Elements,
Characteristics and History
Travelling has a
nomadic urge in man ever since the dawn of human civilization. But the growth
of tourism has been phenomenal particularly after the Second World War. Tourism
is an ever expanding service industry with latent vast growth potential and
has, therefore, become one of the crucial concerns of not only the nations but
also of international community as a whole. In fact, it has come up as a device
link in gearing up the pace of socio-economic development world over. Thereby
it has come to weigh significantly in the growth strategies of the developed
countries as also of the developing ones. Tourism as an industry is a
multi-sectoral and multi-faceted. It has been recognized as “an activity
essential to the life of nations because of its direct effects on the social,
cultural, educational and economic sectors of national societies and on their
international relations.” Tourism today is one of the world’s fastest growing
industries. It has emerged as dominant economic forces in the world horizon.
Tourism industry not only works as prime foreign exchange earner for countries,
but it promotes international understanding and sense of brotherhood also. Most
of the countries have sought the answer to development through the tourist
recreation industry by exploiting their historic, societal, cultural and
environmental resources. Emergence of tourism as a leading growth industry is a
part of a gradual process involving the displacement of manufacture from its
dominant position and the transition to a service oriented economy. The term
‘smokeless’ industry has become a cliché, but it is doing all that a
manufacturing industry does namely, generating income, employment, wealth,
etc., that is, generating the ripple/multiplier effects, encouraging innovations
in addition to satisfying human needs. Therefore, to learn about tourism, the
first step is to learn the elements and characteristics of tourism
Elements and
Characteristics of Tourism Tourism
originated on the usage of mankind to learn the neighborhood.
The usage could have been motivated by the need for survival or by the need to
satisfy curiosity. This motivation could well be referred as the first element
for tourism. In either case, the next element was movement of the mankind. This
movement evolved into a travel based on the time needed to move or shift one’s
self. The third element was the mandatory needs. When the movement is on the
basic regularity of life namely food, clothing and shelter should not be
disturbed or lost, it may get altered. Thus, when someone ventures into
tourism, the elements of motivation, movement and mandatory needs formulate
their course of action. If this attempt provides a recreation, refreshment,
revitalization and pleasure to their life then the attempt will be taken up
repeatedly. Therefore, it is the pleasure factor that keeps the phenomenon of
tourism afloat over all other activities of the mankind. The pleasure factor is
undoubtedly the nature of tourism. It is important to see that the pleasure
factor must be within the acceptable limits of the law of the land and/or
universally accepted level. This also makes sure that anything and everything
is tourism. There are many unethical attempts to malaise the pleasure factor of
tourism. Some of them are sex tourism that makes flesh trade which is not
accepted anywhere in the world. Anthropological tourism is one that makes
tourist to peep into the personal-life of the people as an activity of tourism.
This leads us to learn the characteristics of tourism.
Characteristics The characteristics are the 3A’s namely: 1)
Attractions 2) Accessibilities 3) Amenities. Thus to refer any activity as an
act of tourism, there should be a tourism attraction that attracts tourists to
it. This attraction should have the route and transport for the tourist to
reads that place. Above all the destination that has the tourist attraction
must have the basic amenities too.
Over the years, there
has been a growing awareness of tourism as a human activity, an industry, and a
catalyst for economic growth and development. Like any other industry the
tourism industry draws resources from the economy, adds value and produces
marketable products. The only difference here is that no tangible product is
produced like in the case of a manufacturing industry. The product in this
case, is intangible and joint or composite in nature. The tourism industry
impacts various auxiliary (specific) and ancillary (general) industries as
well. Tourism today is undergoing a rapid transformation towards a new industry
having farreaching implications for organizations in the travel and tourism
industry in particular, and consequences of import for developing and developed
countries in general, growing increasingly dependent on the tourist dollar. The
forces driving the change in this industry are many. In the earlier days of the
world travel was motivated primarily for seeking truth, tradition and
territory. In other words, the motivations were knowledge, religion and trade.
Later trade becomes war. Today people travel for a variety of motivations,
including business, leisure, religion, culture, visiting friends and relatives,
education and health. The means of transportation have become varied and faster
and as the transport becomes faster, new travellers emerge and people travel
greater distances. Another important force driving the growth within the
industry is the growth and expansion of the middle class and an increase in
their disposable income. The travel industry is complex in nature and
challenging to manage. Tourists are now a sophisticated lot. They are demanding
and constantly looking for new variations in the products and newer
destinations. Historical Development of Tourism Theobald (1994) suggested that
“etymologically, the word tour is derived from the Latin, ‘tornare’ and the
Greek, ‘tornos’, meaning ‘a lathe or circle; the movement around a central
point or axis’. This meaning changed in modern English to represent ‘one’s
turn’. The suffix –ism is defined as ‘an action or process; typical behaviour
or quality’, while the suffix, –ist denotes ‘one that performs a given action’.
When the word tour and the suffixes –ism and –ist are combined, they suggest
the action of movement around a circle. One can argue that a circle represents
a starting point, which ultimately returns back to its beginning. Therefore, like a circle, a tour represents a journey in
that it is a round-trip, i.e., the act of leaving and then returning to the
original starting point, and therefore, one who takes such a journey can be
called a tourist.” Travel through the Ages In the beginning travel was largely
unconscious and a simple affair. People travelled by foot over paths, open
fields as also forests. Movement across the landscape was tough adventure
requiring great skills and endurance. There were no travel procedures and
formalities as there were no frontiers. All human activity focused upon day to
day survival. The early hunters were keeping themselves busy in search of basic
necessities like food, water and shelter. This often meant difficult and
dangerous travel for entire communities. Although travel in the prehistoric
times was rigorous and unsafe, it did not stop early people from migrating all
over the globe. It was however, in the Neolithic age that several innovations
were made which changed the nature of travel. Around 4000 B.C. sailing vessels
were built in Egypt. It was also during this period that animals were domesticated
and trained to carry and transport community members, tools and agriculture
supplies. Invention of the wheel during this period was also an important
landmark which made movement of people to distant lands possible. The Sumerians
invented the wheel around 3500 B.C. Invention of the wheel had considerably
reduced the burdens of travel as also distance. It was now possible to travel
hundreds of miles to new lands in search of fortune. Most early travel however
was not undertaken for the purposes of pleasure since the motive was not to
seek any holiday from the work situation. The primary motive for which the
travel was undertaken was related to trade, exchange of goods, commerce and the
activities associated with it. The traveller in the ancient past was thus a
trader and a merchant looking for merchandise and engaging in trade and
commerce. There was, however, another type of traveller, whose motive was other
than engaging in trade and commerce. This traveller was pilgrim, a scholar in
search of ancient texts and a curious wayfarer looking forward to new and
exciting experiences. Seeking knowledge was his primary purpose for undertaking
travel. Early Travel Motivations and Knowledge The early travel motivation was
associated with trade, commerce and knowledge. Throughout history, traders and
merchants have travelled to far-off lands in order to trade with other regions
and communities. Travellers from distant lands started moving about in large
numbers and visited many places for the purpose of commerce. With the gradual
opening of the trade routes, travel became easier as well as regulated. At the
market-places, travellers made contacts with each other, resulting in increased
flow of trade and commerce. Trade relations gradually matured into cultural
relations and better understanding of each other’s way of life. This was a
favourable development towards increase in travel activity during this period.
Some of the earliest travellers probably were the Phoenicians. They were
probably the first real travellers in the modern sense. These were also the
people who were credited with the invention of money. The medium of money was
being used in various business and commercial dealings. Many traders could now
pay for their travel to different centers of trade and commerce as also for the
accommodation they required. The invention of money and the development of
trade and commerce beginning about 3000 B.C. perhaps can be said to be the most
significant development of the time which paved the way for the development and
organisation of travel. Early travel in the orient, particularly in India and
in China, was also largely based on trade and commerce. Travel to India in
particular was undertaken by travellers from all over the ancient world. Both
India and China enjoyed the reputation of being countries of fabulous wealth
where trade and commerce flourished. It is on record that long before the
Christian era, travellers visited India in search of fortune. This trend
continued and became more marked in course of time with Europeans heading
towards Indian shores for the sole purpose of trade and commerce. The urge for
exploring new lands and to seek new knowledge in ancient and distant lands was
yet another motive of travellers in subsequent periods. Although trade and
commerce continued to be the strong force for many travellers to undertake
journeys to distant lands, seeking new knowledge and exploring the unexplored
lands was becoming a strong urge in ancient times. Homer’s great work ‘Odyssey’
records the wanderlust of the ancient Greeks and Romans. There are innumerable
references to great explorers who spent
many formidable years of their lives in search of knowledge. These great
explorers can, perhaps, be credited with the distinction of being the pioneers
who subsequently paved the way for modern day travel. Travel for Religious
Purposes Travel for religious purposes assumed a significant importance during
the middle ages and became a well established custom in many parts of the
world. By the end of the Middle Ages, a large number of pilgrims were
travelling to the main shrines in Europe and elsewhere. The adoption and spread
of Christianity subsequently led to numerous pilgrims making their way to the
holy land. So deep and strong was the hold of faith that the ritual of
pilgrimage flourished over the centuries. It became a great unifying force and
the pilgrims strengthened religious bonds. The pilgrimages also provided the
necessary impetus for a ‘stayat-home’ agrarian society to break out of its
narrow geographical confines and visit places associated with religion. It also
served as a powerful means of forging unity and understanding between people
from widely different regions. Pilgrim travel assumed a great importance in
India. Emperor Ashoka travelled a great deal in his eagerness to spread
doctrines of Buddha. Ashoka and his followers first travelled to Nepal starting
from Patliputra and then ventured to Lumbini Gardens, the land of Buddha’s
birth, on to Kapilavastu, the place where Buddha spent his childhood. From
there, he went to Sarnath, where Buddha got enlightenment. Through his travels,
Emperor Ashoka had special memorials set up at each spot and also test houses
where travellers could rest. Harsha was another emperor who was greatly influenced
by the Buddist scriptures. He built institutions and Dharamshalas for the
travellers. Rest houses were built in towns and villages, numerous monasteries
and temples were also built for the pilgrims. The powerful influences of a
crusading religion that slowly penetrated a foreign land, such as Christianity
in Europe and later in America and Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism in Asia allowed
an assimilation and perpetuation of very distinctive languages, literature,
art, architecture, philosophy and forms of government. Religion thus played and
continues to play a crucial part in travel. Early Pleasure Travel The purpose for travel
shifted to pleasure from that of trade, knowledge and religion on the turn of
the world from Before Christ (B.C) to Anno Domni1 (A.D). The all powerful Roman
Empire (3BC to 3AD) was of great help for this. Romans probably were the first
pleasure travellers. Travel received a great stimulus from the good
communication system and security of the Roman Empire. There existed a fine
network of roads and new roads were built increasingly wherever the Romans
went. Travel literature was published extensively giving routes, the names of
the roads, distances between places and time required in travelling to them.
The Romans were able to travel over a hundred miles in a day using relays of
horses. They journeyed primarily to see famous temples in the Mediterranean
areas, particularly the monuments and the famous Egyptian pyramids. The Romans
travelled during the holiday occasions, particularly the famous Olympic Games.
Spas and seaside resorts which developed during this period may be associated
with pleasure travel. Medicinal baths and seaside resorts which were later
named as spas were popular with the Romans. The inland spa had its origin in a
belief in the efficacy of its mineral waters for medicinal purposes, either by
drinking the water or by immersing in it. The patients using the spas would
require certain diversions, and gradually, the spa resorts added facilities for
pleasure and entertainment to medicinal facilities. The visitors now not only
enjoyed medicinal baths but also various forms of entertainments. Theatrical
productions, athletic competitions, festivals and other forms of entertainments
and amusements were often provided at the sites where spas were located. The
spas had become extremely popular with travellers. Subsequent development of
spas, after their original use for recreational purposes by the Romans, played
a big role in the development of pleasure travel in many counties in Europe.
Development of various seaside resorts is also linked with the latter half of
the eighteenth century, when people started realising the possible curative
effects of sea water. Sea bathing also became very popular and many believed that
bathing in sea water was more beneficial than inland spas. The sea side resorts
began to appear as an alternative to the original inland spas. This development
was a result of a demand for vacation travel. However, the use of these resorts was still confined to those with
considerable means. Nevertheless, both the spas and side resorts paved the way
for the modern pleasure travel all over the world where millions of people
visited various seaside resorts each year. The fall of the Roman Empire in the
fifth century was a great setback for pleasure travel in Europe. During the
Dark Ages only the very adventurous and brave persons would travel. A trip in
this period in history was considered dangerous. No one would associate travel
with pleasure. Also with the decline of the Roman Empire came a sharp decline
in trade and commerce. In the absence of a prosperous community with the
incentive to travel for pleasure, travelling ceased to exist for its own sake.
The Grand Tour The Renaissance marked the next important stage in the history
of travel. The reappearance of tourism in Europe follows the Italian
Renaissance and the development on a full scale urban system and network of
roads. By the end of the fifteenth century Italy itself became the object of
attention. At this time Italy was Europe’s economic and cultural leader. It
was, however, totally disunited politically. Wars were fought on Italian soil.
These wars played an important part in the dissemination of the Renaissance and
the subsequent development of the ‘grand tour’. The aristocracy and
intelligentsia of north-west Europe represented both the classical heritage and
all the latest ideas and inventions. A growing number of young noblemen were
being sent abroad to complete their education in France and Italy. The
development of the Grand tourism followed a shift in the focus of culture and
of economic and political power. The wealthy and educated, of states whose
position of dominance in the world was comparatively new, visited counties that
had passed their peak of prestige but were still venerated for historical and
cultural reasons. Thus Romans visited Greece and the eastern Mediterranean; the
English, from sixteenth century onwards, visited Italy. The Grand tourist
respected the learning, antiquities and social refinements of the world. The
eighteenth century is conventionally considered, the golden age of the Grand
Tour, especially the thirty years between 1763 and 1793. With the new wealth of
the English bourgeoisie the number of tourists had multiplied. The Grand Tour
was no longer an aristocratic preserve. It had been invaded by the bourgeoisie.
During this period a great many poets,
authors and intellectuals visited Italy and other countries nearby with a view
to broaden their knowledge and learn new arts and crafts. The Grand tourists
paved the way for the popular tourism of the nineteenth and twentieth
century’s. Great Travellers A list of some of the great travelers of the world
is listed below. Perhaps the earliest travellers from distant lands to the
Indian soil were the trading Persians. Evidence of caravans of Persians
visiting India lies engraved in the inscriptions dating to the Persian king
Darius. During the rule of the Guptas, there was free access to the ports along
the Western Coast, seaborne commerce with Europe through Egypt was yet another
reason for travel in and around the country. There are also references of many
known Persians, who visited the Indian soil for commerce and trade. There is
also a mention of cultural exchanges between Persia and India. Reference has
also been made to the influence of Persian customs in the court of Chandragupta
Maurya. Great travellers from various faraway lands visited India. Probably the
greatest traveller remembered from distant past is Hieun-tsang. A devout
Chinese Buddhist, he made the perilous journey to India around A.D. 633. His
main mission was to collect and translate ancient Buddhist scriptures. Some
other travellers whose names need special mention are Alexander the Great,
Marco Polo, Benjamin of Tudela, Ibn Batutah, Francisco Frair, Alfonso
D’Albuquerque and Mark Twain. One of the important developments during this
period was the emergence of some sort of communication system and
accommodation. Development of trade and commerce necessitated this development.
Shulgi, the ruler of ancient Babylonia, claimed to have built roads and rest
houses at various places for wayfarers. With trade and commerce forming a link
in development, it was inevitable that some sort of communication system
connecting the centres of trade, commerce and learning were found to be in good
shape. When Alexander the Great, during his journeys, reached India, he found
well maintained roads covered with shady trees. Along one royal high way, 1920
kilometres long and about 19 metres wide, people travelled in chariots,
palanquins, bullock carts, on horses, camels and elephants. The great travellers who ventured to explore
distant lands had fascinating accounts if their travels. Even if we go back just
a few hundred years to the third century A.D., since the first exploration of
Alexander the Great, or only about seven hundred years since Marco Polo, and
their amazing explorations crossing many land we get fascinating accounts of
the travels of these great persons. The first medieval traveller to reach the
orient was probably Benjamin of Tudela, a Jewish scholar, who left Saragossa in
the year A.D. 1160. He wrote a detailed account of his thirteenyear long
journey through Europe, Persia and India, giving information on the Jewish
communities, and the geography of various places he had visited. Yet another
famous traveller who recorded interesting accounts of his travel experiences
was Ibn Batutah. Ibn Batutah wrote a detailed diary of his travel experiences.
