Tourism Sector

The Development of Mass Tourism and the Modern Tourism Industry

Although leisure travel has existed throughout much of history, tourism as a social phenomenon and economic industry emerged in Europe and the United States during the 19th century. Modern tourism began to emerge with the popularity of Grand Tours of European historical and cultural sites and visits to seaside resorts among wealthy elite and the middle class. Such travels were important markers of social status. The rise of industrialization and urbanization, with their concomitant pollution, noise, and stress, fueled romantic views of nature and desires for travel, while travel literature and global exploration and conquests exposed mass populations to world cultures.

The mass tourism industry accessed by all classes began to develop by the mid-20th century in Western countries and expanded to non-Western countries such as India, China, and Japan in the late 20th century. Advances in transportation were one of the most important factors in the growth of the modern tourism sector. The steamship, train, automobile, and airplane have made tourist travel increasingly faster and more convenient. Rising disposable incomes, increased leisure time, and new employment benefits such as paid vacations made travel possible for larger segments of the population. The increased globalization of communications, the economy, and international relations facilitated the expansion of international tourism.

The growth of mass tourism resulted in the growth of an early tourist industry designed to facilitate such travel. Travel agencies arose and arranged aspects of travel such as transportation and accommodations for the growing numbers of tourists on a commission basis. Package tours have [Page 1656]become increasingly popular since their introduction by Thomas Cook of Britain in 1841. Cook also introduced hotel coupons and circular notes, forerunners of traveler's checks. Internet travel sites emerged in the late 20th century. Travel arrangers, transportation and accommodation companies, and destinations began intensive marketing campaigns to lure travelers.

Tourist Motivations and Destinations

The serious scholarly study of tourist motivations began among anthropologists in the 1970s, with various classifications of tourism emerging as a result. A tourist is defined as a voluntary traveler who embarks on a limited-time leisure vacation to a new location. Some scholars also consider those who travel for a non-leisure purpose that also combines leisure, those who only stay for a brief duration, or those who habitually travel to the same seasonal or weekend destination as tourists, whereas others do not. A tourist's motivation is one of the most important factors determining his or her travel destination. Other factors determining destination include length of vacation time, desired accommodations, a destination's reputation, and cost. The tourist industry and tourist destinations utilize these motivations in their marketing campaigns because of their importance in a tourist's choice of destinations and travel accommodations.

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