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noun as in person who visits a place

Strongest matches

Strong matches

  • excursionist
  • globetrotter
  • vacationist

Weak matches

  • day-tripper

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Example sentences.

South Dakota is the more tourist-friendly, slightly better weather, historic Mount Rushmore spot.

Amsterdam has an economy which is highly dependent on tourists.

Travelers, however, are eligible to have the tax refunded on goods they take home with them, which is what agencies such as Planet specialize in facilitating, giving it a clear view of how much tourists are buying.

In June, when peak season is typically getting underway, tourist spending was still 98% below its level last year based on Planet’s data.

Besides feeling safe, tourists may also be lured to local destinations given international travel currently comes with complicated quarantine protocols by governments in different countries.

Its graceful hotels and beautiful restaurants are totally dependent on the tourist trade.

It is the only tourist center Ukraine has left on the Black Sea, since Russia annexed Crimea last spring.

For the Brogpas, transforming into a tourist attraction may offer their community a way to generate much-needed income.

The two islands are now tourist sites for visitors from Taiwan and mainland China.

Not all Israeli gay propaganda is pinkwashing—a lot of it is good, old-fashioned PR to attract gay tourist dollars to Tel Aviv.

The tourist climbing tna, or Vesuvius' rugged side, puffs on though they perchance have long since ceased to smoke.

They have developed fishing and agriculture, and have brought the tourist into districts little visited before.

Mr. Frank Cook had insisted upon our being the guests of his firm on their tourist steamer Amasis.

My father knew him well, often talked to me about him, and told me stories of the excursion and tourist trade in its early days.

This was the first small beginning of that great tourist business which now encircles the habitable globe.

Related Words

Words related to tourist are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word tourist . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in something that makes it to a destination

  • representative

noun as in driver

  • authomobilist

noun as in person who rides in vehicle conducted by another

noun as in traveler

noun as in person who journeys

  • barnstormer
  • displaced person
  • expeditionist
  • transmigrant

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On this page you'll find 25 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to tourist, such as: sightseer, traveler, visitor, excursionist, globetrotter, and journeyer.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Synonyms and antonyms of tourist in English

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90 English Tourism Vocabulary Words and Phrases [With Sample Dialogues]

English is the most common language used in the international tourism industry.

People who work in the tourism industry use it to communicate with tourists from all over the world.

If you work in tourism or hope to find a job in the industry, it helps to know the right words and phrases for this type of work.

Interacting with Customers

Greeting customers, asking customers questions , responding to questions, checking for understanding, common scenarios in tourism english, giving recommendations, giving directions , making friendly small talk, jobs in hospitality and tourism, jobs at hotels and resorts, bar and restaurant staff, jobs at travel and tourism companies, more tourism vocabulary in english, how to learn english tourism vocabulary, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

travel-agent-giving-tickets-to-customers

You always want to welcome customers or guests with a friendly, professional greeting :

  • Good morning (before 12 p.m.)
  • Good afternoon (between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.)
  • Good evening (after 5 p.m.)
  • Welcome to… [company name] . My name is… [your name] .

Be sure to always use a respectful term to refer to your customers:

  • Miss — Young women (under age 30)
  • Ma’am — Mature women (over age 30)
  • Sir — Men of all ages

For example, using these terms you can now greet customers in a very respectful way:

  • Good morning, miss .
  • Good afternoon, sir .

If you are working at a hotel, restaurant or tour agency, you can greet a customer and then ask them this question:

Do you have a reservation with us?

To answer the phone, you only need one simple phrase:

Hello, you’ve reached [company name]. This is [your name]. How may I help you?

If you are working with customers in a hotel, before they go to their rooms you can say one of these phrases:

  • We hope you enjoy your stay!
  • Please let us know if you have any questions or comments during your stay.

You will want to make sure your customers are safe and happy while they are with you. You can do this by asking friendly and polite questions, such as:

  • How are you doing this morning? (or afternoon/evening)
  • Have you been having a good time?
  • Is there anything else we can do to make your experience more enjoyable?

Customers will have many questions, and sometimes you will not know the answer. You may need to ask a coworker or supervisor. When this happens, you can use the following phrases:

  • I will get that information for you right away.
  • That’s a great question! I will check with my supervisor and let you know.

As a guide, host or receptionist, you will need to double-check for understanding. These phrases are simple and quick ways to make sure you have understood the guest or customer:

  • I heard you ask (about flights) . Is that correct?
  • So, you said (you wanted to visit the ruins) , right?
  • Okay, I understand that (your flight leaves at 3 PM) . Is that correct?

To ask for clarification

Your guest may use vocabulary that you are unfamiliar with. Likewise, they might have an accent that is difficult for you to understand. Here are some polite ways to ask them to repeat or clarify what they said:

  • I’m sorry, I didn’t quite understand that. Can you say that again?
  • Pardon my English, but I didn’t understand that. Can you say that again?
  • I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Can you describe what you mean?

To invite your guests to ask questions

You can make all of your guests feel welcome by encouraging them to ask questions:

  • Does anyone have any questions?
  • Yes, sir? / Yes, ma’am? Do you have a question?
  • Please feel free to raise your hand any time if you have a question.
  • So, any questions?

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When working in tourism, you might need to give directions to tourists, share recommendations for a good restaurant or attraction or make friendly conversation.

In these scenarios, you will play the part of the “guide,” but it could be any job where you interact with tourists. Practice these dialogues so you feel confident using these words and phrases in your interactions.

  • For (authentic cuisine, family activities, etc.), I recommend…
  • My favorite place is…
  • Personally, I suggest…

Tourist: Excuse me, do you know a good place for ice cream?

Guide: Oh, yes. For really good ice cream, I recommend Maria’s. It’s located about six blocks from here, and it’s my favorite place. Personally, I suggest the chocolate cherry flavor. I think your family will like it.

Tourist: Great, thanks!

If you work in tourism, you will need to give directions to visitors. Here are some key phrases you might use to explain how to get somewhere: 

  • Go straight
  • Stop at the…
  • Continue until…
  • Take the subway (or bus, train, etc.)
  • Follow the signs for…
  • At the traffic light
  • At the next street (or light, block, etc.)
  • In five blocks
  • Near the hotel (or beach, station, etc.)
  • On the main plaza

See this post for more words and phrases for giving directions: 

Asking for and giving directions in English is a helpful skill, and this guide will show you the important vocabulary you need to know, with audio pronunciation included!…

Tourist: Can you tell me how to get to the theater?

Guide: Sure! The theater is near the train station. You need to go straight down this street for one block. At the next street, turn left. Continue until you see a sign for the theater, in about five blocks. If you’re lost, you can follow the signs for the train station. Does that make sense?

Tourist: Yes, thank you!

Here’s a helpful video to practice basic phrases for giving directions:

Here are some phrases that you can use when you want to make friendly conversation with a guest or visitor:

  • So, are you enjoying your time in (Paris) so far?
  • Tell me, what is your favorite part of the city so far?
  • What do you think of the (architecture, food, beach, festival, etc.) ?

airport-shuttle-driver-and-passengers

This vocabulary will help you a lot when you are working in the tourism industry or searching for jobs. 

  • Bellhop / baggage handler — the person who will open the front door for guests and carry their bags to their rooms
  • Concierge / receptionist — the person at the front desk who welcomes the guests, gives out room keys, helps guests make reservations and takes payments for reservations
  • Maid / housekeeper — the person who cleans the hotel rooms ( see English vocabulary for housekeeping here ) 
  • Janitor — the person responsible for cleaning everything outside of hotel rooms, such as the lobby and other common areas 
  • Groundskeeper — the person who takes care of all the plants outside the hotel
  • Maintenance worker — the person who fixes anything that stops working in the hotel 
  • Manager / supervisor — the person who makes sure everything goes well at the hotel, hires employees, teaches new employees how to do their jobs and makes sure that guests are happy
  • Event planner — the person who makes sure the hotel is ready for big events such as business conventions (meetings) or weddings 

Here are a couple of vocabulary guides for working in hotels:

Practicing English for receptionists can help you greet and assist hotel guests with ease. By studying the right phrases, you can prepare yourself to handle common…

Knowing hotel vocabulary in English is essential if you want to work in the hospitality industry. Check out our list of 100+ vocabulary words and phrases on everything…

These jobs might exist at a hotel if it has a bar and/or restaurant. 

  • Bartender — the person who makes and serves drinks at the bar 
  • Host / hostess — the person who stands at the entrance to the restaurant and welcomes guests, brings them to a table and takes reservations on the phone and in person
  • Server / waiter / waitress — the person who serves customers who are eating at the restaurant (“waiter” refers to a male, “waitress” refers to a female and “server” can refer to any gender)
  • Busboy / busser — the person who makes sure that tables are clean and ready for customers
  • Chef / cook — the person who prepares food at the restaurant

If you work or want to work in a bar or restaurant, check out this vocabulary guide next:

Click here to learn English for restaurant staff! Here, we have information about six essential restaurant positions, the common phrases used by each one and study…

There are entire companies that exist just to help travelers book their trips. If you work for one of these companies, you will either work in an office or outside the office helping travelers enjoy their time in your city or country.

  • Secretary / administrative assistant — someone who takes care of the whole office by organizing paperwork, making and receiving phone calls, organizing the office schedule and taking reservations for tours and trips
  • Travel agent — someone who helps people find the most affordable flights, hotels, etc. and helps them buy tickets and make reservations before they travel
  • Tour guide — someone who goes out with tourists and takes them on adventures to explore towns, cities, farms, mountains, jungles and more
  • Taxi driver / private driver — someone who drives tourists in a taxi or private car between different places, and sometimes on a tour around the area
  • Shuttle driver — someone who drives a large vehicle (usually a small bus or large van) to transport groups of people between places, such as from the hotel to some popular tourist destinations or between the hotel and the airport
  • Airline agent — someone who works at the desk of an airline (a company that owns airplanes and provides transportation services with them)
  • Flight attendant — someone who takes care of passengers on airplanes by serving food and drinks and giving safety instructions ( see English vocabulary for flight attendants here )
  • Cruise attendant — someone who takes care of people on boats and ships by doing the same things as flight attendants, providing services like food and drinks and giving safety instructions
  • Translator — someone who translates between different languages in writing, such as for tourism guides or flyers 
  • Interpreter — someone who translates between two languages by listening and speaking, often to help tourists and visitors understand and speak with local people
  • Recreational guide — someone who goes with tourists to do activities like yoga, surfing, cycling, running, hiking and climbing mountains

Here is a list of common tourism-related English words. You might be asked questions with these words or you might need to use them yourself. Make sure you’re familiar with them and can use them in full sentences.

  • Tourist – someone who travels to different places for enjoyment or to see new things
  • Attractions — places of interest that are often visited by tourists, such as museums or amusement parks
  • Landmark – a special or famous place that people can easily recognize, often used for giving directions
  • Destination – a place to which people travel for leisure, business or other purposes
  • Guide – a person who helps tourists by showing them around and giving them information about a place
  • Guidebook – a book that provides information for travelers about a particular destination, including attractions, hotels and restaurants
  • Souvenir – a small item that people buy to remember a place they visited, like a keychain or a postcard
  • Itinerary – a plan or schedule that shows the activities or places someone will visit during their trip
  • Accommodation – a place where travelers can stay overnight, such as a hotel, hostel or campground 
  • Transportation – the way people travel from one place to another, such as by car, bus, train or airplane
  • Passport – a document issued by a government that proves a person’s identity and nationality, allowing them to travel internationally
  • Visa – a stamp or document given by a country’s government that allows someone to enter or stay in that country for a certain period of time, usually for tourism, work, or study
  • Business district — also called the financial district, this is the center of the city where many offices, banks and companies are located
  • Entertainment district — a part of a city where there are lots of restaurants, bars, theaters and other fun places
  • Dining district — an area within a city with a lot of restaurants 
  • Custom — a traditional way of doing something that is common in a particular culture or society
  • Highlight — the most interesting or exciting part of something, often the main attraction 
  • Scenery — the natural features of an area, such as mountains, rivers or forests, that people find beautiful to look at
  • Surroundings — the area or environment around a particular place, including nearby buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods
  • Depart — to leave from a place, especially when traveling
  • Arrive — to reach or get to a place or destination, especially when traveling
  • Recommend — to suggest or advise someone to do something because you think they will enjoy it
  • Read the “English for International Tourism” textbooks. They are available in low-intermediate ,  intermediate  and  high-intermediate levels. As long as you have a foundation in English, this series is perfect for learning how to communicate with coworkers and tourists in different tourism-related scenarios. Here are some more English for Tourism books we recommend.  
  • Take an English for Tourism course. You can find some great courses on Udemy, such as this English for Business and Tourism course aimed at low-intermediate to intermediate students. Or take lessons with a tutor who specializes in tourism on Preply .
  • Complete tourism English courses on Memrise. Focus on Memrise English courses for tourism. These lessons feature English vocabulary words and phrases that anyone in the tourism industry would use in their daily activities. Try spending at least 30 minutes a day using Memrise to brush up on your tourism vocabulary—you’ll notice a difference!
  • Follow travel vloggers on YouTube. Look for channels or specific videos about the place where you will be working. Engage in discussions in the comments as well! Not only will that make using YouTube more fun , but it will also require you to learn and use new words during your chats back and forth with others.
  • Participate in discussions on travel forums. Travel forums allow you to use your new tourism vocabulary with native speakers and practice written English . On TripAdvisor , you can talk with English speakers about traveling, hotels, restaurants, transportation and more. The /r/travel subreddit is a great place to talk about everything related to tourism. 
  • Give yourself daily homework. A great place to start is  the tourism section of ESL Conversation Questions . You’ll find a variety of tourism-related topics that you can discuss with your friends and coworkers. If you’re a hospitality professional, check out Oxford University Press’ free online workbook series, English for Careers . 