He was born at Tangier in A.D.1304. In the year A.D. 1325, he left his home and
passing through various countries in Africa and West Asia, crossed the Sindhu
in A.D.1333. His travel took him to places as far as Indonesia and China. Out
of a total of more than 17,000 miles, he covered more than 14,000 miles in the
course of his travels through India, the Maldives and Ceylon. Marco Polo, the
fearless traveller, spent almost twenty-five years in Asia during the latter
part of the 13th century. His wanderlust could well have been inherited from
his father. Young Marco Polo left Venice in the year 1271 with his father and
uncle. The three together travelled through Persia and Afghanistan to the “roof
of the world”, the then unknown Pamir Plateau. After crossing the wind-swept
Gobi desert they reached Kublai Khan’s palace and remained in China for over
twenty years. On his way back home, he stopped in Sumatra, Java, India and
Ceylon. Marco Polo’s description of a place Zipangu (the present day Japan)
in.his memoirs set the course for Columbus’s contemporaries on his historic
journey in 1492. Two of Columbus’s contemporaries who also became famous and
wrote excellent accounts were Vasco da Gamawho opened the sea route to India in
1498 from Western Europe to India in 1498 -and Ferdinand Magellan whose ship
sailed around the world. Francisco Friar, John of Monte Corvino also visited
India on their way to and back from China during the decade of the thirteenth
century. Mention may also be made of the famous Portuguese chronicle, the
Commentaries of the Great Alfonso D’Albuquerque. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
more European monks, travellers and adventurers visited India and many other
places in search of knowledge. The first great sailor to do a westward
circumnavigation of the world was Francis Drake who was knighted by Queen
Elizabeth I in the year 1581. From 1768 to 1779 Captain James Cook made three
long voyages to the Pacific in search of a non-existent southern continent
mentioned by Ptolemy who, earlier in the 2nd century A.D., had travelled widely
and who wrote an eight-volume work on geography. The Concept of Annual Holiday
The introduction of Annual Holiday in Europe was yet another important landmark
which enabled many people to undertake travel in large numbers during the
eighteenth century. The annual holiday was the forerunner to the ‘paid holiday’
which later on was responsible for an extraordinary growth of tourism during
the twentieth century. The term holiday derives from holy days associated with
religious observances. In the present day parlance it is used generally in a
secular sense meaning a respite from the routine of daily workday life and a
time for leisure, recreation and amusement. A feature of ancient Rome, Holy days
were among the most enjoyable events of the period. The most important and
enjoyable Holiday was known as “Saturnalia”- the feast of Saturn- celebrated in
the month of December, where everybody high or low in status indulged in
feasting and frolic in the worship of God of Saturn. Also in Europe certain
days commemorating religious festivals and saints’ days became holy days. There
was no work on those days. In the year 1552 in England an act was passed during
the reign of Edward VI “for the keeping of holydays and fasting days.” This act
still continues to be on the Statute Book. Subsequently, public and semi
official offices in England are closed on certain saints’ days. These holy days
where no regular work was made turned to be called as holidays. There were,
however, no general public holidays until the time of the Industrial
Revolution. The concept of modern annual paid holiday is very largely an
outcome of the post industrial Revolution. Paid Holidays and Tourism The concept of
modern tourism emerged along with the introduction of holiday with pay. It was
in the last quarter of the nineteenth century that increasing attention was
paid to the desirability of holidays with pay and atleast of cheap holidays for
working class people. During this period a few factories gave paid holidays to
their workers in some countries in the West. The introduction of annual paid
holidays was very largely of English origin and this had important
repercussions on the development of mass tourism. The annual paid holiday was
established during the interwar period as a reality of a considerable part of
the working population. By the year 1939, in UK some eleven million people were
covered by the Holidays with Pay Act (1938). Introduction of paid holiday had
led to the great mobility of the population, created new industries, resulted
in the creation and growth of many towns of distinctive function and broadened
the horizons of millions of people. In fact, the introduction of paid holidays
can truly be associated with the development of modern mass tourism. Modern
tourism really got underway in the year 1936 when, at the instigation of its
trade union representatives, the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
adopted the first convention that was to support serious movements to promote
paid holidays and in turn, tourism. The convention on paid holidays was an
innovation well ahead of time, when only fourteen countries, mostly European,
had enacted general legislation on paid holidays. Soon afterwards tourism
experienced an extra ordinary growth. Paid holidays are now established all
over the world, and in most countries minimum duration of one to three weeks is
specified either by law or by collective agreement between the employer and the
workers. Right to paid holidays has universal recognition now. The trend is to
grant longer holiday periods. The employers have realised that the paid
holidays have not adversely affected industrial production. Legal minimum in
many countries at present is three weeks. Some countries have even gone beyond
this and grant four weeks of paid holidays. Today it is recognised that in
Western Europe the fifth week, even from the stand point of the output may also
be regarded as a productive investment. Sweden has recently enacted legislation
introducing this additional week of paid holidays. Worldwide more than five
hundred million wage earners are entitled to paid holidays. Out of this number
roughly half are in Europe, little less
than thirty percent in the Americas, and the rest in Asia and the Pacific.
Presently main potential for tourism market is made up of wage earners and
their families. As a result of economic and social changes due to further
industrialisation the world over and the rationalisation of the tertiary
sector; the number of wage earners in the world is bound to grow at a much
faster rate than before. This concept of paid holidays which originated with
the advent of industrialisation in the West has given modern tourism a
tremendous boost. Transport Developments Tourism development was greatly
improved through the development of transportation through Industrial
Revolution. This section details on the transport development that gave a
fillip to tourism development. Rail Transport Nineteenth century witnessed a
great technological development, first in England, and later in Europe and
America. This development had a profound effect on transport which resulted in
the growth of travel in general. This great technological development led to
the advent of the railway. The introduction of railways in the nineteenth
century was a crucial landmark in history. The first rail link between
Liverpool and Manchester was started in the year 1830. The newly completed
railway track in England featured special provisions for carrying passengers in
addition to freight. Later on, an extensive programme construct On of railroads
to provide trunk lines between major centres of population and commerce and
industry was taken up in England. Although the railway network in the beginning
was responsible for carrying goods from industrial centres to the centres of
trade and commerce, it had, however, initiated the process of carrying the
passengers which later on was to become a mass movement. Railways provided the
necessary vehicle for the movement of the people from the place of their
residence to newly formed and expanding pleasure spots like seaside resorts.
These resorts for the first time, were within the reach of many people who but
for the introduction of railways, would otherwise not have been able to reach
them. The newly formed railway companies
in England, however, were slow to take advantage of the various opportunities
available to them for the expansion of the pleasure travel and thereby the
passenger travel. These companies were concentrating in meeting the demands of
trade and commerce as a result of their expansion. Gradually, the railway
companies started to concentrate on carrying more passengers which resulted in
the development of short day trips. This trend was later to be followed by
railways by way of organising excursion for the public. These excursions were
offered to the public at special fares. Organised Rail Travel The birth of the
organised rail travel, however, came in the year 1841. A Baptist preacher of
Derbyshire on his way to a temperance meeting in Leicester was inspired with
the idea of engaging a special train to carry the ‘friends of temperance
society’ from Leicester to Loughborough and back to attend a quarterly delegate
meeting. The man behind this idea was none other than Thomas Cook who later on
came to be known as one of the greatest travel organisers of the times and, in
fact, a pioneer. Thomas Cook broached the idea to a friend and a few weeks
later the idea culminated into collecting as many as 570 passengers who made a
journey by the Midland Counties Railway at a specially reduced return fare of
one shilling per passenger. Encouraged by the success of this venture, Thomas
Cook arranged similar such ventures by chartering trains to places which were now
becoming popular with the excursionists. In the year 1843, nearly 3,000 school
children were taken on a trip from Leicester to Derby. Many more excursion
trips were arranged by Thomas Cook on a fully commercial basis. From the year
1848 to 1863, Cook conducted circular tours of Scotland with almost 5,000
travellers a season. By the year 1855, Thomas Cook had extended his field of
operations to other countries in the continent, organising the first all
inclusive tours to the Paris Exhibition in that year. Another important
development which can also be associated with Thomas Cook is the spurt in
pleasure travel. The large scale movement of people to various pleasure spots
like resorts and spas was a result of organised conducted excursion trips by
Thomas Cook. It was however, the introduction of the railways which made all
this possible for Thomas Cook to achieve and become a pioneer in organised
travel. The news about the introduction
of the Liverpool and Manchester railway reached the neighbouring countries in
Europe. Encouraged by this development many other countries in Europe opened
the railway lines. Railway tracks were laid in France, Austria and Switzerland.
Across the Atlantic the tracks were laid in America which ushered in the spurt
of travel to and from places where tracks were laid. This great revolution in
rail transport technology produced an immediate expansion in European travel.
It was estimated that in the year 1881, the railways carried over 600 million
passengers over the lines operated by over one hundred odd phenomenal success,
the railways were now keen to stimulate travel further and also to improve the
system. There was also now an element of competition and the various railway
companies tried to make travel as comfortable as possible. In America, the
first class railway travel was introduced in the early 1870s, by an American
named G. M. Pullman, who developed the Pullman coaches with their luxury
furnishings and dining facilities. The longer distances in America necessitated
the ensuring of greater passenger comfort. Long-distance travel could now be
undertaken in comfort and with pleasure. The Pullman coaches manufactured in
America were being imported by some railway companies in England and other
counties in Europe. By the year 1872 the Pullman Company had over 700 coaches
working over 30,000 miles of railway track under contract with over 150
different railway companies. East was not far behind in catching up with the
leaders in the area of rail-road construction. India took up the construction
of railways in the same century. Soon after its introduction in England, the
business community there was pressing the East India Company to introduce
railways in the subcontinent of India. After prolonged negotiations with British
rail-road companies, the GIP Railway Company could be incorporated in an Act of
Parliament in 1849 and a contract signed between East India Company and the GIP
Railway Company requesting them to raise the requisite capital required for the
construction work. The contract for the actual construction was awarded to an
English company, Messrs Faviel and Fowler. It was on April 16, 1853 that the
first train in the east took off from Boribunder in Bombay to Thana, covering a
distance of 33 kilometres. Four hundred guests selected from various segments
were invited to travel by the first train in India. From a small beginning on
April 16, 1853, when the first train steamed off from Victoria Terminus for
Thane, 33 kilometres away, the Railway System in India has grown into the
world’s second largest system under one management, second only to Russia. Sea
Transport Like the railways, shipping made a significant contribution to travel
during the nineteenth century. While railways were responsible for inland travel,
especially in Europe, the steamship crossed the boundaries and made strides in
intercontinental travel. The shipping technology made a number if innovations
in the nineteenth century. In America a number of sailing ships were built
which were considered to be superior to those built in England or elsewhere.
The English felt a great need for improved communications across the Atlantic
with America for the purpose of trade and commerce and passenger
transportation. As a result of this there were great strides in the development
of deep-sea shipping. The history of the Cunard Steamship Company in England
demonstrates important features in the growth of North Atlantic Shipping. A
subsidy in the form of the award of mail contract represented a recurring theme
in the development of passenger transportation. With the passage of time toward
the last quarter of the nineteenth century, emigrant traffic became an
important factor in North Atlantic travel. America was considered at that time
the ‘new world’, full of opportunities and fortunes for people in Europe. A
great number of people from the continent started going to America in search of
fortunes. First, Great Britain and later Germany, along with other countries,
became the principal generators of emigrants to the ‘new world’. Many also
travelled to see the new world. Use of the ships in the cruising fashion for
the charter and operation of cruises on a limited scale dates from the
mid-nineteenth century. One of the earliest cruises perhaps was described by Mark
Twain in his first book, The Innocents Abroad, published in the year 1869. The
year 1869 also brought about the possibility of a much shortened route between
the West and the East as a result of opening of the Suez Canal. This in turn
stimulated the introduction of better steamship carriage to the Far East. The
worldwide growth of shipping companies towards the end of the nineteenth
century led to the formation of shipping conferences which developed
cartel-like agreements. These agreements were on farestructure applicable to
the carriage of passenger traffic and cargo to various territories to which the
vessels of these companies operated. Emergence of Industrial Societies The
second half of the nineteenth century, in fact, witnessed the growth of travel
as a result of development of industrial societies. These societies which
developed in Western Europe and North America greatly felt the urge to travel
purely for the purpose of rest and relaxation. This trend certainly gave way to
what came to be known as the tourism phenomenon in the latter part of the
century and in the twentieth century. It will not be out of place to mention
that the concept of modern-day tourism had its seeds in the development of
industrialised societies of Western Europe and North America. Though an
accurate analysis of the measurement of tourism can be traced back to only
about half a century ago, the scattered figures published from 1855 onwards
point to the direct relationship between the development of industrial societies
and the expansion of tourist movements. This has also been supplemented by
various official statements, observations by travel writers, and the various
travel guides and other literature eon sale from time to time. The emergence of
the industrialised societies was a direct result of the industrial revolution
in the West, initially beginning in England. In its wake the industrial
revolution brought about tremendous changes in the society and the tempo of
change was quite fast and took a big jump. The Industrial Revolution was
responsible for changes both in the economic as well as social systems
prevailing at that time. A large number of factory towns, both big and small,
sprang up which in turn necessitated large-scale migrations from the
countryside to town and cities. The Industrial Revolution was responsible for
the emergence of the working class was burdened with long working hours and
poor working and living conditions and lower wages. The sudden concentration of
population in towns and cities made matters worse. Development of Seaside
Resorts As the industrial momentum gathered and the cities and their
populations increased at an enormous rate, the need for some relief was acute. Escape from the routine of work began
to be felt in greater intensity. The prosperous and well-to-do who could afford
the escape, proceeded to various resorts for rest and recreation. By this time
a large number of such resorts had been developed around the English coast and
in nearby countries. A number of large scale pleasure zones were developed at
some considerable distance from the large cities and towns of Central Europe.
The French Riviera with Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo were some of these
pleasure zones. The problems were, however, for the not so-well-todo who could
not afford such a luxury and they were in large numbers. Gradually the
industrialisation brought in better working conditions and increase in material
wealth for a large number of workers. The simultaneous improvements in
transport and communication systems during the second half of the nineteenth
century enabled a large number of industrial workers not only in England but
elsewhere as well to avail holidays for rest, relaxation and pleasure. Thus the
need to develop more holiday resorts was felt. The substantial increase in
workers’ purchasing power and disposable income for travel were two important
factors which helped the growth of pleasure zones. By the end of the century
the Riviera was unmistakably the most popular pleasure zone. Its development
became possible when escape to the South had become a major feature of pleasure
travel in Europe. Many resorts were developed to cater to the increasing needs
of people who could afford a holiday. In the late nineteenth century the
Italian Riviera also began to be popular with the English and the French.
Travel in the Twentieth Century By the turn of the twentieth century all the
main characteristics of modern tourism were evident in embryo. Changes in
mental attitudes towards pleasure seeking, the recognised value of travel for
education, increase in material wealth coupled with social prestige, a growing
need to find relief from working routine, improvements in passenger transport
systems- all these factors produced a fertile ground for the development of
excursion traffic on a large scale. Pleasure travel continued to expand in the
beginning of the century. However up to the first quarter of the twentieth
century, travel including pleasure travel as essentially a luxury commodity
within the reach of the privileged sections of the society having both free
time and considerable purchasing power. The pleasure tourism had by now assumed
a class and a charm of its own associated as it was elegant luxurious quarters,
Pullman coaches, prestigious nostalgic long distance trains such as the ‘Orient
Express’ and ‘Blue Riband’ and Trans Atlantic Liners like the ‘Queen Mary’.
However, as stated earlier only the few privileged could manage to indulge and
afford such luxury. During this time also there appeared a number of
associations, which enrolled members from among the embryonic middle and
working classes and organised excursions, holiday camps, family rest and
holiday homes for them. This class of people had emerged as a result of
increasing prosperity due to industrialisation and urbanisation. Not many
people, however, benefited from such activities at that time. World War I was
responsible for a temporary halt to tourist movements. Tourism was always
flourished in peace as it is a peace time activity. As such the war saw a
considerable decline in tourist travel not only within Europe but also all over
the world. However, soon after the war, travel zone reached pre-war peak level,
and within the next three to five years, greatly exceeded them. Early post-war
period also brought in its wake prosperity coupled with large scale migration,
and this period increased demand for international travel. Gradual development
of the mass communication system like the radio and the press played an
important role in increasing travel by way of widening knowledge and interest
of a large number of people about other countries. The post-war period also
brought about attitudinal changes which were destined to influence the volume
and nature of tourism. For example, the war was responsible for breaking down
international barriers, resulting in the fostering of an ideal optimistic,
peaceful internationalism – just the climate in which tourism is likely to
flourish the most. Post-war era also saw a rise in the standard of living of
working and middle classes in America and certain other countries in Europe.
Soon after the war tourist began to appear in countries where, tourism had been
practically unknown a few years earlier. The major tourist countries enjoyed an
unprecedented boom in the twenties. In the year 1929 there were nearly one and
half million visitors to Switzerland, over one million to Italy and about two
million to Austria. France, Spain and Great Britain also received a
considerable number of visitors. Motor Car The unprecedented boom in tourist
movements in the twenties, especially in Europe and America can be directly
linked to the introduction of the private motor car. The motorised private and
public road transport and the improved road conditions led to a tremendous
growth of travel. The invention of the private motor car and coach received its
first great impetus in the ten years which preceded World War I. The motor car
revolutionised holiday habits of the Europeans and Americans. It became
increasingly important in the pursuit of leisure and tourism. The provision of
good motor roads nd the road services were the important factors in the
development of both domestic and international tourism. Definitions of Tourism
In 1941, Hunziker and Krapf defined tourism as “the sum of the phenomena and
relationships arising from the travel and stay of nonresidents, insofar as they
do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning
activity.” In 1976, the Tourism Society of England’s definition was “Tourism is
the temporary, short-term movement of people to destination outside the places
where they normally live and work and their activities during the stay at each
destination. It includes movements for all purposes.” In 1981, the International
Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism defined tourism in terms of
particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home. The
World Tourism Organization defines tourism as “traveling to and staying in
places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year
for leisure, business and other purposes” Post Second World War Period The
encouraging trend in tourism witnessed during the post-First Word War period
however, the great set back as the Second World War intervened. As stated
earlier, tourism and holiday making on global as well as national scale is a
manifestation of prosperity and peace. It can occur on a large scale where a
great majority of people enjoy prosperity and security. It is quiet sensitive to world
economic and political conditions. The Second World War like World War First
brought in economic destruction and political instability-the two major
deterrents to the growth of travel and tourism. The post-Second World War
period brought in a rapid development of tourism. As the world began to settle
down after the years of readjustments immediately after the war ended in the
year 1945, there was a remarkably rapid increase in both domestic and
international tourism. The widespread introduction of the holiday with pay to a
large majority of people was yet another important factor responsible for the
growth of tourist traffic. In the year 1976, there were nearly 220 million
international tourist arrivals in the world. This was an increase of more than
90 percent over the year 1965. This was a period of intensive economic and
technological development in most industrialized countries which had earlier
suffered a great deal as a result of war. Most of the developing countries
during this period were also able to benefit from the following trend in the
developed countries to engage in tourism. Air Transport The key role of air
transport has been a major factor in the growth of international tourism,
especially in respect of long distance and intercontinental travel. Although,
commercial travel was introduced even before the Second World War, air
transport for the masses as essentially had been a post Second World War
phenomenon. The principal period of growth, however, has been post 1950. The
tremendous increase in speed, safety and comfort provided by the new civil
aircrafts like Douglas DC-6 and DC-7 and Super-constellations, there was a
noticeable increase in the long distance international as well as
intra-regional tourism. In the year 1952 the two-class travel introduced as
made possible by the larger capacity of new aircrafts. Increase in the aircraft
capacity was also responsible for lower air fares. The steady fall in the cost
of flying also resulted in the increased traffic across the Atlantic. This
period also show the first attempt to introduce the ‘package holiday’ around
air transport which subsequently became the model for most of the present day’s
global tourism. Jet Travel The most dramatic event which introduced an entirely
new dimension of speed, comfort and efficiency to air transport and broad mass
travel to its present level was the advent of jet travel in the year 1958. As a
result of the entry of advanced jet aircraft in the civil aviation industry,
air travel from the year 1960 onwards grew tremendously. Great advances have
been made in the aircraft jet technology the introduction of newer and
sophisticated planes with emphasis on comfort, luxury, speed and safety. New
wide body jets such as Boeing 747, McDonnalDouglas DC-10, the Airbus A300 and
the latest all computerised fly by wire Airbus A320 are all part of the
response to the requirements of the ever growing travel market. Added to all
this, the technical brilliance of the supersonic aircraft like the Concord and
the Tupolev 144 have added glamour to the passenger aircraft industry. It will
not be out of place to mention here that the international tourism has been
know it today, has been largely shaped by air travel. Introduction of
‘inclusive tours’ is yet another decisive development during this period
responsible for mass tourism. In all inclusive tours travellers are carried on
charter flights at rates substantially below of normal scheduled services.
