Tourism plays an important role in economic development by generating employment, promoting cultural exchange, and supporting local businesses. It includes various services such as transportation, accommodation, food, entertainment, and travel planning. Understanding tourism helps students learn how the tourism industry contributes to society and the economy.
Introduction to Tourism Class 9 Notes Front Office Operation
Introduction to Tourism
Tourism is not only about places and facilities. It is about the people and the relationship between the customer and the service provider. It is growing rapidly due to increasing standards of living and fast-changing technology. Tourism is a global phenomenon that involves the exchange and flow of economic, cultural, and intellectual items in terms of goods, knowledge, values, and images as well as people at large.
Origin of Travel and Tourism
In ancient times, people moved from one place to another mainly for survival, food, shelter from harsh weather, and protection from wild animals. In modern times, tourism has grown quickly because better infrastructure like roads and hotels, new transportation like trains and airplanes, and modern technology like the internet and online booking have made travel easier and more enjoyable.
1. Tourism
Definitions: Tourism is concerned with pleasure, holidays, travel, and going or arriving somewhere.
The term “tourism” is defined in different ways by different tourism experts:
According to Hunziker and Krapf, “Tourism is the sum of phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, in so far as it does not lead to permanent residence and is not connected to any earning activity.”
According to the League of Nations in 1937: “Tourism covers the social activity of those who travel for a period of 24 hours or more in a country other than the one a person usually lives in.” This definition excluded domestic and emphasized only international tourism.
According to the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization): “Tourism is the movement of people away from their normal place of residence and work for a period of not less than 24 hours and not more than 1 year for the sole purpose of leisure, business, etc., but not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.
2. Visitor
A visitor is anyone who travels to a place outside their usual environment for less than one year. The purpose can be business, leisure, or personal, but they are not working for someone in that place.
3. Tourist (or Overnight Visitor)
A visitor (domestic, inbound, or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor) if his/her trip includes an overnight stay.
4. Excursionist (Same-Day Visitor)
A visitor (domestic, inbound, or outbound) is classified as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) if his/her trip does not include an overnight stay.
5. Forms of Tourism
There are two basic forms of tourism:
- International Tourism
- Domestic Tourism
a. International Tourism
When people travel from one country to another, it is called international tourism. Such travelers are called international/foreign tourists.
It has two types:
- Inbound Tourism – Tourists coming into a country.
- Outbound Tourism – Tourists going out of their own country.
Example: If you travel from India to France, for India you are an outbound tourist, but for France you are an inbound tourist.
b. Domestic Tourism
When people travel within their own country, it is called domestic tourism. Such travelers are called domestic tourists.
Example: If you travel from New Delhi to Kanyakumari, you are a domestic tourist.
Importance of Tourism
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries and plays an important role in the development of a country. It helps the social, economic, environmental, and cultural growth.
The benefits of Toursim
- Economic Growth: Tourism brings money to the county. Many countries depend heavily on tourism for their economy. It also generates foreign exchange money.
- Employment Creation: Tourism provides millions of jobs for the skilled and unskilled people. In India, the government started the “Hunar so Rozgar Tak” scheme to train youth for hospitality jobs.
- Infrastructure Development: Due to tourism, roads, airports, hotels, and other facilities improve to attract tourists, which helps the local residents.
- Cultural Heritage Protection: Tourism helps to preserve and promote Indian culture, monuments, art, dance, music, and traditions.
- Business and Trade: Tourism supports business meetings, workshops, and conferences at attractive locations, which boost both trade and tourism.
- Global Integration: Tourism helps to connect people from different countries and cultures, which promotes international understanding.
- Environmental Benefits: Tourism is called a “smokeless industry” because it can encourage conservation and beautification of the environment when planned properly.
- National Image: Tourism builds a positive image of the country and makes it popular worldwide.
Types / Classification of Tourism
- Mass Tourism: When large groups of people visit any popular tourist places. Examples: theme parks, package vacations, cruises, etc.