Bookmark this page so you can come back and view this tourism vocabulary whenever you have some free time.

Soon you will be able to communicate with any tourist who crosses your path!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

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The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

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international tourist synonym

Tourism Teacher

What is international tourism and why is it important?

Disclaimer: Some posts on Tourism Teacher may contain affiliate links. If you appreciate this content, you can show your support by making a purchase through these links or by buying me a coffee . Thank you for your support!

The International tourism industry is stronger than ever before. Destinations around the world have developed their economies around international tourism and they are thriving (minus the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, but I am confident that tourism will return so I am going to put that to one side for now). But what does it all mean?

In this article I am going to introduce you to the exciting world of international tourism- the industry that I have lived and breathed for so many years. The industry that I love. So here goes…

What is international tourism?

International tourism definitions, foreign exchange earnings, contribution to government revenues, employment generation, contribution to local economies, overall economy boost, preserving local culture, strengthening communities, provision of social services, commercialisation of culture and art, revitalisation of culture and art, preservation of heritage, empowering communities, protecting nature, international tourism statistics, international tourism: conclusion, further reading.

Tourism is the generic term used to cover both demand and supply that has been adopted in a variety of forms and used throughout the world.

International tourism essentially refers to the activities undertaken by visitors, also known as the visitor economy. The tourism industry encompasses all activity that takes place within the visitor economy.

This includes activities that are directly related to the tourist, such as staying in a hotel, ordering a meal or visiting a tourist attraction. It also includes indirect activities, such as the transport company which delivers the food to the restaurant in which the tourist eats or the laundry company that has a contract with the hotel for cleaning bed sheets.

It is largely due to the indirect contributions to tourism, that defining and measuring the tourism industry is so difficult!

Tourism is a phenomenon with no universally accepted definition, owing to the complexity and individualism of the travellers themselves and the activities that they choose to undertake.

The most widely utilised definition of tourism, proposed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United States (UN) Nations Statistics Division (1994), prescribes that in order to qualify as a tourist one must travel and remain in a place outside of their usual residential environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business or other purposes.

Matheison and Wall (1982) on the other hand, do not impose a timeframe, simply stating that one must travel to a destination temporarily.

Leiper (1979) believed that defining tourism is more complex than this, proposing that there are three approaches that can be taken. The economic stance focuses on tourism as a business, the technical stance focusses on the tourist in order to provide a common basis by which to collect data and the holistic stance attempts to include the entire essence of the subject.

The Cambridge Dictionary define tourism quite simply as; ‘the business of providing services such as transport, places to stay or entertainment for people who are on holiday’.

As there is no universal definition for the term ‘international tourism’, for the purposes of this article I will define it as follows:

‘International tourism is the act of travelling to another country other than where you live for no more than one year for purposes of leisure or business’.

Why is international tourism important?

International tourism is hugely important. There are a number of key reasons for this that I will outline below.

Value to the economy

International tourism can help economies to bring in money in a number of different ways. Below I have provided some examples of the positive economic impacts of tourism .

The importance of international tourism is demonstrated through foreign exchange earnings. 

Tourism expenditures generate income to the host economy. The money that the country makes from tourism can then be reinvested in the economy.

How a destination manages their finances differs around the world; some destinations may spend this money on growing their tourism industry further, some may spend this money on public services such as education or healthcare and some destinations suffer extreme corruption so nobody really knows where the money ends up!

Some currencies are worth more than others and so some countries will target tourists from particular areas. Currencies that are strong are generally the most desirable currencies. This typically includes the British Pound, American, Australian and Singapore Dollar and the Euro . 

Tourism is one of the top five export categories for as many as 83% of countries and is a main source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 38% of countries.

The importance of international tourism is also demonstrated through the money that is raised and contributed to government revenues. Tourism can help to raise money that it then invested elsewhere by the Government. There are two main ways that this money is accumulated. 

Direct contributions  are generated by taxes on incomes from tourism employment and tourism businesses and things such as departure taxes. 

According to the World Tourism Organisation, the direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP in 2018 was $2,750.7billion (3.2% of GDP). This is forecast to rise by 3.6% to $2,849.2billion in 2019.

Indirect contributions  come from goods and services supplied to tourists which are not directly related to the tourism industry. 

There is also the income that is generated through  induced contributions . This accounts for money spent by the people who are employed in the tourism industry. This might include costs for housing, food, clothing and leisure Activities amongst others. This will all contribute to an increase in economic activity in the area where tourism is being developed. 

The importance of international tourism can be demonstrated through employment generation.

The rapid expansion of international tourism has led to significant employment creation. From hotel managers to theme park operatives to cleaners, tourism creates many employment opportunities. Tourism supports some 7% of the world’s workers. 

There are two types of employment in the tourism industry: direct and indirect. 

Direct employment  includes jobs that are immediately associated with the tourism industry. This might include hotel staff, restaurant staff or taxi drivers, to name a few.

Indirect employment includes jobs which are not technically based in the tourism industry, but are related to the tourism industry.

It is because of these indirect relationships, that it is very difficult to accurately measure the precise economic value of tourism, and some suggest that the actual economic benefits of tourism may be as high as double that of the recorded figures!

The importance of international tourism can be further seen through the contributions to local economies.

All of the money raised, whether through formal or informal means, has the potential to contribute to the local economy. 

If  sustainable tourism  is demonstrated, money will be directed to areas that will benefit the local community most. There may be pro-poor tourism initiatives (tourism which is intended to help the poor) or  volunteer tourism  projects. The government may reinvest money towards public services and money earned by tourism employees will be spent in the local community. This is known as the multiplier effect. 

International tourism boosts the economy exponentially.

This is partly because of the aforementioned jobs that tourism creates, but also because of the temporary addition to the consumer population that occurs when someone travels to a new place.

Just think: when you travel, you’re spending money. You’re paying to stay in a hotel or hostel in a certain area – then you’re eating in local restaurants, using local public transport, buying souvenirs and ice cream and new flip flops. As a tourist, you are contributing to the global economy every time you book and take a trip.

For some towns, cities and even whole countries, the importance of international tourism is greater than for others. In some cases, it is the main source of income.

For example, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism accounts for almost 40% of the Maldives’ total GDP. In comparison, it’s less than 4% in the UK and even lower in the US! In the Seychelles the number is just over 26% while in the British Virgin Islands it is over 35% – so tourism is vastly important in these nations.

Other posts that you might be interested in: – What is tourism? A definition of tourism – The history of tourism – The structure of the tourism industry – Stakeholders in tourism – Inbound tourism explained: What, why and where – What is ABTA and how does it work? – Outbound tourism | Understanding the basics

Value to society

The importance of international tourism is not only recognised through economic factors, but there are also many positive social impacts of tourism that play an important part. Below I will outline some of the social gains from tourism.

It is the local culture that the tourists are often coming to visit and this is another way to demonstrate the importance of international tourism.

Tourists visit Beijing to learn more about the Chinese Dynasties. Tourists visit Thailand to taste authentic Thai food. Tourists travel to Brazil to go to the Rio Carnival, to mention a few…

Many destinations will make a conserved effort to preserve and protect the local culture. This often contributes to the conservation and  sustainable management  of natural resources, the protection of local heritage, and a renaissance of indigenous cultures, cultural arts and crafts. 

The importance of international tourism can also be demonstrated through the strengthening of communities.

Events and festivals of which local residents have been the primary participants and spectators are often rejuvenated and developed in response to tourist interest.

The jobs created by international tourism can also be a great boost for the local community. Aside from the  economic impacts  created by enhanced employment prospects, people with jobs are happier and more social than those without a disposable income. 

Local people can also increase their influence on tourism development, as well as improve their job and earnings prospects, through tourism-related professional training and development of business and organisational skills.

The importance of international tourism is shown through the provision of social services in the host community.

The international tourism industry requires many facilities/ infrastructure to meet the needs of the tourist. This often means that many developments in an area as a result of tourism will be available for use by the locals also. 

Local people often gained new roads, new sewage systems, new playgrounds, bus services etc as a result of tourism. This can provide a great boost to their quality of life and is a great example of a positive social impact of tourism. 

International tourism can see rise to many commercial business, which can be a positive social impact of tourism. This helps to enhance the community spirit as people tend to have more disposable income as a result. 

These businesses may also promote the local cultures and arts. Museums, shows and galleries are fantastic way to showcase the local customs and traditions of a destination. This can help to promote/ preserve local traditions.

Some destinations will encourage local cultures and arts to be revitalised. This may be in the form of museum exhibitions, in the way that restaurants and shops are decorated and in the entertainment on offer, for example. 

This may help promote traditions that may have become distant. 

Another reason for the importance of international tourism is the preservation of heritage. Many tourists will visit the destination especially to see its local heritage. It is for this reason that many destinations will make every effort to preserve its heritage. 

This could include putting restrictions in place or limiting tourist numbers, if necessary. This is often an example of careful  tourism planning  and sustainable tourism management. 

International tourism can, if managed well, empower communities. While it is important to consider the authenticity in tourism and take some things with a pinch of salt, know that tourism can empower communities.

Small villages in far off lands are able to profit from selling their handmade goods. This, in turn, puts food on the table. This leads to healthier families and more productivity and a happier population .

Value to the environment

Whilst most media coverage involving international tourism and the environment tends to be negative, there are some positives that can come from it: demonstrating the importance of tourism once again.

Some people think that international tourism is what kills nature. And while this could so easily be true, it is important to note that the tourism industry is and always has been a big voice when it comes to conservation and the protection of animals and nature. Tourism organisations and travel operators often run (and donate to) fundraisers. 

As well as this, visitors to certain areas can take part in activities that aim to sustain the local scenery. It’s something a bit different, too! You and your family can go on a beach clean up walk in Spain or do something similar in the UAE . There are a lot of ways in which tourism actually helps the environment, rather than hindering it!

Tourism brings with it huge economic potential for a destination that wishes to develop their tourism industry. Employment, currency exchange, imports and taxes are just a few of the ways that tourism can bring money into a destination.

In recent years, tourism numbers have increased globally at exponential rates, as shown in the World Tourism Organisation data below. There are a number of reasons for this growth including improvements in technology, increases in disposable income, the growth of budget airlines and consumer desires to travel further, to new destinations and more often.

Here are a few statistics providing by the UN and Statistica:

Inbound tourism

Here are a few facts about the economic importance of the tourism industry globally:

  • The tourism economy represents 5 percent of world GDP
  • Tourism contributes to 6-7 percent of total employment
  • International tourism ranks fourth (after fuels, chemicals and automotive products) in global exports
  • The tourism industry is valued at US$1trillion a year
  • Tourism accounts for 30 percent of the world’s exports of commercial services
  • Tourism accounts for 6 percent of total exports
  • 1.4billion international tourists were recorded in 2018 (UNWTO)
  • In over 150 countries, tourism is one of five top export earners
  • Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange for one-third of developing countries and one-half of less economically developed countries (LEDCs)

There is a wealth of data about the economic value of tourism worldwide, with lots of handy graphs and charts in the United Nations Economic Impact Report .