Tourism and its development are closely interrelated to consumer’s purchasing
power on the one hand and peace and prosperity on the other. Any domestic or
international economic fluctuations or political disturbances result in a
temporary setback. Tourism received a setback in the year 1974, when the world
economy was seriously affected by the great energy crisis occurred at the end
of 1973. As a result of the energy crisis there occurred fluctuation which was
responsible for lower purchasing power which in its wake had brought in a steep
fall in tourist movements. Tourism like all other sectors of production and
consumption, suffered the economic consequences of that crisis. As a result of
efforts made by governments of industrialised and developing countries to keep
inflation within acceptable limit, the tourism activity received a boost once
again in the principal generating countries. As a consequence there was a
resumption of international travel. Total international tourist arrivals in the
year 1975 amounted to about 230 million. The international tourist arrivals in
1976 were estimated at between 218 and 222 million. The late twentieth century period can be
termed as a period which is responsible for introducing a phenomenon called
‘mass tourism’. Although the enormous expansion of tourism has taken place primarily
in the advanced industrialised countries, where tourism has become a part of
the life style and consumption pattern, it has also shown its might in the
developing countries as well. Time Line A detailed list of evolution of events
pertaining to the development of tourism are presented in this section. History
of Travel B.C Era (Before Christ) 4000 Sumerians (Mesopotamia-Babylonia)
invented money, cuneiform writing and the wheel; also the concept of a tour
guide. 2000-332 Phoenicians begin maritime trading and navigating over the
entire Mediterranean Sea area. They may possibly have sailed as far as the
British Isles and probably along the coast of western Africa and to the Azores.
1501-1481 Queen Hatshepsut makes the journey from Egypt to the land of
Punt-believed to an area along the eastern coast of Africa. 336-323 Alexander
the Great leads his Army from Greece into Asia, crossing the Hindu Kush
mountains (Afghanistan-Kashmir area), and to the Indus River. C.E Era
(Christian Era) 500 Polynesians from the Society Island sail to Hawaii, a
distance of over 2000 miles. 800-1100 Vikings established trade and explore
Icelands, Greenland and the Coast of North America. 1271-1295 Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant,
travels to Persia, Tibet, Gobi Desert, Burma, Siam, Java, Sumatra, India,
Ceylon, the Siberian arctic, and other places. 1325-1354 Ibn Battutah, the
“Marco Polo of Islam”, a Moroccan, makes six pilgrimages to Mecca; also visited
India, China, Spain and Timbukku in Africa. 1492-1502 Christopher Columbus
explored the New World, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Central America,
and the Northern coast of South America. 1497 John Cabot, an Italian navigator,
sailing from Bristol, England discovered North America at a point now known as
Nova Scotia. 1513 Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spanish Explorer, discovered the
Pacific Ocean. 1519 Ferdinand Magellan sailed west from Spain to circumnavigate
the globe. He is killed in the Philippines, but some of his crew complete the
circumnavigation. 1540-1541 Fransisco Vasquez de Coronado, a Spanish explorer,
seeks gold, silver & precious jewels (without success) in what is now
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and the other areas of the American
Southwest. 1602 Bartholomew Gosnold, English explorer and Colonizer navigates
the eastern coast of the (now) United States from Maine to Narragansett Bay,
discovers and names Cape Cod. In 1606 his ship carries some of the first
settlers to Virginia. 1768-1780 James Cook, an English naval officer, explores
the north eastern coast of North America, and in the pacific discovers new
Caledonia, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii. He is killed in Hawaii. 1784-1808
Alexander Mackenzie, a Scot, makes the first overland exploration across North
America north of Mexico; discovers the river now named for him, which flows
into the Arctic Ocean, and the Fraser River, which discharges into the Pacific.
1804-1806 Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark, Americans, lead an expedition that opens the American West, discovering
the Colombia River and travelling to the Pacific coast. 1860-1863 John H.Speke,
an Englishman, discovers the source of the Nile River to be the Victoria Nile
flowing out of Ripon Falls, issuing from the north shore of Lake Victoria.
1925-1934 William Beebe, American underwater explorer and inventor, develops
the bathysphere and dives to 3034 feet offshore Bermuda. 1951-1955 Elizabeth
Marshall Thomas, an American, explores the Kalahari Desert in Central Africa.
1969 Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin,Jr.,and Michael Collins, American astronauts,
make pioneer journey to the moon in the Saturn V space vehicle. First Armstrong
and then Aldrin step out of the lunar module onto the moon’s surface. Collins
continues to pilot the command and service module, which later joins with the
lunar module for their return to Earth. History of Travel Organisers B.C.E 2000
Caravansaries (inns) are established in the Near East and the orient in ancient
times. Located on caravan routes, they provide overnight rest needs for
travelers and traders and for their donkeys and camels. These people travel in
groups for mutual assistance and defense. 776 Greeks begin travels to the
Olympic Games, Subsequently, the games are held every four years. C.E. 500-1450
During Europe’s Middle Ages, a royal party in unfamiliar territory sends out a
harbinger to scout the best route, find accommodations and food, and then
return to the group as a guide. 1605 The hackney coach is introduced in London.1801
Richard Trevithick, in England, perfects a steam locomotive capable of pulling
heavy railcars. 1815 John L. McAdam and Thomas Telford, Britishers, invent all
–weather roads, subsequently with a bituminous top. 1822 Robert Smart of
Bristol, England, starts booking passengers on steamships sailing to Ireland.
