Introduction
Early man travelled under compulsion primarily to satisfy his biological needs. They travelled in search of food for themselves and for their domestic animals.
In later ages, the emergence of various empires led to travel for political, business and religious purposes. Travelling in older times was difficult due to lack of proper transport facilities, safety and comfort en route. The development of roadside sarais, inns and dharamshalas made way for business travel, political visit and journey made for the sake of knowledge.
As science and technology advanced in leaps and bounds, coupled with industrialization, it led to economic and social progress. The spread of education also fostered a desire to travel. There was great progress in the transport industry and tourist facilities which led to phenomenal growth of tourism.
Tourism is concerned with pleasure, holidays, travel and going and arriving somewhere. These are the motivations that make people leave their ‘normal’ place of work and residence for short term visits to ‘other places.’
Modern tourism is one of the most striking phenomena of our times and offers us an opportunity to learn, enrich humanity and to identify what may be termed as goals for a better life and a better society.
Tourism contributes to the development of understanding among people, provides employment, creates foreign exchange and raises the standard of living.
What is Tourism?
Although travelling is perhaps as old as the human civilisation itself, one of the earliest available definitions of tourism was provided by Hermann V. Schullaed as late as in 1910. He defined tourism as “the sum total of operations mainly of an economic nature, which directly relate to the entry, stay and movement of foreigners inside and outside a certain country, city or region.”
Burkart, A.J. and S. Medik provided another definition of tourism. According to them, “tourism denotes the temporary, short-term movement of people to destinations outside the place where they normally live and work including their activities during their stay at these destinations.”
In Sanskrit literature there are three terms related to travel and tourism.
1. Paryatana: meaning going out for pleasure and knowledge.
2. Desanta: meaning going out of the country primarily for economic Gains, and
3. Tirthatana: meaning going out to places of religions merits.
The word ‘Tourism’ is derived from the word ‘Tour’ meaning “a journey at which one returns to the starting point; a circular trip usually for business, pleasure or education during which various places are visited and for which an itinerary is usually planned.” The concept was first formulated in the period between the two world wars.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, tourism is basically “travelling for pleasure.” It involves a discretionary use of time and money.
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) defined tourism as “The activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business and other purposes.”
On the other hand, Dr. Ziauddin takes a completely social aspect of tourism by describing it as “a social movement with a view to rest, diversion and satisfaction of cultural needs.” Primault considers tourism as “exploration of all that is unknown in all spheres of human activity and in all aspects of nature.”
The Swiss Professor Hunziker and Krapf published the first serious and scientific book on tourism in 1942. They defined ‘Tourism’ as “the sum total of the phenomena and relationship arising from the travel and stay of non-residence and are not connected with any earning activities”. Since then scholars have broadened the basic concept of tourism.
Difference Between Travel and Tourism
Meaning
Travel: Travel means to go on a journey, especially a long one.
Tourism: Tourism is the activity of travelling to a place for pleasure.
Purpose
Travel: People travel for many reasons such as business, pleasure, education, visiting family, and friends, etc.
Tourism: Tourism mainly refers to the activity of travelling for pleasure.
Time
Travel: Travellers may stay at a place for a long period depending on their purpose.
Tourism: Tourists don’t stay in one place for a long period.
Usage
Travel: Travel is a generic term that is commonly used in day to day life.
Tourism: Tourism is a commercial organisation and operation of holidays and visits to places of interest.
Leisure and Recreation: Basic Motivation of Tourism
Leisure is believed to be a time of rest when an individual is not working. Leisure is spare or free time that we happen to have at our disposal and the time we tend to spend in our own characteristic style. Some people doze off during spare time, not getting up from the bed so as to recharge themselves by taking complete rest. Then there are people who like to watch TV programs that they have missed because of work during their leisure time.
Recreation refers to fun filled activities that people indulge in when they are free and actually look for some thrill and fun. Activities that are meant to bring joy and involve fun and excitement are referred to as recreational activities. These activities are taken up during leisure time and are generally outdoor in nature.
Taking part in sporting activities, working out at the gym, hiking, climbing, sailing, fishing, hot air ballooning etc are some recreational activities that people take up to kill boredom and fill their leisure with thrill and excitement.
Who are the Tourists?
According to the Nineteenth Century Dictionary, a tourist is a ‘Person who travels for pleasure of travelling, out of curiosity, and because he has nothing better to do.’
The International Union of official Travel organisation (IUOTO) has defined tourist as ‘a temporary visitor staying at least 24 hours in a Country. The purpose of the journey can be classified under the broad categories of leisure and business.
Travellers staying for less than 24 hours would be known as excursionists’.
So, a tourist is a person who makes a travel for the sake of curiosity and for the fun of travelling.
The following persons were to be considered tourists within these definitions:
- Persons travelling for pleasure, for domestic reasons, for health etc.
- Persons travelling for meeting or in a representative capacity of any kind (scientific, administrative, diplomatic, religions, sports etc.)
- Persons travelling for business purposes,
- Persons arriving, in the course of sea cruise, even when the stay for less than 24 hours.
The following categories were not to be recognised as tourists:
- Persons arriving, with or without a contract of work, to take up an occupation or engage in any business activity in the country.
- Persons coming to establish a residence in the country.
- Students and young persons in boarding establishments or schools.
- Residents in a frontier zone and persons domiciled in one country and working in an adjoining country.
- Travellers passing through a country without stopping, even if the journey takes more than 24 hours.
International Tourists:
From the definitions of tourism, it is now possible to define tourist. The League of Nations defined foreign tourists as “any person visiting a country, other than that in which he usually resides, for a period of at least 24 hours.”
