What is tourism and its types?

Different types of tourism

Along with recreation purposes, tourism became one of the growing industries in India. It’s the source of income for many people. This article is a glimpse of travel and tourism in India as well as the International tour.

So, What’s come first to mind when we hear the word tourism?

The most common thought is, pack the rucksack and travel away from day-to-day life. That means the movement of people from their usual residence to another place.

Suppose your friend’s aim of the tour might differ from yours. For example, you may travel for recreation, but he may go for business purposes.

Classification of tourism

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism involves the movement of people in the natural environment of the country or outside the country for personal or other purposes. These different purposes classified the tourism industry in many ways.

In this article, you find 16 main tourism classifications like Domestic tourism, International tourism, Business tourism, Adventure tourism, Medical tourism, Educational tourism, etc.

Classification of Tourism

Importance of Tourism

Tourism had a direct impact on any country’s economy. A vast amount of job possibilities can develop. From a traveler’s perspective, knowing another state/country’s taste culture is a great filling.

Mainly how many types of tourism are there

Mainly three types of tourism find in any country. The classes are domestic tourism, International tourism, and outbound tourism. But nowadays, many types of tourism newly evolved.

What are the different types of tourism?

The various types of tourism are developed nowadays and become popular, they are:-

1. Domestic tourism
2. International tourism
3. Outbound Tourism
4. Business tourism
5. Adventure tourism
6. Wildlife tourism
7. Medical tourism
8. Wellness Tourism
9. Pilgrimage tourism
10. Cultural tourism
11. Dark tourism
12. Culinary Tourism
13. Celebrity tourism or Film Tourism
14. Educational tourism
15. Cruise tourism
16. Rural tourism

Let’s discuss how many flavors and tourism categories can be found in any country and accepted globally.

1. Domestic tourism

If your tour remains inside of your country itself, it’s called domestic tourism.

2. International tourism

Travel outside your country needs a visa and passport; it’s called International tourism. For example, if you want to explore dog-friendly beaches in Michigan from India, you need documents to enter another country.

3. Outbound Tourism

This tourism defines a tourist traveling for a holiday to a different country. Like our residents in India, and we are traveling to Barcelona. It is an example of outbound Tourism.

4. Business tourism

This kind of tourist, traveling to attend meetings, officially get together for conferences, etc.

Business tourism plays a vital role in the tourism sector. Sometimes, people stay out of their typical environment for more than a year for business purposes and spend their vacations there.

General activities related to business tourism include attending meetings, officially getting together, conferences, seminars, visiting exhibitions and trade fairs, etc. This tourism level up the purchasing power.

Business Tourism

5. Adventure tourism

Adventure tourism popularity is increasing day by day. Like, Whitewater rafting, famous in India. Ladakh tour, Kedarnath tour, Andaman and Nicobar tour could also be tried for the adventure. Out site from India like Bali tour in rainy season also an example.

6. Wildlife tourism

Because of the presence of an exotic species of wildlife, India became famous for this tourism. The Sariska Wildlife or Hydepark Sanctuary, Keoladeo Gana National Park, Corbett National Park is famous for wildlife tourism. The Great Barrier Reef is also renowned in Australia.

Wildlife tourism

7. Medical tourism

Many people have to travel for treatment. Several medical institutes cure foreign patients. Thailand has recorded 6000,000 new patients every year. Malaysia also treated over 100,00 tourists in 2005. 45% of foreign tourists come to Chennai for medical treatment.

Medical Tourism

8. Wellness Tourism

Wellness tourism is a significant part of tourism from ancient times. This tourism mainly attracts those tourists who want to regain their health. Wellness tourism will help you to get rid of mental and health stress.

Tourists recover their health issues by doing physical, spiritual, or psychological activities. All around the world, there are plenty of destinations which are popular to improve health.

Mexico Temazcal Beach Resort Spa, Caribbean wellness cruise, California weight loss and detox retreats, Colorado Hiking and Mountain Yoga retreat, China hot spring Resorts TCM are the examples.

In India, Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation, Panchakarma, Rejuvenation Therapy are the oldest treatments to improve health and the best way to develop wellness tourism.

