What Is Tourism According to Scholars?

By Alice Nichols

Tourism is a term that we come across very often in our daily lives. We all know that it relates to travel and visiting new places, but what exactly is tourism? Let’s dive into the scholarly definitions of tourism.

What Is Tourism According to Scholars?

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism refers to the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes.

Scholars have defined tourism in many ways. Some of the most prominent definitions are as follows:

Crompton’s Definition

Crompton defines tourism as “a combination of phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, insofar as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning activity.”

This definition emphasizes that tourism involves people who are not residents of a particular destination. It also highlights that tourism does not involve permanent residence or earning activities.

Page’s Definition

Page defines tourism as “a social, cultural, and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.”

This definition highlights the social, cultural, and economic aspects of tourism. It emphasizes that people travel for personal as well as business/professional reasons.

Butler’s Definition

Butler defines tourism as “the sum total of operators, largely private but including public enterprises and voluntary organizations, which provide goods and services for travelers.”

This definition emphasizes that tourism involves both private and public enterprises. It also highlights that these enterprises provide goods and services for travelers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, various scholars have defined tourism differently. However, all definitions emphasize that it involves traveling by people who are not residents of a particular destination.

The purpose of travel can be for leisure, business, or other reasons. Tourism is a social, cultural, and economic phenomenon that involves the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment.