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Glossary of tourism terms

Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which involve tourism expenditure.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Activity/activities : In tourism statistics, the term activities represent the actions and behaviors of people in preparation for and during a trip in their capacity as consumers ( IRTS 2008, 1.2 ).

Activity (principal): The principal activity of a producer unit is the activity whose value added exceeds that of any other activity carried out within the same unit ( SNA 2008, 5.8 ).

Activity (productive): The (productive) activity carried out by a statistical unit is the type of production in which it engages. It has to be understood as a process, i.e. the combination of actions that result in a certain set of products. The classification of productive activities is determined by their principal output.

Administrative data : Administrative data is the set of units and data derived from an administrative source. This is a data holding information collected and maintained for the purpose of implementing one or more administrative regulations.

Adventure tourism : Adventure tourism is a type of tourism which usually takes place in destinations with specific geographic features and landscape and tends to be associated with a physical activity, cultural exchange, interaction and engagement with nature. This experience may involve some kind of real or perceived risk and may require significant physical and/or mental effort. Adventure tourism generally includes outdoor activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, rock climbing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, canyoning, mountain biking, bush walking, scuba diving. Likewise, some indoor adventure tourism activities may also be practiced.

Aggregated data : The result of transforming unit level data into quantitative measures for a set of characteristics of a population.

Aggregation : A process that transforms microdata into aggregate-level information by using an aggregation function such as count, sum average, standard deviation, etc.

Analytical unit : Entity created by statisticians, by splitting or combining observation units with the help of estimations and imputations.

Balance of payments : The balance of payments is a statistical statement that summarizes transactions between residents and non-residents during a period. It consists of the goods and services account, the primary income account, the secondary income account, the capital account, and the financial account ( BPM6, 2.12 ).

Bias : An effect which deprives a statistical result of representativeness by systematically distorting it, as distinct from a random error which may distort on any one occasion but balances out on the average.

Business and professional purpose (of a tourism trip): The business and professional purpose of a tourism trip includes the activities of the self-employed and employees, as long as they do not correspond to an implicit or explicit employer-employee relationship with a resident producer in the country or place visited, those of investors, businessmen, etc. ( IRTS 2008, 3.17.2 ).

Business tourism : Business tourism is a type of tourism activity in which visitors travel for a specific professional and/or business purpose to a place outside their workplace and residence with the aim of attending a meeting, an activity or an event. The key components of business tourism are meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The term "meetings industry" within the context of business tourism recognizes the industrial nature of such activities. Business tourism can be combined with any other tourism type during the same trip.

Business visitor : A business visitor is a visitor whose main purpose for a tourism trip corresponds to the business and professional category of purpose ( IRTS 2008, 3.17.2 ).

Central Product Classification : The Central Product Classification (CPC) constitutes a complete product classification covering goods and services. It is intended to serve as an international standard for assembling and tabulating all kinds of data requiring product detail, including industrial production, national accounts, service industries, domestic and foreign commodity trade, international trade in services, balance of payments, consumption and price statistics. Other basic aims are to provide a framework for international comparison and promote harmonization of various types of statistics dealing with goods and services.

Census : A census is the complete enumeration of a population or groups at a point in time with respect to well defined characteristics: for example, Population, Production, Traffic on particular roads.

Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism : Coastal tourism refers to land-based tourism activities such as swimming, surfing, sunbathing and other coastal leisure, recreation and sports activities which take place on the shore of a sea, lake or river. Proximity to the coast is also a condition for services and facilities that support coastal tourism. Maritime tourism refers to sea-based activities such as cruising, yachting, boating and nautical sports and includes their respective land-based services and infrastructure. Inland water tourism refers to tourism activities such as cruising, yachting, boating and nautical sports which take place in aquatic- influenced environments located within land boundaries and include lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, groundwater, springs, cave waters and others traditionally grouped as inland wetlands.

Coherence : Adequacy of statistics to be combined in different ways and for various uses.

Competitiveness of a tourism destination : The competitiveness of a tourism destination is the ability of the destination to use its natural, cultural, human, man-made and capital resources efficiently to develop and deliver quality, innovative, ethical and attractive tourism products and services in order to achieve a sustainable growth within its overall vision and strategic goals, increase the added value of the tourism sector, improve and diversify its market components and optimize its attractiveness and benefits both for visitors and the local community in a sustainable perspective.

Consistency : Logical and numerical coherence.

Country of reference : The country of reference refers to the country for which the measurement is done. ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Country of residence : The country of residence of a household is determined according to the centre of predominant economic interest of its members. If a person resides (or intends to reside) for more than one year in a given country and has there his/her centre of economic interest (for example, where the predominant amount of time is spent), he/she is considered as a resident of this country.

Country-specific tourism characteristic products and activities : To be determined by each country by applying the criteria of IRTS 2008, 5.10 in their own context; for these products, the activities producing them will be considered as tourism characteristic, and the industries in which the principal activity is tourism-characteristic will be called tourism industries ( IRTS 2008, 5.16 ).

Cultural tourism : Cultural tourism is a type of tourism activity in which the visitor's essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination. These attractions/products relate to a set of distinctive material, intellectual, spiritual and emotional features of a society that encompasses arts and architecture, historical and cultural heritage, culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries and the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions.

Data checking : Activity whereby the correctness conditions of the data are verified. It also includes the specification of the type of error or of the condition not met, and the qualification of the data and their division into "error-free data" and "erroneous data".

Data collection : Systematic process of gathering data for official statistics.

Data compilation : Operations performed on data to derive new information according to a given set of rules.

Data confrontation : The process of comparing data that has generally been derived from different surveys or other sources, especially those of different frequencies, in order to assess and possibly improve their coherency, and identify the reasons for any differences.

Data processing : Data processing is the operation performed on data by the organization, institute, agency, etc., responsible for undertaking the collection, tabulation, manipulation and preparation of data and metadata output.

Data reconciliation : The process of adjusting data derived from two different sources to remove, or at least reduce, the impact of differences identified.

Destination (main destination of a trip): The main destination of a tourism trip is defined as the place visited that is central to the decision to take the trip. See also purpose of a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.31 ).