- Alternative Tourism: When the person individually plans trips to learn about the local culture and environment. Example: Camping trip, self-planned biking, etc.
- Pleasure Tourism: When any person travels to improve health or spiritual well-being, like yoga workshops, detox clinics, spas, etc.
- Business Tourism: If the person travels for meetings, work-related purposes, or conferences.
- Nature Tourism: If a person travels to enjoy the natural beauty, wildlife, or ecotourism.
- Cultural Tourism: If the person travels to experience history, art, folklore, and traditions.
- Social Tourism: If the person travels with groups or family, mainly organized tours.
- Recreation Tourism: When the person travels for fun and relaxation, it is known as recreation tourism, like camping, beach holidays, etc.
- Active Tourism: If any person is traveling for a specific goal like mountain climbing or learning a new skill.
- Sports Tourism: When the person travels to play sports like the Olympics, ski holidays, etc.
- Religious Tourism: If the person is visiting places of spiritual or religious importance.
- Health/Medical Tourism: If the person travels for improving health, like health resorts, weight-loss camps, etc.
- Adventure Tourism: If the person travels for thrill and challenge, like trekking or rock climbing.
- Wilderness Tourism: If the person travels to remote, untouched natural areas.
- Ecotourism: environmentally friendly tourism in a natural setting, also called “green tourism.”
Components of the Tourism Industry
Tourism is made up of many different industries that work together to serve tourists. These can be small businesses like a food stall or big companies like airlines or hotels. All these parts are linked like a chain, and together they form the tourism industry.
a. Primary Components
- Transport: A mode of transport is required to travel from one place to another, whether by road, rail, air, or sea.
- Road Transport: It may include buses, cars, taxis, motorcycles, etc.
- Rail Transport: It includes trains and metro trains.
- Air Transport: It includes airplanes, helicopters, jet planes, etc.
- Water Transport: It may include steamers, ships, cruise liners, boats, etc.
- Accommodation: A tourist, while travelling, also stays en route or at the destination.
- Catering, Food, and Entertainment: While in transit, another essential requirement of a tourist is healthy and safe food. Restaurants, fast food joints, dhabas, food courts, etc.
- Intermediaries: They are the connecting link between a tourist and the travel-related services. They are the middlemen.
- Tourism Organizations: Government and international bodies that promote tourism. Examples: WTO (World Tourism Organization), Ministry of Tourism (India), ITDC, and State Tourism Departments.
b. Secondary Components
There are a variety of services that constitute tourism and are directly or indirectly related to tourism. Some of them are listed below:
- Shops and Emporiums
- Handicrafts and Souvenirs
- Hawkers and Coolies
- Telecommunication Services
- Advertisement Agencies
- Publishing Industry
- Artists, Performers, Musicians
- Insurance Companies
- Banks, etc.
Intermediaries
The intermediaries constitute the following:
Intermediaries are the middle link between tourists and the services they need. They help travelers arrange transport, hotels, sightseeing, and other facilities.
- Travel Agency – Acts as a bridge between travelers and service providers; they book tickets, hotels, and other services for tourists.
- Tour Operator—Tour operator creates and sells complete tour packages. They organized everything like accommodation, insurance, sightseeing, entertainment, etc.
- Guide services—It helps the tourist to understand the culture, history, and importance of the place. The guide is also comfortable with speaking their language and explaining things clearly.
Role of International and National Tourism Organizations
Tourism organizations are very important because they help in planning, promoting, and developing tourism. They work to improve infrastructure and create policies that support tourism growth. These organizations exist at both international and national levels, in public and private sectors.
- International Organizations: The World Tourism Organization (WTO) helps to make global tourism policies, promotes tourism worldwide, and encourages cooperation between countries. They focus on issues like foreign exchange earnings, employment, and international integration.
- National Organizations: The Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) helps to promote tourism in India and develops resorts, hotels, and infrastructure. They work for the Ministry of Tourism and state tourism departments to attract tourists and improve facilities.
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