Tourism

Tourism is travelling for pleasure or to enjoy yourself away from the place you live. People do this for many different reasons – to have fun, visit other countries and learn about other cultures or just relax from stressful working life. Tourists go to various destinations - countries with great landmarks, places with lovely beaches or simply areas of wilderness and untouched nature.

In the last few decades tourism has grown very much, mostly because people’s lifestyles have changed. They don’t want to stay at home any more. They spend more money on travelling than previous generations did. Travelling has also become cheaper and more affordable. The rise of budget airlines has made it possible to afford trips to faraway countries.

Types of Tourism

Beach tourism
Many tourists spend their holidays on beaches. They relax, go bathing or just enjoy the salty sea breeze and the ocean. Spending holidays on beaches has had a long tradition for over one and a half centuries.
Winter tourism
Winter tourism started out in the middle of the 19th century when wealthy Europeans went to St. Moritz and other alpine resorts. In Europe and in the American Rockies skiing resorts attract millions of people every year. Various lifts bring skiers to altitudes of over 3,000 meters.
Medical tourism
People go to other countries for medical treatment and operations. Irish women, for example, go to the UK because abortions are forbidden in their country. West Europeans go to Eastern Europe for dental treatment. Americans go to Mexico for plastic surgery and other operations.
Educational tourism
Young people live as exchange students in other countries, where they go to school and study the language and culture of the host country.
Sports tourism
An increasing number of sports fans travel to places where special events are being held. The Olympic Games and world championships attract visitors from around the world.
Package Holidays
Organized tours were started in the middle of the 19th century by a British businessman, Thomas Cook. Package tours are made up of travel to and accommodation at the destination. A tourist agency often provides everything from a plane flight to a rental car. Sometimes such package tours offer a combination of beach holidays and sightseeing trip.
Spa Tourism
Spas have been popular since Roman times. In 16th century Britain Bath became the center of spa tourism for the rich population. During the 19th century spas emerged all over Europe. Today people go to spas for the healing effect of mineral waters as well as for offer wellness treatment, massages, steam baths and other services.
Adventure tourism
In the past few decades trips to faraway exotic places have become popular. Tourists looking for thrilling activities go mountaineering, rafting, trekking , or even to remote places in the rainforest.
Religious tourism
Religious tourists go on pilgrimages to holy sites. Roman Catholics, for example, travel to Lourdes, Fatima or the Vatican in Europe. Muslims are required to go to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Varanasi , on the banks of the Ganges River, is the spiritual capital of the Hindus.
Ecotourism
Recently many people have chosen a type of tourism that does not damage the environment. They avoid travelling by plane or do not buy souvenirs that are made out of endangered plants and animals. Some holiday offers give tourists the chance to take part in environmental projects.

History of tourism

People have been travelling for pleasure since ancient times. In ancient Egypt, religious festivals attracted people from the whole Nile Valley. Ancient Greeks travelled regularly to the site of their gods. Romans travelled to Greece, Sicily and other places in the empire. Wealthy Romans had second homes near the sea where they spent the summer.

During the Renaissance educated Europeans embarked on what was called the Grand Tour , a trip to several European countries to enjoy art and architecture and get educated.

In the 19th century the invention of the steam engine made it possible for people to travel by boat and train. Regular passenger services from Europe to America started in the 20th century. The invention of the automobile made it possible to travel larger distances by car.

In the 1960s going on holidays by plane became affordable for many. Jumbo jets of the early 1970s were capable of carrying over 400 passengers and reducing costs of travelling to other continents even further.

Importance of tourism for countries

Tourism is a worldwide industry. In many countries it is the most important largest source of income. Global tourism is growing at a rate of 4% a year.

The tourist industry provides jobs and brings a country foreign currencies. Many groups profit from tourism: travel agencies, store owners ,airports and airlines, hotels, restaurants, etc..

However, mass tourism, can also lead to environmental problems. It can pollute beaches or create noise in otherwise quiet regions. Popular tourist attractions must be controlled by authorities.

Recent developments in tourism

In the past years there has been a trend towards shorter holiday breaks during the year. People like to take a few days off to travel. The internet has changed the way people organize their holidays. Booking plane tickets online is easy and prices are often lower than with travel agents.

International tourism has suffered many drawbacks, like the 9/11 attacks, which made security at airports stricter and travelling more difficult. The tsunami that hit Southeast Asia in 2004 killed over 250,000 people including thousands of tourists.

Words

abortion = the killing of an unborn baby
accommodation = place to stay when on holidays
afford = to have enough money to buy something
agency = organization
alpine resort = holiday town in the mountains
altitude = height
ancient = old
attract = make people go to a place
authorities = organizations in the government
avoid = keep away from
bank = land on the side of a river
break = pause
breeze = gentle, soft wind
capable = able to
century = a hundred years
decade = a period of ten years
dental treatment = to have your teeth fixed
destination = place that you are going to
drawback = bad times
educate = learn things
embark = go on
emerge = come up
empire = kingdom; many countries with one ruler
endangered = in danger of dying out
environment = the world around us
exchange student = young person who goes to another country to study
foreign currency = money that other countries use
global = worldwide
heal = cure
host = here: the country that you go to
however = but
including = also
invention = something new, that is produced for the first time
jumbo jet = very large plane for carrying passengers
landmark = something that is famous in a city or other area
lifestyle = the way you lead your life
otherwise = normally
package tour = package holiday
pilgrimage = journey to a holy place for religious reasons
plastic surgery = operation that changes a person’s face or body and makes them look better
pleasure = happiness, delight
pollute = make dirty
previous = earlier
relax = rest
remote = distant, isolated
rental car = a car that you can use for a certain time
require = have to
rise = coming
security = safety
service = here: trip
site = location
source of income = from where you get money
spa = place where the water has special minerals in it and where people go to in order to improve their health
spiritual = religious
steam bath = a very hot room filled with steam
steam engine = motor that runs by boiling hot water
stressful = tense, hectic, something that makes you worry a lot
suffer = here: deal with
take part in = to be involved in
thrilling = exciting
travel agency = someone who organizes flights, hotels etc..
treatment = something that is done to cure an ill person
trekking = go on a long journey on foot
untouched = not changed in any way
various = different kinds of
wealthy = rich

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