What Is a Visitor in Tourism?

By Alice Nichols

When we talk about tourism, the term “visitor” is used quite frequently. But what exactly is a visitor in tourism? In simple terms, a visitor is any person who travels to a destination outside of their usual environment for leisure, business or other purposes.

There are different types of visitors that can be categorized based on their purpose of travel. Let’s dive into some of the most common types of visitors:

Leisure Visitors

These are individuals who travel to a destination primarily for recreation and entertainment. This could include activities such as sightseeing, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing on a beach. Leisure visitors may also be classified into subcategories such as adventure tourists, ecotourists or wellness tourists based on their specific interests.

Business Visitors

As the name suggests, business visitors travel to a destination for work-related purposes such as attending conferences, meetings or exhibitions. These visitors often have specific requirements such as access to conference facilities, high-speed internet access and suitable accommodations.

VFR Visitors

VFR stands for Visiting Friends and Relatives. These individuals travel to a destination to visit family members or friends living in another location. This type of visitor is often seen as an important market segment as they tend to stay longer and spend more money on local experiences.

Event Visitors

Event visitors are those who travel to attend an event such as a music festival, sports event or cultural celebration. These visitors may also participate in other tourism activities while at the destination.

Cruise Ship Visitors

Cruise ship visitors are individuals who arrive at a port via cruise ships and often spend several hours exploring the destination before returning to the ship. These visitors can provide significant economic benefits to destinations with ports that cater to cruise ships.

Inbound vs Outbound Visitors

Visitors can also be categorized based on whether they are inbound (arriving from another country) or outbound (leaving their own country). Inbound visitors are often a major source of revenue for destinations as they tend to stay longer and spend more money than domestic visitors.

In conclusion, understanding the different types of visitors in tourism is crucial for destinations to develop Targeted marketing strategies and provide tailored services that cater to the needs of each visitor segment. By doing so, destinations can maximize their economic benefits while providing unique and memorable experiences for all visitors.