My OperaDiscovering the origins of the tourist industry
Thursday, May 20, 2010 1:52:27 AM
The terms "tourist" as well as "tourism" are commonplace nowadays, however that was not always the instance. Curiously enough they were only first used in 1937. It was the League of Nations (a multinational organization that came before the United Nations) that coined the term for people that left their country for longer than 24 hrs. The appearance of the tourist and the business that came along with him is, on the other hand, much older.
As a matter of fact; tourism is as old as the existence of human races - albeit many like to regard King George III of England as the very first tourist. King George (1738-1820) time and again went on holiday to the coastal resort of Weymouth at times when he was not feeling in good health. Still one may also look upon the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon in Biblical times as a form of tourism.
Truth be said, wealthy folks has always travelled to remote parts of the world in order to lay their eyes on extraordinary structures in addition to other works of art, to learn new languages, or to taste outlandish cuisines. In the time of the Roman Empire, places something like Baiae were sought after coastal getaways for the wealthy.
Also Marco Polo's endeavors to the East around the 13th century and David Livingstone's through Africa around the 1900's are examples of early tourism. The British man Thomas Cook is considered by a lot of people as the mastermind of all-inclusive excursions since he would rent a coach to transport tourists from Leicester to Loughborough in England in 1841. Later the renowned Thomas Cook travel agency was founded due to the success of this enterprise.
The tourist industry like we understand it nowadays, however, only came into being after the second world war, because of a variety of reasons including better living circumstances, implementation of the commercial air industry, as well as other faster and cheaper modes of transport, and eventually the appearance of specialized tour-operators capable of arranging affordable trips abroad for the ordinary individual.
Eventually, South Africa too came into the picture as the destination of preference in Africa, being exceedingly civilized, safe and boasting a great infrastructure. Here an individual could embark upon a Safari, visit spectacular beaches, observe historic buildings, come into contact with novel foods, even visit a diamond mine, and of course over time it grew from there. In the present day South africa vacation packages remain on the list of top dream-vacation spots.
As a matter of fact; tourism is as old as the existence of human races - albeit many like to regard King George III of England as the very first tourist. King George (1738-1820) time and again went on holiday to the coastal resort of Weymouth at times when he was not feeling in good health. Still one may also look upon the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon in Biblical times as a form of tourism.
Truth be said, wealthy folks has always travelled to remote parts of the world in order to lay their eyes on extraordinary structures in addition to other works of art, to learn new languages, or to taste outlandish cuisines. In the time of the Roman Empire, places something like Baiae were sought after coastal getaways for the wealthy.
Also Marco Polo's endeavors to the East around the 13th century and David Livingstone's through Africa around the 1900's are examples of early tourism. The British man Thomas Cook is considered by a lot of people as the mastermind of all-inclusive excursions since he would rent a coach to transport tourists from Leicester to Loughborough in England in 1841. Later the renowned Thomas Cook travel agency was founded due to the success of this enterprise.
The tourist industry like we understand it nowadays, however, only came into being after the second world war, because of a variety of reasons including better living circumstances, implementation of the commercial air industry, as well as other faster and cheaper modes of transport, and eventually the appearance of specialized tour-operators capable of arranging affordable trips abroad for the ordinary individual.
Eventually, South Africa too came into the picture as the destination of preference in Africa, being exceedingly civilized, safe and boasting a great infrastructure. Here an individual could embark upon a Safari, visit spectacular beaches, observe historic buildings, come into contact with novel foods, even visit a diamond mine, and of course over time it grew from there. In the present day South africa vacation packages remain on the list of top dream-vacation spots.
