Defining Tourism

The definition of tourism

The word “Tourism” is derived from the French word “Tourisme” which originated in the 19^th century. The word was popularized in the 1930’s, but the significance was not fully realized until today when “Tourism” has a wider meaning and significance. Tourism is made of two words “tour” and “ism” which means an action or a process and a course or a study.

The word “Tourism” has several meanings. In general, Webster’s New International Dictionary defines it as “Travelling for reaction”. Travel may be regarded as a touristic if it meets with the three essential conditions, that is must be:

1. Temporary,
2. Voluntary,
3. Not have remunerated employment as its aim.

In a simple way “Tourism is an activity of travelling from one place to other places for various activities or objectives without exceeding one consecration year and involvement of earning money”.

It is a commercial organization and operation of holiday and visits to places which are different from travel. It is a composition of services and industries that deliver a travel experience. Tourism is an experience rather than goods.

There are various definitions of tourism given by different famous peoples; some of them are listed below:

1. Austrian Economist/Hermann Van Schuller (1910):-“Tourism is the total sum of an operation mainly of economic nature, which is directly related to the entry, stay and movement of foreigners inside and outside of the certain country, city or region”.

2. Swiss professor Walter Hunziker and Kurt Krapf (1942):-“Tourism is the sum of the Phenomenon and relationship arising from the travel and stay off the non-resident so far as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning activities”.

3. UNWTO(1993):-“Tourism is an activity of a person travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business or other purposes”.

4. Ramesh Raj Kunwar:-“Tourism is the result of temporary movement of people to destination outside their normal place of work and residence, the activities were undertaken during their stay in that destination and the facilities created to cater to their needs”.

5. Tourism society of London:-“Tourism is the temporary short-term movement of the people to destination outside the place where they normally live and work and their activities during the stay in those destinations. It includes all the purpose as well as the visitor excursion”.

6. Mathieson and Wall:-“Tourism is activities and facilities.”

7. Soeldner:-“Tourism is the composite activities, services, and industries that deliver a travel experience i.e. transportation, accommodation, eating, drinking, establishment, entertainment activities, facilities, hospitality services available for individual or groups that are travelling away from home.”

Important point:

• Activities of travelling are movement.
• Outside their usual environment is the purpose.
• Not more the than the consecutive year is maximal time.

References:

1. A.K.Bhatia. Tourism development Principles and Practices. New Delhi: Sterling Publisher Pvt.Ltd, 2009.
2. Pariyar, P. 2011. A DECADE OF TOURIST ARRIVAL IN NEPAL : A Project Work Report , BBS final year, Finance group (Tourism) Faculty of Management , Public Youth Campus, Dhobichaur, Kathmandu, Nepal
3. Limbu, B. "Tourism." Tourism. 20 12 2010.
4. Runckel, Charles. www.Business-in-Asia.com. 2007. <http://www.business-in-asia.com/asia/medical_tourism.html>.
5. Singh, Gurjit. Tourism and amp; its impacts. n.d.