Destination management / marketing organization (DMO) : A destination management/marketing organization (DMO) is the leading organizational entity which may encompass the various authorities, stakeholders and professionals and facilitates tourism sector partnerships towards a collective destination vision. The governance structures of DMOs vary from a single public authority to a public/ private partnership model with the key role of initiating, coordinating and managing certain activities such as implementation of tourism policies, strategic planning, product development, promotion and marketing and convention bureau activities. The functions of the DMOs may vary from national to regional and local levels depending on the current and potential needs as well as on the decentralization level of public administration. Not every tourism destination has a DMO.

Documentation: Processes and procedures for imputation,  weighting,  confidentiality  and suppression rules, outlier treatment and data capture should be fully documented by the  survey provider.  Such documentation should be made available to at least  the body financing the survey.

Domestic tourism : Domestic tourism comprises the activities of a resident visitor within the country of reference, either as part of a domestic tourism trip or part of an outbound tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39 ).

Domestic tourism consumption : Domestic tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a resident visitor within the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Domestic tourism expenditure : Domestic tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a resident visitor within the economy of reference, (IRTS 2008, 4.15(a)).

Domestic tourism trip : A domestic tourism trip is one with a main destination within the country of residence of the visitor (IRTS 2008, 2.32).

Domestic visitor : As a visitor travels within his/her country of residence, he/she is a domestic visitor and his/her activities are part of domestic tourism.

Durable consumer goods : Durable consumer goods are goods that may be used repeatedly or continuously over a period of a year or more, assuming a normal or average rate of physical usage. When acquired by producers, these are considered to be capital goods used for production processes, as is the case of vehicles, computers, etc. When acquired by households, they are considered to be consumer durable goods ( TSA:RMF 2008, 2.39 ). This definition is identical to the definition of SNA 2008, 9.42 : A consumer durable is a goodthat may be used for purposes of consumption repeatedly or continuously over a period of a year or more.

Dwellings : Each household has a principal dwelling (sometimes also designated as main or primary home), usually defined with reference to time spent there, whose location defines the country of residence and place of usual residence of this household and of all its members. All other dwellings (owned or leased by the household) are considered secondary dwellings ( IRTS 2008, 2.26 ).

Ecotourism : Ecotourism is a type of nature-based tourism activity in which the visitor's essential motivation is to observe, learn, discover, experience and appreciate biological and cultural diversity with a responsible attitude to protect the integrity of the ecosystem and enhance the well-being of the local community. Ecotourism increases awareness towards the conservation of biodiversity, natural environment and cultural assets both among locals and the visitors and requires special management processes to minimize the negative impact on the ecosystem.

Economic analysis : Tourism generates directly and indirectly an increase in economic activity in the places visited (and beyond), mainly due to demand for goods and services thatneed to be produced and provided. In the economic analysis of tourism, one may distinguish between tourism's 'economic contribution' which refers to the direct effect of tourism and is measurable by means of the TSA, and tourism's 'economic impact' which is a much broader concept encapsulating the direct, indirect and induced effects of tourism and which must be estimated by applying models. Economic impact studies aim to quantify economic benefits, that is, the net increase in the wealth of residents resulting from tourism, measured in monetary terms, over and above the levels that would prevail in its absence.

Economic territory : The term "economic territory" is a geographical reference and points to the country for which the measurement is done (country of reference) ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Economically active population : The economically active population or labour force comprises all persons of either sex who furnish the supply of labour for the production of goods and services as defined by the system of national accounts during a specified time-reference period (ILO, Thirteenth ICLS, 6.18).

Economy (of reference): "Economy" (or "economy of reference") is an economic reference defined in the same way as in the balance of payments and in the system of national accounts: it refers to the economic agents that are resident in the country of reference ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Education tourism : Education tourism covers those types of tourism which have as a primary motivation the tourist's engagement and experience in learning, self-improvement, intellectual growth and skills development. Education Tourism represents a broad range of products and services related to academic studies, skill enhancement holidays, school trips, sports training, career development courses and language courses, among others.

Employees : Employees are all those workers who hold the type of job defined as "paid employment" (ILO, Fifteenth ICLS, pp. 20-22).

Employer-employee relationship : An employer-employee relationship exists when there is an agreement, which may be formal or informal, between an entity and an individual, normally entered into voluntarily by both parties, whereby the individual works for the entity in return for remuneration in cash or in kind ( BPM6, 11.11 ).

Employers : Employers are those workers who, working on their own account with one or more partners, hold the type of job defined as a "self-employment job" and, in this capacity, on a continuous basis (including the reference period) have engaged one or more persons to work for them in their business as "employee(s)" (ILO, Fifteenth ICLS, pp. 20-22).

Employment : Persons in employment are all persons above a specified age who, during a specified brief period, either one week or one day, were in paid employment or self-employment (OECD GST, p. 170).

Employment in tourism industries : Employment in tourism industries may be measured as a count of the persons employed in tourism industries in any of their jobs, as a count of the persons employed in tourism industries in their main job, or as a count of the jobs in tourism industries ( IRTS 2008, 7.9 ).

Enterprise : An enterprise is an institutional unit engaged in production of goods and/or services. It may be a corporation, a non-profit institution, or an unincorporated enterprise. Corporate enterprises and non-profit institutions are complete institutional units. An unincorporated enterprise, however, refers to an institutional unit —a household or government unit —only in its capacity as a producer of goods and services (OECD BD4, p. 232)

Establishment : An establishment is an enterprise, or part of an enterprise, that is situated in a single location and in which only a single productive activity is carried out or in which the principal productive activity accounts for most of the value added ( SNA 2008, 5.14 ).

Estimation : Estimation is concerned with inference about the numerical value of unknown population values from incomplete data such as a sample. If a single figure is calculated for each unknown parameter the process is called "point estimation". If an interval is calculated within which the parameter is likely, in some sense, to lie, the process is called "interval estimation".

Exports of goods and services : Exports of goods and services consist of sales, barter, or gifts or grants, of goods and services from residents to non-residents (OECD GST, p. 194)

Frame : A list, map or other specification of the units which define a population to be completely enumerated or sampled.

Forms of tourism : There are three basic forms of tourism: domestic tourism, inbound tourism, and outbound tourism. These can be combined in various ways to derive the following additional forms of tourism: internal tourism, national tourism and international tourism.

Gastronomy tourism :  Gastronomy tourism is a type of tourism activity which is characterized by the visitor's experience linked with food and related products and activities while travelling. Along with authentic, traditional, and/or innovative culinary experiences, Gastronomy Tourism may also involve other related activities such as visiting the local producers, participating in food festivals and attending cooking classes. Eno-tourism (wine tourism), as a sub-type of gastronomy tourism, refers to tourism whose purpose is visiting vineyards, wineries, tasting, consuming and/or purchasing wine, often at or near the source.

Goods : Goods are physical, produced objects for which a demand exists, over which ownership rights can be established and whose ownership can be transferred from one institutional unit to another by engaging in transactions on markets ( SNA 2008, p. 623 ).

Gross fixed capital formation : Gross fixed capital formation is defined as the value of institutional units' acquisitions less disposals of fixed assets. Fixed assets are produced assets (such as machinery, equipment, buildings or other structures) that are used repeatedly or continuously in production over several accounting periods (more than one year) ( SNA 2008, 1.52 ).

Gross margin : The gross margin of a provider of reservation services is the difference between the value at which the intermediated service is sold and the value accrued to the provider of reservation services for this intermediated service.

Gross value added : Gross value added is the value of output less the value of intermediate consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 3.32 ).

Gross value added of tourism industries : Gross value added of tourism industries (GVATI) is the total gross value added of all establishments belonging to tourism industries, regardless of whether all their output is provided to visitors and the degree of specialization of their production process ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.86 ).

Grossing up : Activity aimed at transforming, based on statistical methodology, micro-data from samples into aggregate-level information representative of the target population.

Health tourism : Health tourism covers those types of tourism which have as a primary motivation, the contribution to physical, mental and/or spiritual health through medical and wellness-based activities which increase the capacity of individuals to satisfy their own needs and function better as individuals in their environment and society. Health tourism is the umbrella term for the subtypes wellness tourism and medical tourism.

Imputation : Procedure for entering a value for a specific data item where the response is missing or unusable.

Inbound tourism : Inbound tourism comprises the activities of a non-resident visitor within the country of reference on an inbound tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39 ).

Inbound tourism consumption : Inbound tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a non-resident visitor within the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Inbound tourism expenditure : Inbound tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a non-resident visitor within the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.15(b) ).

Innovation in tourism : Innovation in tourism is the introduction of a new or improved component which intends to bring tangible and intangible benefits to tourism stakeholders and the local community, improve the value of the tourism experience and the core competencies of the tourism sector and hence enhance tourism competitiveness and /or sustainability. Innovation in tourism may cover potential areas, such as tourism destinations, tourism products, technology, processes, organizations and business models, skills, architecture, services, tools and/or practices for management, marketing, communication, operation, quality assurance and pricing.

Institutional sector : An aggregation of institutional units on the basis of the type of producer and depending on their principal activity and function, which are considered to be indicative of their economic behaviour.

Institutional unit : The elementary economic decision-making centre characterised by uniformity of behaviour and decision-making autonomy in the exercise of its principal function.

Intermediate consumption : Intermediate consumption consists of the value of the goods and services consumed as inputs by a process of production, excluding fixed assets whose consumption is recorded as consumption of fixed capital ( SNA 2008, 6.213 ).

Internal tourism : Internal tourism comprises domestic tourism and inbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident and non-resident visitors within the country of reference as part of domestic or international tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(a) ).

Internal tourism consumption : Internal tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of both resident and non-resident visitors within the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism consumption and inbound tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Internal tourism expenditure : Internal tourism expenditure comprises all tourism expenditure of visitors, both resident and non-resident, within the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism expenditure and inbound tourism expenditure. It includes acquisition of goods and services imported into the country of reference and sold to visitors. This indicator provides the most comprehensive measurement of tourism expenditure in the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.20(a) ).

International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities : The International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) consists of a coherent and consistent classification structure of economic activities based on a set of internationally agreed concepts, definitions, principles and classification rules. It provides a comprehensive framework within which economic data can be collected and reported in a format that is designed for purposes of economic analysis, decision-taking and policymaking. The classification structure represents a standard format to organize detailed information about the state of an economy according to economic principles and perceptions (ISIC, Rev.4, 1).

International tourism : International tourism comprises inbound tourism and outbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident visitors outside the country of reference, either as part of domestic or outbound tourism trips and the activities of non-resident visitors within the country of reference on inbound tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(c) ).

International visitor : An international traveller qualifies as an international visitor with respect to the country of reference if: (a) he/she is on a tourism trip and (b) he/she is a non-resident travelling in the country of reference or a resident travelling outside of it ( IRTS 2008, 2.42 ).

Job : The agreement between an employee and the employer defines a job and each self-employed person has a job ( SNA 2008, 19.30 ).

Measurement error : Error in reading, calculating or recording numerical value.

Medical tourism : Medical tourism is a type of tourism activity which involves the use of evidence-based medical healing resources and services (both invasive and non-invasive). This may include diagnosis, treatment, cure, prevention and rehabilitation.

Meetings industry : To highlight purposes relevant to the meetings industry, if a trip's main purpose is business/professional, it can be further subdivided into "attending meetings, conferences or congresses, trade fairs and exhibitions" and "other business and professional purposes". The term meetings industry is preferred by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Reed Travel over the acronym MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) which does not recognize the industrial nature of such activities.

Metadata : Data that defines and describes other data and processes.

MICE : See meetings industry.

Microdata : Non-aggregated observations, or measurements of characteristics of individual units.

Mirror statistics : Mirror statistics are used to conduct bilateral comparisons of two basic measures of a trade flow and are a traditional tool for detecting the causes of asymmetries in statistics (OECD GST, p. 335).

Mountain tourism : Mountain tourism is a type of tourism activity which takes place in a defined and limited geographical space such as hills or mountains with distinctive characteristics and attributes that are inherent to a specific landscape, topography, climate, biodiversity (flora and fauna) and local community. It encompasses a broad range of outdoor leisure and sports activities.

National tourism : National tourism comprises domestic tourism and outbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident visitors within and outside the country of reference, either as part of domestic or outbound tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(b) ).

National tourism consumption : National tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of resident visitors, within and outside the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism consumption and outbound tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

National tourism expenditure : National tourism expenditure comprises all tourism expenditure of resident visitors within and outside the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism expenditure and outbound tourism expenditure ( IRTS 2008, 4.20(b) ).

Nationality : The concept of "country of residence" of a traveller is different from that of his/her nationality or citizenship ( IRTS 2008, 2.19 ).

Non-monetary indicators : Data measured in physical or other non-monetary units should not be considered a secondary part of a satellite account. They are essential components, both for the information they provide directly and in order to analyse the monetary data adequately ( SNA 2008, 29.84 ).

Observation unit : entity on which information is received and statistics are compiled.

Outbound tourism : Outbound tourism comprises the activities of a resident visitor outside the country of reference, either as part of an outbound tourism trip or as part of a domestic tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39(c) ).

Outbound tourism consumption : Outbound tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a resident visitor outside the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Outbound tourism expenditure : Outbound tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a resident visitor outside the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.15(c) ).

Output : Output is defined as the goods and services produced by an establishment, a) excluding the value of any goods and services used in an activity for which the establishment does not assume the risk of using the products in production, and b) excluding the value of goods and services consumed by the same establishment except for goods and services used for capital formation (fixed capital or changes in inventories) or own final consumption ( SNA 2008, 6.89 ).

Output (main): The main output of a (productive) activity should be determined by reference to the value added of the goods sold or services rendered (ISIC rev.4, 114).

Pilot survey : The aim of a pilot survey is to test the questionnaire (pertinence of the questions, understanding of questions by those being interviewed, duration of the interview) and to check various potential sources for sampling and non-sampling errors: for instance, the place in which the surveys are carried out and the method used, the identification of any omitted answers and the reason for the omission, problems of communicating in various languages, translation, the mechanics of data collection, the organization of field work, etc.

Place of usual residence : The place of usual residence is the geographical place where the enumerated person usually resides, and is defined by the location of his/her principal dwelling (Principles and recommendations for population and housing censuses of the United Nations, 2.20 to 2.24).

Probability sample : A sample selected by a method based on the theory of probability (random process), that is, by a method involving knowledge of the likelihood of any unit being selected.

Production account : The production account records the activity of producing goods and services as defined within the SNA. Its balancing item, gross value added, is defined as the value of output less the value of intermediate consumption and is a measure of the contribution to GDP made by an individual producer, industry or sector. Gross value added is the source from which the primary incomes of the SNA are generated and is therefore carried forward into the primary distribution of income account. Value added and GDP may also be measured net by deducting consumption of fixed capital, a figure representing the decline in value during the period of the fixed capital used in a production process ( SNA 2008, 1.17 ).

Production : Economic production may be defined as an activity carried out under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit that uses inputs of labour, capital, and goods and services to produce outputs of goods or services ( SNA 2008, 6.24. ).

Purpose of a tourism trip (main): The main purpose of a tourism trip is defined as the purpose in the absence of which the trip would not have taken place ( IRTS 2008, 3.10. ). Classification of tourism trips according to the main purpose refers to nine categories: this typology allows the identification of different subsets of visitors (business visitors, transit visitors, etc.) See also destination of a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 3.14 ).

Quality of a tourism destination : Quality of a tourism destination is the result of a process which implies the satisfaction of all tourism product and service needs, requirements and expectations of the consumer at an acceptable price, in conformity with mutually accepted contractual conditions and the implicit underlying factors such as safety and security, hygiene, accessibility, communication, infrastructure and public amenities and services. It also involves aspects of ethics, transparency and respect towards the human, natural and cultural environment. Quality, as one of the key drivers of tourism competitiveness, is also a professional tool for organizational, operational and perception purposes for tourism suppliers.

Questionnaire and Questionnaire design : Questionnaire is a group or sequence of questions designed to elicit information on a subject, or sequence of subjects, from a reporting unit or from another producer of official statistics. Questionnaire design is the design (text, order, and conditions for skipping) of the questions used to obtain the data needed for the survey.

Reference period : The period of time or point in time to which the measured observation is intended to refer.

Relevance : The degree to which statistics meet current and potential users' needs.

Reliability : Closeness of the initial estimated value to the subsequent estimated value.

Reporting unit : Unit that supplies the data for a given survey instance, like a questionnaire or interview. Reporting units may, or may not, be the same as the observation unit.

Residents/non-residents : The residents of a country are individuals whose centre of predominant economic interest is located in its economic territory. For a country, the non-residents are individuals whose centre of predominant economic interest is located outside its economic territory.

Response and non-response : Response and non-response to various elements of a survey entail potential errors.

Response error : Response errors may be defined as those arising from the interviewing process. Such errors may be due to a number of circumstances, such as inadequate concepts or questions; inadequate training; interviewer failures; respondent failures.

Rural tourism : Rural tourism is a type of tourism activity in which the visitor's experience is related to a wide range of products generally linked to nature-based activities, agriculture, rural lifestyle / culture, angling and sightseeing. Rural tourism activities take place in non-urban (rural) areas with the following characteristics:

• Low population density;
• Landscape and land-use dominated by agriculture and forestry; and
• Traditional social structure and lifestyle

Same-day visitor (or excursionist): A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Sample : A subset of a frame where elements are selected based on a process with a known probability of selection.

Sample survey : A survey which is carried out using a sampling method.

Sampling error : That part of the difference between a population value and an estimate thereof, derived from a random sample, which is due to the fact that only a subset of the population is enumerated.

Satellite accounts : There are two types of satellite accounts, serving two different functions. The first type, sometimes called an internal satellite, takes the full set of accounting rules and conventions of the SNA but focuses on a particular aspect of interest by moving away from the standard classifications and hierarchies. Examples are tourism, coffee production and environmental protection expenditure. The second type, called an external satellite, may add non-economic data or vary some of the accounting conventions or both. It is a particularly suitable way to explore new areas in a research context. An example may be the role of volunteer labour in the economy ( SNA 2008, 29.85 ).

SDMX, Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange : Set of technical standards and content-oriented guidelines, together with an IT architecture and tools, to be used for the efficient exchange and sharing of statistical data and metadata (SDMX).

Seasonal adjustment : Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique to remove the effects of seasonal calendar influences on a series. Seasonal effects usually reflect the influence of the seasons themselves, either directly or through production series related to them, or social conventions. Other types of calendar variation occur as a result of influences such as number of days in the calendar period, the accounting or recording practices adopted or the incidence of moving holidays.

Self-employment job : Self-employment jobs are those jobs where remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits (or the potential of profits) derived from the goods or services produced.

Self-employed with paid employees : Self-employed with paid employees are classified as employers.

Self-employed without employees : Self-employed without employees are classified as own-account workers.

Services : Services are the result of a production activity that changes the conditions of the consuming units, or facilitates the exchange of products or financial assets. They cannot be traded separately from their production. By the time their production is completed, they must have been provided to the consumers ( SNA 2008, 6.17 ).

Social transfers in kind : A special case of transfers in kind is that of social transfers in kind. These consist of goods and services provided by general government and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISHs) that are delivered to individual households. Health and education services are the prime examples. Rather than provide a specified amount of money to be used to purchase medical and educational services, the services are often provided in kind to make sure that the need for the services is met. (Sometimes the recipient purchases the service and is reimbursed by the insurance or assistance scheme. Such a transaction is still treated as being in kind because the recipient is merely acting as the agent of the insurance scheme) (SNA 2008, 3.83).

Sports tourism : Sports tourism is a type of tourism activity which refers to the travel experience of the tourist who either observes as a spectator or actively participates in a sporting event generally involving commercial and non-commercial activities of a competitive nature.

Standard classification : Classifications that follow prescribed rules and are generally recommended and accepted.

Statistical error : The unknown difference between the retained value and the true value.

Statistical indicator : A data element that represents statistical data for a specified time, place, and other characteristics, and is corrected for at least one dimension (usually size) to allow for meaningful comparisons.

Statistical metadata : Data about statistical data.

Statistical unit : Entity about which information is sought and about which statistics are compiled. Statistical units may be identifiable legal or physical entities or statistical constructs.

Survey : An investigation about the characteristics of a given population by means of collecting data from a sample of that population and estimating their characteristics through the systematic use of statistical methodology.

System of National Accounts : The System of National Accounts (SNA) is the internationally agreed standard set of recommendations on how to compile measures of economic activity in accordance with strict accounting conventions based on economic principles. The recommendations are expressed in terms of a set of concepts, definitions, classifications and accounting rules that comprise the internationally agreed standard for measuring indicators of economic performance. The accounting framework of the SNA allows economic data to be compiled and presented in a format that is designed for purposes of economic analysis, decision-taking and policymaking ( SNA 2008, 1.1 ).

Total tourism internal demand : Total tourism internal demand, is the sum of internal tourism consumption, tourism gross fixed capital formation and tourism collective consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.114 ). It does not include outbound tourism consumption.

Tourism : Tourism refers to the activity of visitors ( IRTS 2008, 2.9 ).

Tourism characteristic activities : Tourism characteristic activities are the activities that typically produce tourism characteristic products. As the industrial origin of a product (the ISIC industry that produces it) is not a criterion for the aggregation of products within a similar CPC category, there is no strict one-to-one relationship between products and the industries producing them as their principal outputs ( IRTS 2008, 5.11 ).

Tourism characteristic products : Tourism characteristic products are those that satisfy one or both of the following criteria: a) Tourism expenditure on the product should represent a significant share total tourism expenditure (share-of-expenditure/demand condition); b) Tourism expenditure on the product should represent a significant share of the supply of the product in the economy (share-of-supply condition). This criterion implies that the supply of a tourism characteristic product would cease to exist in meaningful quantity in the absence of visitors ( IRTS 2008, 5.10 ).

Tourism connected products : Their significance within tourism analysis for the economy of reference is recognized although their link to tourism is very limited worldwide. Consequently, lists of such products will be country-specific ( IRTS 2008, 5.12 ).

Tourism consumption : Tourism consumption has the same formal definition as tourism expenditure. Nevertheless, the concept of tourism consumption used in the Tourism Satellite Account goes beyond that of tourism expenditure. Besides the amount paid for the acquisition of consumption goods and services, as well as valuables for own use or to give away, for and during tourism trips, which corresponds to monetary transactions (the focus of tourism expenditure), it also includes services associated with vacation accommodation on own account, tourism social transfers in kind and other imputed consumption. These transactions need to be estimated using sources different from information collected directly from the visitors, such as reports on home exchanges, estimations of rents associated with vacation homes, calculations of financial intermediation services indirectly measured (FISIM), etc. ( TSA:RMF 2008, 2.25 ).

Tourism destination : A tourism destination is a physical space with or without administrative and/or analytical boundaries in which a visitor can spend an overnight. It is the cluster (co-location) of products and services, and of activities and experiences along the tourism value chain and a basic unit of analysis of tourism. A destination incorporates various stakeholders and can network to form larger destinations. It is also intangible with its image and identity which may influence its market competitiveness.

Tourism direct gross domestic product : Tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP) is the sum of the part of gross value added (at basic prices) generated by all industries in response to internal tourism consumption plus the amount of net taxes on products and imports included within the value of this expenditure at purchasers' prices ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.96 ).

Tourism direct gross value added : Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) is the part of gross value added generated by tourism industries and other industries of the economy that directly serve visitors in response to internal tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.88 ).

Tourism expenditure : Tourism expenditure refers to the amount paid for the acquisition of consumption goods and services, as well as valuables, for own use or to give away, for and during tourism trips. It includes expenditures by visitors themselves, as well as expenses that are paid for or reimbursed by others ( IRTS 2008, 4.2 ).

Tourism industries : The tourism industries comprise all establishments for which the principal activity is a tourism characteristic activity. 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 .

Tourism product : A tourism product is a combination of tangible and intangible elements, such as natural, cultural and man-made resources, attractions, facilities, services and activities around a specific center of interest which represents the core of the destination marketing mix and creates an overall visitor experience including emotional aspects for the potential customers. A tourism product is priced and sold through distribution channels and it has a life-cycle.

Tourism ratio : For each variable of supply in the Tourism Satellite Account, the tourism ratiois the ratio between the total value of tourism share and total value of the corresponding variable in the Tourism Satellite Account expressed in percentage form ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.56 ). (See also Tourism share).

Tourism Satellite Account : The Tourism Satellite Account is the second international standard on tourism statistics (Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008 –TSA:RMF 2008) that has been developed in order to present economic data relative to tourism within a framework of internal and external consistency with the rest of the statistical system through its link to the System of National Accounts. It is the basic reconciliation framework of tourism statistics. As a statistical tool for the economic accounting of tourism, the TSA can be seen as a set of 10 summary tables, each with their underlying data and representing a different aspect of the economic data relative to tourism: inbound, domestic tourism and outbound tourism expenditure, internal tourism expenditure, production accounts of tourism industries, the Gross Value Added (GVA) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) attributable to tourism demand, employment, investment, government consumption, and non-monetary indicators.

Tourism Satellite Account aggregates : The compilation of the following aggregates, which represent a set of relevant indicators of the size of tourism in an economy is recommended ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.81 ):

• Internal tourism expenditure;
• Internal tourism consumption;
• Gross value added of tourism industries (GVATI);
• Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA);
• Tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP).

Tourism sector : The tourism sector, as contemplated in the TSA, is the cluster of production units in different industries that provide consumption goods and services demanded by visitors. Such industries are called tourism industries because visitor acquisition represents such a significant share of their supply that, in the absence of visitors, their production of these would cease to exist in meaningful quantity.

Tourism share : Tourism share is the share of the corresponding fraction of internal tourism consumption in each component of supply ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.51 ). For each industry, the tourism share of output (in value), is the sum of the tourism share corresponding to each product component of its output ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.55 ). (See also Tourism ratio ).

Tourism single-purpose consumer durable goods : Tourism single-purpose consumer durables is a specific category of consumer durable goods that include durable goods that are used exclusively, or almost exclusively, by individuals while on tourism trips ( TSA:RMF 2008 , 2.41 and Annex 5 ).

Tourism trip : Trips taken by visitors are tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.29 ).

Tourist (or overnight visitor): A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Tourism value chain : The tourism value chain is the sequence of primary and support activities which are strategically fundamental for the performance of the tourism sector. Linked processes such as policy making and integrated planning, product development and packaging, promotion and marketing, distribution and sales and destination operations and services are the key primary activities of the tourism value chain. Support activities involve transport and infrastructure, human resource development, technology and systems development and other complementary goods and services which may not be related to core tourism businesses but have a high impact on the value of tourism.

Travel / traveller : Travel refers to the activity of travellers. A traveller is someone who moves between different geographic locations, for any purpose and any duration ( IRTS 2008, 2.4 ). The visitor is a particular type of traveller and consequently tourism is a subset of travel.

Travel group : A travel group is made up of individuals or travel parties travelling together: examples are people travelling on the same package tour or youngsters attending a summer camp ( IRTS 2008, 3.5 ).

Travel item (in balance of payments): Travel is an item of the goods and services account of the balance of payments: travel credits cover goods and services for own use or to give away acquired from an economy by non-residents during visits to that economy. Travel debits cover goods and services for own use or to give away acquired from other economies by residents during visits to other economies ( BPM6, 10.86 ).

Travel party : A travel party is defined as visitors travelling together on a trip and whose expenditures are pooled ( IRTS 2008, 3.2 ).

Trip : A trip refers to the travel by a person from the time of departure from his/her usual residence until he/she returns: it thus refers to a round trip. Trips taken by visitors are tourism trips.

Urban/city tourism : Urban/city tourism is a type of tourism activity which takes place in an urban space with its inherent attributes characterized by non-agricultural based economy such as administration, manufacturing, trade and services and by being nodal points of transport. Urban/city destinations offer a broad and heterogeneous range of cultural, architectural, technological, social and natural experiences and products for leisure and business.

Usual environment: The usual environment of an individual, a key concept in tourism, is defined as the geographical area (though not necessarily a contiguous one) within which an individual conducts his/her regular life routines ( IRTS 2008, 2.21 ).

Usual residence : The place of usual residence is the geographical place where the enumerated person usually resides (Principles and recommendations for population and housing censuses of the United Nations, 2.16 to 2.18).

Vacation home : A vacation home (sometimes also designated as a holiday home) is a secondary dwelling that is visited by the members of the household mostly for purposes of recreation, vacation or any other form of leisure ( IRTS 2008, 2.27 ).

Valuables : Valuables are produced goods of considerable value that are not used primarily for purposes of production or consumption but are held as stores of value over time ( SNA 2008, 10.13 ).

Visit : A trip is made up of visits to different places.The term "tourism visit" refers to a stay in a place visited during a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.7 and 2.33 ).

Visitor : A visitor is a traveller taking a trip to a main destination outside his/her usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose (business, leisure or other personal purpose) other than to be employed by a resident entity in the country or place visited ( IRTS 2008, 2.9 ). A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Wellness tourism : Wellness tourism is a type of tourism activity which aims to improve and balance all of the main domains of human life including physical, mental, emotional, occupational, intellectual and spiritual. The primary motivation for the wellness tourist is to engage in preventive, proactive, lifestyle-enhancing activities such as fitness, healthy eating, relaxation, pampering and healing treatments.

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Travel Tips

Passport Information: Understanding Issuing Country, Authority, And Place Of Issue

Published: December 11, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Jaquelyn Casey

• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Essentials & Accessories

Introduction

When it comes to international travel, understanding passport information is crucial. Your passport is not just a travel document, but also a gateway to exploring the world. It holds valuable information that is essential for border control, identification, and security purposes. One key aspect of your passport is the information related to issuing country, authority, and place of issue. In this article, we’ll delve into these important details and unravel their significance.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time globetrotter, having a grasp of your passport’s issuing country, authority, and place of issue can provide valuable insights into your travel history and document authenticity. Let’s explore what each of these components entails and how they contribute to your passport’s integrity.

First, we’ll discuss the issuing country. This refers to the nation that granted you the passport. Each passport is associated with a specific country, indicating your nationality and citizenship. For example, if you hold a United States passport, the issuing country is the United States of America. This information is typically displayed prominently on the cover of your passport and is an essential component of its identification.

Next, we’ll look at the authority responsible for issuing your passport. The authority is the government agency or department that handles passport issuance. It can be a passport office, ministry of foreign affairs, or any other designated entity. The authority is responsible for verifying your identity, processing your application, and ensuring that all necessary criteria are met before granting the passport. This information is usually found on the personal data page of your passport, along with your name and date of birth.

Lastly, we’ll explore the place of issue. This refers to the specific location where your passport was issued. It can be a city, town, or even a specific passport office. The place of issue provides additional information about the administrative unit responsible for issuing the passport. It is often indicated on the personal data page, coinciding with the authority’s details.

Understanding the significance of your passport’s issuing country, authority, and place of issue is not only informative but also plays a role in various travel processes. These factors can influence your visa application, border control procedures, and even determine the type of assistance you can receive at foreign embassies or consulates.

Now that we have covered the introductory aspects, let’s dive deeper into each component to understand their significance in more detail.

Understanding Passport Information

Your passport is a vital document that serves as your identification and proof of citizenship when traveling internationally. It contains essential information required by immigration authorities to verify your identity and grant you entry into a foreign country. Understanding the various components of your passport information is crucial for a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.

Aside from personal details such as your name, date of birth, and photograph, your passport contains important information regarding its issuance. These details include the issuing country, authority, and place of issue. Let’s take a closer look at each of these components.

The issuing country refers to the nation that issued your passport. It is an indication of your nationality and citizenship. The issuing country is typically imprinted on the front cover of your passport and can be easily identified by the country’s name or an emblem. For example, if you hold a passport issued by Germany, the issuing country would be “Federal Republic of Germany.” This information is essential for immigration officials to determine your citizenship and eligibility for entry into their country.

The authority responsible for issuing your passport is the government agency or department in charge of passport issuance. This authority verifies your identity, processes your application, and ensures that you meet the necessary requirements to obtain a passport. The authority’s name or abbreviation is usually displayed on the personal data page of your passport, along with your other personal details. Knowing the authority that issued your passport can be helpful when seeking assistance or information regarding your passport.

The place of issue refers to the specific location where your passport was issued. This can be a city, town, or even a designated passport office. The place of issue is typically mentioned on the personal data page, along with the authority’s details. Knowing the place of issue can be beneficial in situations where you need to provide accurate information about your passport, such as during visa applications or registration with foreign embassies or consulates.

Understanding your passport information is not only important for immigration purposes but also for personal record-keeping. It allows you to keep track of your travel history and identify any discrepancies or errors that may arise. In addition, familiarizing yourself with the components of your passport information can assist you in case of lost or stolen passport situations, as you can quickly provide accurate details to the appropriate authorities.

By comprehending the significance of your passport’s issuing country, authority, and place of issue, you can navigate international travel procedures more effectively and ensure a seamless journey to your desired destinations.

Issuing Country

The issuing country is a fundamental component of your passport information. It refers to the nation that granted you the passport and determines your nationality and citizenship. The issuing country is prominently displayed on the cover of your passport and plays a significant role during international travel.

When you hold a passport, the issuing country represents the country that recognizes you as its citizen and, therefore, grants you the right to travel internationally under its protection. It is a reflection of your legal status and affiliation with that particular country.

The issuing country information on your passport is typically presented in various ways. It can be denoted by the full name of the country, such as “United States of America” or “Federal Republic of Germany.” In some cases, it may be represented by an abbreviation, such as “USA” or “GER” for the respective examples mentioned.

The issuing country is significant and holds vital implications when traveling across international borders. Immigration authorities at entry and exit points rely on this information to verify your eligibility for entry into their country. They compare the issuing country on your passport with their own list of recognized countries and determine whether you need a visa or if you qualify for entry under visa-exemption agreements.

Additionally, the issuing country also dictates the type of consular assistance you can receive when abroad. If you encounter any issues or require assistance while in a foreign country, such as lost passport, medical emergencies, or legal matters, you can seek help at your country’s embassy or consulate. These diplomatic missions represent the interests of the issuing country’s citizens and provide various consular services.

It is important to note that the issuing country of your passport may differ from your current country of residence. This is especially common for individuals with dual citizenship or those residing in a country separate from their country of nationality.

Understanding the significance of the issuing country on your passport is essential for international travel. It establishes your legal identity and plays a crucial role in determining entry requirements, visa applications, and consular assistance. By recognizing the importance of your passport’s issuing country, you can navigate immigration procedures more effectively and enjoy a smoother travel experience.

The authority section of your passport holds important information about the government agency or department responsible for issuing your document. This authority plays a vital role in verifying your identity, processing your passport application, and ensuring that all necessary requirements are met before granting you a passport.

The authority’s name or abbreviation is typically displayed on the personal data page of your passport, along with your other personal details. It serves as an official stamp of approval, indicating that your passport has been issued by a recognized and authorized entity within the issuing country.

Understanding the authority that issued your passport can be valuable in various situations. Firstly, it is essential for authentication purposes. When traveling, border control officers rely on the authority’s name to verify the validity and authenticity of your passport. They cross-reference the authority’s information with their own databases to ensure that your passport has been issued by a legitimate source.

Secondly, knowing the authority that issued your passport can assist you in seeking specialized assistance or information related to your specific document. If you have queries regarding the renewal or extension of your passport, specific travel restrictions, or other passport-related matters, contacting the relevant authority can provide accurate and up-to-date information.

Furthermore, in case of lost or stolen passports, reporting the incident to the issuing authority is crucial. They will guide you through the necessary steps to report the loss, prevent misuse, and assist you with obtaining a replacement passport.

The authority can vary depending on the issuing country. It could be a dedicated passport office, a ministry of foreign affairs, or another government agency responsible for passport issuance. It is important to note that the authority’s role extends beyond issuing passports; they also handle important tasks such as maintaining citizenship records, verifying identities, and ensuring compliance with passport regulations and policies.

By understanding the significance of the authority listed on your passport, you can navigate passport-related matters more efficiently. Knowing the authorized entity behind your passport provides reassurance of its validity and can help you access the appropriate resources and assistance when needed.

Place of Issue

The place of issue is a significant detail in your passport that indicates the specific location where your passport was issued. It can be a city, town, or even a designated passport office. The place of issue provides additional information about the administrative unit responsible for granting and issuing your passport.

The place of issue is typically mentioned on the personal data page of your passport, along with the authority’s details. It serves as a means of identification and assists in maintaining records of passport issuance. This information also helps distinguish your passport from others that may have been issued in different locations within the issuing country.

Knowing the place of issue can be valuable for several reasons. Firstly, it provides additional information about the administrative unit responsible for handling passport issuance. This can be useful when seeking assistance or clarification regarding your passport, as you can contact the relevant office directly if needed.

Secondly, the place of issue can be helpful when applying for visas. Some visa application forms may require you to provide the place of issue of your passport. This information helps authorities verify the authenticity and legitimacy of your travel document.

In addition, the place of issue is essential in situations where you need to report a lost or stolen passport. When contacting the authorities to report the incident, they may request the place of issue as part of the verification process.

Furthermore, the place of issue can provide insights into your travel history. If you have multiple passports or have renewed your passport in different locations, recording the place of issue can help you keep track of your past travel experiences.

It’s important to note that the place of issue does not have any impact on your travel rights or visa-free access to other countries. It serves primarily as an administrative detail for identification and record-keeping purposes.