International tourism is arguably the largest industry in the world. There are many benefits of international tourism to local economies as well as society and the environment. The many components of tourism that make up the industry are integral to livelihoods the world over.

  • An Introduction to Tourism : a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to all facets of tourism including: the history of tourism; factors influencing the tourism industry; tourism in developing countries; sustainable tourism; forecasting future trends.
  • The Business of Tourism Management : an introduction to key aspects of tourism, and to the practice of managing a tourism business.
  • Tourism Management: An Introduction : gives its reader a strong understanding of the dimensions of tourism, the industries of which it is comprised, the issues that affect its success, and the management of its impact on destination economies, environments and communities.

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Un general assembly hosts tourism for sustainable development event.

UN General Assembly Hosts Tourism for Sustainable Development Event

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The first global dashboard for tourism insights

COVID-19: MEASURES TO SUPPORT TRAVEL AND TOURISM

As society progresses, the tourism sector, much like many other sectors, needs to transform to serve as a catalyst for prosperity at a universal scale. Enhancing the well-being of individuals, safeguarding the natural environment, stimulating economic advancement, and fostering international harmony are key goals that are the fundamental essence of UN Tourism. The organization takes on the role of driving a sustainable force that is now central to many economies

A lazy image

Opens Calls for Best Tourism Villages 2024

According to the first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year, international tourism ended 2023 at 88% of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3 billion international arrivals.

The multi-dimensional nature of the tourism sector, combined with the dynamics of the source of investment capital presents a complex picture for understanding and measuring tourism investments.

Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UN Tourism

"UN tourism is leading the way forward in growing investments into the tourism sector. We serve as the bridge between investors and destinations, and we guide investments where they will have the biggest impact in making tourism more resilient, inclusive and sustainable."

Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili UN Tourism Secretary-General

UN Tourism Events

* The designations employed in this section of the website do not imply the expression of any opinions whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Vineyard Ararat

Yerevan, Armenia

8th un tourism global conference on wine tourism.

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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

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2nd UN Tourism Regional Conference on Brand Africa under the theme: "P...

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Cebu

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The 50th UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East and the Co...

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UN Tourism Session on Opening eyes and building contact: Tourism conne...

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Tourism brings progress. as one of the biggest sectors in the global economy, it has great power to bridge cultures, generate new opportunities and promote sustainable development..

Sustainable tourism

Newsletters

AM NEWS | VOL. 63 April 2024

AM NEWS | VOL. 63 April 2024

UN Tourism News 81: Global Tourism Investments Trends and Opportunities

UN Tourism News 81: Global Tourism Investments Trends and Opportunities

UN Tourism News 80: Diversification, Innovation and Sustainability

UN Tourism News 80: Diversification, Innovation and Sustainability

AM NEWS | VOL. 61 March 2023

AM NEWS | VOL. 62 March 2023

Synonyms of international

  • as in foreign
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Thesaurus Definition of international

Synonyms & Similar Words

  • multinational
  • transnational
  • intercontinental
  • transcontinental

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Thesaurus Entries Near international

international

internationalist

Cite this Entry

“International.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/international. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

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Nglish: Translation of international for Spanish Speakers

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

  1. International Tourist synonyms

    Synonyms for International Tourist (other words and phrases for International Tourist). Synonyms for International tourist. 14 other terms for international tourist- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. suggest new. foreign traveller. world tourist.

  2. International Tourism synonyms

    Synonyms for International Tourism (other words and phrases for International Tourism). Synonyms for International tourism. 28 other terms for international tourism- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. Parts of speech. nouns. suggest new.

  3. What is another word for tourist

    Synonyms for tourist include tripper, sightseer, excursionist, traveler, traveller, vacationer, holidaymaker, visitor, voyager and globetrotter. Find more similar ...

  4. TOURIST Synonyms: 21 Similar Words

    Synonyms for TOURIST: traveller, traveler, visitor, sightseer, excursionist, pilgrim, tripper, guest, rubbernecker, rubberneck

  5. INTERNATIONAL TOURISM in Thesaurus: 69 Synonyms & Antonyms for

    exterior tourism. external tourism. foreign tourism. foreign travelling. global tourism. international travelling. travelling through many countries. worldwide tourism. popular global leisure activity.

