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Chapter 4 TRASFORMATIVE TOURISM

4.1 The evolution of tourism – THE CONCEPT

The tourism industry, as part of the service sector, has become an important source of income for many
regions and even for entire countries. The Manila Declaration on World Tourism of 1980 recognized its
importance 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
brings large amounts of income into a local economy in the form of payment for goods and services
needed by tourists, accounting as of 2011 for 30% of the world’s trade in services, and, as an invisible
export, for 6% of overall exports of goods and services. It also generates opportunities for employment in
the service sector of the economy associated with tourism. The hospitality industries which benefit from
tourism include transportation services (such as airlines, cruise ships, trains and taxicabs); lodging (inclu-
ding hotels, hostels, homestays, resorts and renting out rooms); and entertainment venues (such as amu-
sement parks, restaurants, casinos, shopping malls, music venues, and theatres). This is in addition to go-
ods bought by tourists, including souvenirs. In 1994, the United Nations identified three forms of tourism
in its Recommendations on Tourism Statistics: Domestic tourism, involving residents of the given country
traveling only within this country; Inbound tourism, involving non-residents traveling in the given country;
Outbound tourism, involving residents traveling in another country.

The terms tourism and travel are sometimes used interchangeably. In this context, travel has a similar
definition to tourism but implies a more purposeful journey. The terms tourism and tourist are sometimes
used to imply a shallow interest in the cultures or locations visited. By contrast, travelers are often used as
a sign of distinction. Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the
business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours.