The history of tourism

THE HISTORY OF TOURISM

In the past, the Egyptian, Greeks and Romans have left many signs of their movements.

In fact the Greeks explored the Mediterranean lands, the Romans explored North Africa, Britain and France, bringing civilization to barbaric lands. In the 11^th and 12^th century, Pilgrims travelled to varied destinations such us: Canterbury, Jerusalem and Rome. The renaissance was period of explorations and colonization with ships sailing to North and South American, Africa and India in order to open up new trade routes.

Before of  religious and political persecution, people left their homelands to settle abroad and to found new cities and towns.

In the 17^th, 18th, 19th centuries noble families send their male children on a Grand Tour  around Europe in particular to Italy, Greece, Germany and England because they had a classical education. Travellers often wrote accounts of their travel in diaries.

Until the mid-19^th century, travel was arranged by the individual and the first tour group was organized by Thomas Cook in the 1844who arranged a railway trip. After the expansion of industry, the middle classes began to have financial resources and imitated the nobility. The increasing acceptance of a worker's right to an annual holiday led to the popularity of seaside resort such as: Brighton, Scarborough and Blackpool. In addition to rail travel there was another means of travel: the motor car. After the Second World War many planes were built for civil use.

In the 60s tourism became a consumer product and tour operator offered holidays at lower price than even before, all this generated the phenomenon of mass tourism.

In recent years, tourists had begun to seek other alternatives such us: adventure trips, trekking, special interest of holidays and many people are opting for exotic destinations.

MEETINGS, CONVENTIONS, CONGRESSES

A major segments of the business travel market is concerned in conventions, congresses, trade shows, expositions and incentive travel. Congresses are usually general sessions large and formal. Convention is a term used in North America and the Pacific region to describe membership meetings. Conventions and meetings contribute to the economies of host cities for the hotel accommodation, food, retail stores, entertainment and local transportation. The factor that motivate the destination choice for conventions and meetings are different from meetings. Conventions are voluntary and many delegates must pay their own way, so many people combine a business trip with a holiday. The destination should have recreational facilities and access to sightseeing and entertainment facilities. Almost two thirds of all international conferences are held in Europe then North and South America. The most important cities for international meetings are: Paris, Brussels, Geneva, Vienna and London.