Wellness Tourism

9. Pilgrimage tourism

This tour is famous for ages. A pilgrimage tour is popular among older people. Vaishno Devi, Golden temple, Char Dham, Mathura Vrindavan are some places famous for Pilgrimage tours.

10. Cultural tourism

This tourism mainly focuses on the historical sites and on the artistic features of that country. Don’t you like to visit a palace or to any monuments? All these come under this category. Don’t miss the following places if you love culture:-

• India – The main attraction- Temples at Banaras, Jaipur, the pink city Palace in Rajasthan. Forts and monuments in Delhi, Agra, UP.
• UK – Tower of London, The British Museum, Big ben, etc.
• Kenya – The main attraction- The dance of the Maasai tribe.
• Morocco – The main attraction- Olive festival, Honey festival.
• Jordan – The main attraction- Jerah, famous for Roman architecture, and Shounak with its Montreal Crusader Castle.
• Greece – The main attraction- Lion Gate of Mycenae.
• Turkey – the main attraction- Sultan Ahmed. Mosque, House of the Virgin Mary.
• Vietnam – The main attraction- Sapa Market.
• Ireland tour – Cliffs of Moher, Dublin, Killarney National Park, etc.

Cultural Tourism

11. Dark tourism

It is referred to as mourning tourism. Dark tourism involves visiting those places and sites that have witnessed the greatest tragedies in history. Besides this history of human suffering and bloodshed, these locations are famous for their historical value.

So, those sites that carry potent pesticides have become popular tourist destinations and attract many tourists every year.

Like: Famous sites In Japan, Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombing location, Ground Zero, New York, USA. The War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Auschwitz concentration camp, Auschwitz, Germany; Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Dark Tourism

12. Culinary Tourism

Culinary or food tourism involves tasting and experiencing local and traditional food in a specific country, region, or city/town/village. It is significant that besides accommodation and infrastructure. Here food is one of the prime components. Therefore, lots of tours are organized here to experience the culinary culture.

Today, with the overall growth of this sector, this tourism has expanded and developed to the next level in this era.

Every year, India organizes food festivals at different times in different states. And thousands of people from abroad join this festival to enjoy India’s traditional food. Everyone knows India is called “The land of spices.” And every state has unique kinds of food culture. So today, it is a significant part of tourism in India.

Culinary Tourism includes where people visit certain regions like California, Napa Valley, Catalonia, USA, and Spain) to enjoy foreign wines.

Famous Destinations: London, France, Beijing, Mexico, India, Italy, etc.

Read 24 Best Michelin Star Restaurants in India London & NYC

13. Celebrity tourism or Film Tourism

In this tourism prime attraction is celebrities. Sometimes celebrities come there as tourists and join the event. So you can visit that place where the event happened earlier. Although no celebrities are present, only you can see the entire studio. Many Destination Management organizations (DMOs) use celebrity tourism to promote destinations as an attraction.

Popular celebrity tourism destinations are – Hollywood, Harry Potter Studios, Ramoji Film City India, Cannes Film Festival, Hong Kong, and Madame Tussauds.

Film Tourism

14. Educational tourism

Educational tourism is involved in education—an educational tourist away from their hometown for many days. Education and learning are the key reason for their travels, and it is learning knowledge from the historical place, cultural and social events, and understanding a language.

It’s used as a tool to complement education by gathering travel experience. Many educational institutes combine these trends in primary schools and are compulsory in higher education.

15. Cruise tourism

Cruise tourism is one of the newest and fastest-growing parts of the world tourism industry.

The world’s famous coastline and inland waterway have the potential to develop cruise and houseboat tourism like Quark Expeditions, OZ Cruising, A-ROSA River Cruises.

India has many types of tourist cruises. Soon India is going to be including Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, and Lake Cruise.

Cruise tourism

16. Rural tourism

In this category, a tourist spends their leisure time in rural areas or villages. Visitors can make a plan to visit the rural area for some days or a couple of months. Especially Solo travelers can visit those places to enjoy their lonely time. They join all the local activities that happen in this village.

Now rural tourism is included in a ‘country holiday’ where the tourist spends a large part of their leisure time. Thus, they taste the recreational activities in the rural environment.

India’s rural destinations are very famous. India’s rich culture and heritage make India unique. So realizing the real essence of India, visit rural parts or villages of India.