  6. 17 Synonyms & Antonyms for TOURIST

    Find 17 different ways to say TOURIST, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

  7. International Travel synonyms

    International Travel synonyms - 114 Words and Phrases for International Travel. foreign travel. n. global travel. n. travelling abroad. international tour. n. travel abroad.

  8. Tourist synonyms

    Another way to say Tourist? Synonyms for Tourist (other words and phrases for Tourist). Synonyms for Tourist. 437 other terms for tourist- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. words. phrases. idioms. Parts of speech. nouns. adjectives. Tags. traveler. tourist.

  9. 33 Words and Phrases for Global Tourism

    Global Tourism synonyms - 33 Words and Phrases for Global Tourism. international tourism. n. exterior tourism. n. external tourism. n. foreign tourism. n.

  10. TOURISM in Thesaurus: 100+ Synonyms & Antonyms for TOURISM

    Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Tourism meaning and usage. Thesaurus for Tourism. Related terms for tourism- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with tourism. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. Parts of speech. nouns. adjectives. verbs. Synonyms Similar meaning. View all. sightseeing. travel.

  11. Tourism synonyms

    Another way to say Tourism? Synonyms for Tourism (other words and phrases for Tourism).

  12. Glossary of tourism terms

    Tourism industries (also referred to as tourism activities) are the activities that typically producetourism characteristic products. The term tourism industries is equivalent to tourism characteristic activities and the two terms are sometimes used synonymously in the IRTS 2008, 5.10, 5.11 and figure 5.1.

  13. What is another word for tourism

    Synonyms for tourism include touristry, holiday business, leisure industry, service sector, vacation industry, travel industry, travel, tourism industry, tourism sector and tourism field. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!

  14. Travel Internationally synonyms

    v. going abroad. international journeys. international travel. international trips. international voyages. take a trip abroad. v. take a trip to a foreign country.

  15. TOURIST

    TOURIST - Synonyms, related words and examples | Cambridge English Thesaurus

  16. 90 English Tourism Vocabulary Words and Phrases [With Sample ...

    90 English Tourism Vocabulary Words and Phrases [With Sample Dialogues] English is the most common language used in the international tourism industry. People who work in the tourism industry use it to communicate with tourists from all over the world. If you work in tourism or hope to find a job in the industry, it helps to know the right ...

  17. tourist

    and tourist [forays into] the jungle - sound of [s+i] - English Only forum at/in overseas tourist destinations - English Only forum Big Ben is popular with tourist photographs - English Only forum Carlos is a ---> Carlos's a tourist from Spain [abbreviation 'is'] - English Only forum Considered of international tourist interest - English Only forum

  18. What is international tourism and why is it important?

    Overall economy boost. International tourism boosts the economy exponentially. This is partly because of the aforementioned jobs that tourism creates, but also because of the temporary addition to the consumer population that occurs when someone travels to a new place. Just think: when you travel, you're spending money.

  19. TOURISTS Synonyms: 21 Similar Words

    Synonyms for TOURISTS: travellers, travelers, visitors, sightseers, excursionists, holidayers, trippers, pilgrims, guests, vacationers

  20. Synonyms for International travel

    Best synonyms for 'international travel' are 'travel abroad', 'travelling abroad' and 'foreign travel'.

  21. UN Tourism

    Opens Calls for Best Tourism Villages 2024. According to the first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year, international tourism ended 2023 at 88% of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3 billion international arrivals. The multi-dimensional nature of the tourism sector, combined with the dynamics of the source of investment capital ...

  22. INTERNATIONAL Synonyms: 8 Similar and Opposite Words

    Synonyms for INTERNATIONAL: foreign, multinational, transnational, intercontinental, transcontinental; Antonyms of INTERNATIONAL: national, domestic, internal

  23. HDOT launches autonomous electric shuttle at Daniel K. Inouye

    HONOLULU - The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) has launched a new autonomous electric passenger shuttle that will augment the existing Wiki Wiki shuttle bus service at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). The new fleet of shuttles, named Miki, the Hawaiian word for agile, will provide another option for airport users to travel […]