The International Union of Official Travel Organization (IUOTO) has described visitors as “any person visiting a country other than in which he has his usual place of residence, for any region other than following an occupation remunerated from within the country visited.”
These definitions are gradually being accepted by most of the countries. India recognized this definition a little later in 1971. From 1971, the definition of tourism adopted by the Government of India reads as: “A person visiting on a foreign passport for a period of not less than 24 hours, for non-immigrant, non-employment tourist purposes.”
Domestic Tourists:
The XXIII General Assembly of the International Union of Official Travel Organisation (IUOTO) held in Venezuela (1973) defined domestic tourist as ‘for statistical purpose, the term domestic tourist designates any person who travels within the country where he resides to a place other than his usual place of residence for at least twenty four hours or one night, for a purpose other than exercising a gainful activity and which may be classified under one of the following categories:
- Leisure (recreation, holiday, health, study, religion and sport );
- Business, family, mission, meeting.’
Nature and Characteristics of Tourism
Analysing the above definitions, we find the following characteristics of tourism:
Travel: Tourism arises from the movement of people to, and their stay in, various destinations.
Stay: There are two elements in all tourism- the journey to the destination and stay.
Beyond Place of Residence: The journey and the stay should take place outside the normal place of residence and work.
Temporary movement: The movement to destinations is of a temporary character with the intention to return within a few days. A tourist is expected to spend a minimum of twenty four hours and a maximum of six months in the destination.
Leisure and Recreation: One of the primary motivations for tourism is leisure and recreation. People engage in tourism activities to relax, enjoy themselves, experience new things, and escape from their daily routines.
Beyond Leisure and Recreation: there are some other reasons beyond leisure and recreations. These are- education, business tourism, pilgrimage, MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) tourism etc.
Diverse motivations: People engage in tourism for various reasons. These can include relaxation, adventure, nature exploration, cultural immersion, business, health and wellness, historical exploration, religious pilgrimage, sports, and many other personal or professional motivations.
Purpose of visit is non Economic: Destinations are visited for purposes other than taking up permanent residence or employment.
Cultural exchange: Tourism often facilitates cultural exchange between tourists and the local population. Travellers have the opportunity to interact with people from different cultures, experience their traditions, customs, and heritage, and gain a broader understanding of the world.
Infrastructure and services: Tourism requires a well-developed infrastructure and a range of services to cater to the needs of tourists. This includes transportation networks, accommodation facilities (hotels, resorts, etc.), food and beverage establishments, entertainment venues, tour operators, and various tourist attractions.
Seasonality: Tourism often exhibits seasonality, with peak travel periods during holidays, vacations, and favourable weather conditions. This can impact the availability of services, pricing, and the overall experience for tourists.
Economic Significance: Tourism is an important economic sector for many countries and regions. It contributes to job creation, income generation, and foreign exchange earnings. Tourism expenditures can have a significant impact on the local economy, supporting various businesses and industries.
Interconnectedness: The tourism industry is interconnected with other sectors, such as transportation, hospitality, entertainment, and retail. The success of tourism often depends on the collaboration and coordination between these sectors. This is is treated as multiplayer businesses.
Environmental and cultural impact: Tourism can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment and local cultures. Sustainable tourism practices aim to minimise negative impacts and promote responsible travel, preserving natural resources and cultural heritage for future generations. Besides, tourism helps gain knowledge about the environment and people.
Use of modern technologies: Tourism always uses modern sophisticated technologies- like GIS, Internet, map, interactive maps.
Advertisement dependancy: Success of modern tourism is based on the advertisement and marketing of tourism products in the destination and for this purpose latest perceptions of visitors are used to prepare the tourism products.
Multidisciplinary: Human dimensions of tourism attracts the attention of geographers, historians, sociologists, anthropologists, economists and behavioural scientists.
Approaches of tourism Studies:
Tourism studies encompass a variety of approaches and perspectives that contribute to the understanding and analysis of tourism as a complex socio-cultural and economic phenomenon. Here are some common approaches in tourism studies:
Socio-cultural Approach: This approach focuses on the social and cultural aspects of tourism, examining how tourism influences and is influenced by the local communities, cultures, and identities. It explores issues such as the impact of tourism on cultural heritage, community development, and social interactions.
Economic Approach: The economic approach to tourism studies examines the economic dimensions of tourism, including its contribution to national and regional economies, employment generation, investment, and income distribution. It analyses tourism demand and supply, market dynamics, and the role of various stakeholders in the tourism industry.
Environmental Approach: This approach emphasises the environmental aspects of tourism, investigating the impacts of tourism on natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity. It addresses sustainability concerns, including the management of tourism's ecological footprint, conservation of natural and cultural resources, and the promotion of sustainable practices within the industry.
Planning and Development Approach: This approach focuses on the planning, development, and management of tourism destinations. It includes aspects such as destination marketing, tourism infrastructure development, policy formulation, and strategic planning to ensure sustainable and responsible tourism development.
Anthropological Approach: The anthropological approach to tourism studies examines tourism as a cultural practice and explores the motivations, behaviours, and experiences of tourists and host communities. It delves into the cultural encounters, identities, and representations that emerge through tourism activities.
Political and Policy Approach: This approach analyses the political and policy dimensions of tourism, exploring issues related to governance, regulation, and power relations within the tourism industry. It examines the role of governments, international organisations, and advocacy groups in shaping tourism policies and strategies.
Consumer Behaviour Approach: This approach focuses on understanding the behaviour, motivations, and decision-making processes of tourists. It examines factors that influence tourists' choices, preferences, and satisfaction, including psychological, sociological, and cultural factors.
These approaches are not mutually exclusive, and many studies in tourism incorporate multiple perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
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