1826-1840 Railroads begin service in the United States, first hauling minerals
such as coal and, later, passengers. 1829 The Tremont House opens in Boston,
the first “modern” hotel. 1830 First passengers are carried by rail in England.
1838 Stendhal, the pseudonym of Marie- Henri Beyle of France, authors Memories
d’un touriste, believed to be the first disseminated printed use of the French
word tourist 1841 Thomas Cook organizes a special excursion train carrying 570
passengers from Leicester to Loughborough, England, a trip of 12 miles. 1850
Thomas Bennet, secretary to the British council general in Oslo, Norway sets up
a “trip organizer” business as a sideline. He provides individual pleasure
travel itineraries and other service. 1873 American Express Company is created
by joining the original American Express Company formed in 1850 with the Wells
Fargo Company, founded in 1852. 1902 The American Automobile Association (AAA)
is found in Chicago. 1903 Wilbur and Orville Wright make the first successful gasoline
powered airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. 1908 Henry Ford
introduces the famous Model T automobile. 1918 Deutsche Lufthansa provides the
first scheduled air passenger service from Berlin to Leipzig and Weimar. 1920
U.S. road system begins great improvement. 1926 Varney Airlines and Western
Airlines become the first airlines in the United States. 1927 Charles A. Lindbergh flies solo from New
York to Paris nonstop. 1927 Charles A. Levine becomes the first transatlantic
passenger, flying from New York to within 118 miles of Berlin, his destination,
because of a forced landing. 1927 Pan American Airways flies first
international commercial mail flight from key west, Florida, to Havana, Cuba.
1928 Pan Am flies first passenger flight on the same route. 1931 American
Society of Steamship Agents is found in New York. 1936 Air Transport
Association (ATA) is formed in Chicago. 1939 Frank Whittle, an Englishman,
develops the first jet engine capable of powering a full-size airplane. 1944 The
American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is founded from the American Society
of Steamship Agents. 1951 Founding of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in
Honolulu, Hawaii. 1952 The U.S Congress creates the national system of
Interstate Highways. 1954 Great Britain produces the Comet, the first passenger
jet plane. 1958 Boeing Commercial Airplane Company produces the B-707, first
commercial jet plane built in the United States. 1959 American Airlines flies
the first transcontinental B-707 flight from Los Angeles to New York. 1961 The
U.S Congress creates the U.S travel service. 1964 American Airlines inaugurates
the SABRE computerized reservation system (CRS). 1970 Pan American World
Airways (AA) flies the first Boeing 747 “jumbo jet” plane with 352 passengers
from New York to London. 1978 British Airway and Air France begin passenger
service on the supersonic Concorde airplane. The U.S Airline Deregulation Act
is passed. 1990 The fall of the Berlin Wall. 1994 The “age of travel”, wherein
the most complex trip can be planned and arranged by a single phone call from
the traveler; might involve numerous airlines, a cruise ship, sight- seeing
tours, a local rental car, other ground services and entertainment – all
reserved by amazing computerized reservation systems worldwide – the entire
trip, except for incidentals, paid for by a single credit card. 1994 The
“Chunnel” undersea railway opens, providing rail travel under the English
Channel between England and France. 1995 Delta Airlines introduces commission
caps putting a ceiling on payments to travel agents for domestic tickets.
Denver International Airport (DIA) opens as the first new U.S airport in 20
years. The first White House Conference on Travel & Tourism is held. 1996
Alaska Airlines becomes the first carrier to accept on – line bookings and take
payment through a website on the internet. 1998 Hong Kong opens new $20 billion
airport. 2001 Dennis Tito takes the world’s first paid space vacation.
Conclusion The principal causes of the rapid growth of demand for tourism in
the highly developed industrialised countries in the course of recent decades
can be summoned up as economic, social and technological in nature. Rise in per
capita incomes, coupled with increasing prosperity, had given higher purchasing
power and an increase in discretionary incomes to a large majority of people.
As a result this has made tourism and travel accessible to many. A larger
proportion of people can now afford an annual holiday. In fact, many can even
afford to take a second holiday for a shorter or longer duration. The economic
prosperity has also resulted in many more people owning a private motor car.
Increased mobility as a result of use of motor car for travel therefore is yet
another important economic factor which is responsible for growth in tourism in
Europe and North America.The social causes of the rapid growth of tourism on
the other hand can be linked with new attitudes towards travel and tourism.
Traditionally considered a luxury, travel now is considered to be a normal
activity and an indispensable part of lifestyles and consumption patterns of a
large majority of people enjoying a higher standard of living. The present day
tourist having a different kind of background than a traveller of the past is
much more informed. His idea about travel is quite different and he comes from
a wider social background. His tastes and desires are much more varied. A large
number of people are now going abroad to participate in more exiting,
challenging and exotic activities like mountaineering, water skiing, trekking,
winter sports, under water swimming and the like. Technological causes of the
rapid growth of tourism can be associated with the advancements made in
modernising transport and communication systems. The impact of modern transport
technology, especially in the aviation field has brought about a completely new
meaning to travel and tourism. Travel to even remote destinations has now
become a reality. The technological developments have now made it possible for
an increasing number of people the travel to faraway places which only a few
decades ago were regarded as being almost inaccessible. The gradual evolution
of the originally homogeneous air travel market into two separate and distinct
segments-chartered and scheduled air travels- has greatly increased demand.
Added to this, the newer marketing methods like the package tour is a major
contributing factor in the growth of tourism. Opening up of new travel
destinations, particularly in the developing countries creation of new
facilities to receive a larger flow of tourist and increasing tourism promotion
and marketing efforts by the tourist service enterprises have greatly increased
the tourist flows.
