who travel from their home country to another country for various reasons, including leisure, business, cultural exchange, and education.
• Travel Purposes: International tourism encompasses a wide range of purposes, including sightseeing, adventure travel, business meetings, educational pursuits, medical tourism, and more.
• Diversity of Destinations: International tourists have access to a wide array of international destinations, each offering unique cultural, natural, and historical experiences.
• Cross-Cultural Experiences: International tourism provides opportunities for travelers to interact with and learn from people of different cultures, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
• Economic Impact: International tourism is a significant contributor to the economy of the host country. It supports various sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and tourism-related services.
• Global Exchange: International tourism promotes global exchange of ideas, traditions, and perspectives, contributing to the interconnectedness of the world.
• A family from the United States traveling to France to explore the art and culture of Paris.
• A business executive from Japan visiting Singapore for a conference and taking time to explore the city.
• A student from India pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom and traveling on weekends to explore different European countries.

In conclusion , in the realm of tourism, the pursuit of understanding and classifying tourists is an evolving journey. The typologies crafted by various authors provide invaluable insight into the multifaceted nature of travelers, shedding light on their motivations, behaviors, and expectations. As we conclude this exploration, we are reminded that the world of tourism is as diverse as the travelers themselves. From the adventurous explorers to the comfort-seeking indulgers, these typologies offer the tourism industry a compass for creating tailored experiences that resonate with each distinct category of tourists. By embracing this diversity and customizing offerings to cater to the nuanced needs of different traveler types, the tourism sector can continue to thrive and evolve, offering enriching and memorable experiences to travelers across the globe.

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Former Student at Rajshahi University

About The Author

Md. Harun Ar Rashid

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