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The Olympic Games of 776 BC were the first international tourist event. People travelled from all over the world to watch and take part of this major event.
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During the heyday of the Roman Empire they built thousands of roads.
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This was what allowed the knowledge over the future world. The Portuguese people started to discover new places, people, food and materials...
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Pilgrims like Geoffrey Chaucer would tell each other stories to entertain themselves on the road. People would do this during their religious travels.
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At first it was the nobility who set out in the 17th and 18th century on their "Grand Tours". It became an essential part of ever young gentleman's education.
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This really opened up the tourist industry. First stagecoaches and coaching inns.
Then steamboats crossed the English Channel, and railways stretched their iron webs across the civilized world. -
The tourist industry in its modern form was born.
Middle classes had joined the tourist classes.
Mass Tourism was a reality! -
Thomas Cook began to exploit England's potential by selling organised tours such as:
Excursions across continental Europe.
They started the concept of "resort" (introdution of vouchers and traveller's cheques), offering holiday packages with everything already included (accomodation and entertainment). -
Thomas Cook made arrangements for organised visits to the 1st International Exhibition, opened in London. Tourist came from different parts of England.
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The introduction of of the first commercial jet airliners that the idea of foreing holidays really took off, this was a major development.
In recent decades things only got better for the tourist: faster and cheaper travel options. -
Is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
It promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability.
UNWTO’s membership includes 158 countries, 6 territories and over 500 affiliate members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. Its headquarters are located in Madrid.