Understanding the significance of the place of issue on your passport contributes to your overall awareness of its components. It allows you to provide accurate information when required, assists in the verification process of your travel document, and aids in keeping track of your personal travel history.

Understanding the various components of your passport information, including the issuing country, authority, and place of issue, is crucial for international travel. These details contribute to the authenticity, credibility, and recognition of your passport, playing a significant role in border control, identification, and legal procedures.

The issuing country represents your nationality and citizenship, providing important information to immigration authorities and determining your eligibility for entry into foreign countries. It serves as a fundamental identifier and establishes your legal affiliation with a specific nation.

The authority responsible for issuing your passport verifies your identity, processes your application, and ensures compliance with passport regulations. Knowing the authority’s name or abbreviation allows you to seek specialized assistance and access accurate passport-related information when needed.

The place of issue denotes the specific location where your passport was issued. It helps in identifying the administrative unit responsible for granting your passport and aids in record-keeping. Having this information can be beneficial for visa applications, reporting lost or stolen passports, and keeping track of your travel history.

By familiarizing yourself with these passport components, you can navigate international travel procedures more effectively, ensure the validity and authenticity of your travel document, and access the appropriate resources and assistance when necessary.

Remember, your passport is not just a piece of paper; it is a powerful document that grants you the privilege of exploring the world. Take the time to understand and appreciate the information it holds, as it is your key to unlocking new adventures, cultures, and experiences across the globe.

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What is international tourism and why is it important?

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:

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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Chapter 1. History and Overview

1.1 What is Tourism?

Before engaging in a study of tourism , let’s have a closer look at what this term means.

Definition of Tourism

There are a number of ways tourism can be defined, and for this reason, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) embarked on a project from 2005 to 2007 to create a common glossary of terms for tourism. It defines tourism as follows:

Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which imply tourism expenditure (United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2008).

Using this definition, we can see that tourism is not just the movement of people for a number of purposes (whether business or pleasure), but the overall agglomeration of activities, services, and involved sectors that make up the unique tourist experience.

Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality: What are the Differences?

It is common to confuse the terms tourism , travel , and hospitality or to define them as the same thing. While tourism is the all-encompassing umbrella term for the activities and industry that create the tourist experience, the UNWTO (2020) defines travel as the activity of moving between different locations often for any purpose but more so for leisure and recreation (Hall & Page, 2006). On the other hand, hospitality can be defined as “the business of helping people to feel welcome and relaxed and to enjoy themselves” (Discover Hospitality, 2015, p. 3). Simply put, the hospitality industry is the combination of the accommodation and food and beverage groupings, collectively making up the largest segment of the industry (Go2HR, 2020). You’ll learn more about accommodations and F & B in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 , respectively.

Definition of Tourist and Excursionist

Building on the definition of tourism, a commonly accepted description of a tourist is “someone who travels at least 80 km from his or her home for at least 24 hours, for business or leisure or other reasons” (LinkBC, 2008, p.8). The United Nations World Tourism Organization (1995) helps us break down this definition further by stating tourists can be:

• Domestic (residents of a given country travelling only within that country)
• Inbound (non-residents travelling in a given country)
• Outbound (residents of one country travelling in another country)

Excursionists  on the other hand are considered same-day visitors (UNWTO, 2020). Sometimes referred to as “day trippers.” Understandably, not every visitor stays in a destination overnight. It is common for travellers to spend a few hours or less to do sightseeing, visit attractions, dine at a local restaurant, then leave at the end of the day.

The scope of tourism, therefore, is broad and encompasses a number of activities and sectors.

Spotlight On: United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible “for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism” (UNWTO, 2014b). Its membership includes 159 countries and over 500 affiliates such as private companies, research and educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations. It promotes tourism as a way of developing communities while encouraging ethical behaviour to mitigate negative impacts. For more information, visit the UNWTO website .

NAICS: The North American Industry Classification System

Given the sheer size of the tourism industry, it can be helpful to break it down into broad industry groups using a common classification system. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was jointly created by the Canadian, US, and Mexican governments to ensure common analysis across all three countries (British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, 2013a). The tourism-related groupings created using NAICS are (in alphabetical order):

• Accommodation
• Food and beverage services (commonly known as “F & B”)
• Recreation and entertainment
• Transportation
• Travel services

These industry groups (also commonly known as sectors) are based on the similarity of the “labour processes and inputs” used for each (Government of Canada, 2013). For instance, the types of employees and resources required to run an accommodation business whether it be a hotel, motel, or even a campground are quite similar. All these businesses need staff to check in guests, provide housekeeping, employ maintenance workers, and provide a place for people to sleep. As such, they can be grouped together under the heading of accommodation. The same is true of the other four groupings, and the rest of this text explores these industry groups, and other aspects of tourism, in more detail.

It is typical for the entire tourist experience to involve more than one sector. The combination of sectors that supply and distribute the needed tourism products, services, and activities within the tourism system is called the Tourism Supply Chain. Often, these chains of sectors and activities are dependent upon each other’s delivery of products and services. Let’s look at a simple example below that describes the involved and sometimes overlapping sectoral chains in the tourism experience:

Before we seek to understand the five tourism sectors in more detail, it’s important to have an overview of the history and impacts of tourism to date.

Long Descriptions

Figure 1.2 long description: Diagram showing the tourism supply chain. This includes the phases of travel and the sectors and activities involved during each phase.

There are three travel phases: pre-departure, during travel, and post-departure.

Pre-departure, tourists use the travel services and transportation sectors.

During travel, tourists use the travel services, accommodations, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, and transportation sectors.

Post-departure, tourists use the transportation sector.

[Return to Figure 1.2]

Media Attributions

• Front Desk by Staying LEVEL is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 Licence .

Tourism according the the UNWTO is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.

UN agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism worldwide.

Moving between different locations for leisure and recreation.

The accommodations and food and beverage industry groupings.

someone who travels at least 80 km from his or her home for at least 24 hours, for business or leisure or other reasons

A same-day visitor to a destination. Their trip typically ends on the same day when they leave the destination.

A way to group tourism activities based on similarities in business practices, primarily used for statistical analysis.

Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality in BC - 2nd Edition Copyright © 2015, 2020, 2021 by Morgan Westcott and Wendy Anderson, Eds is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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What Every Country's Name Literally Means

Literal translations of every country's name.

Uncovering the origins of a nation's name is no easy feat, with various interpretations as well as countries going through a number of different names over the course of the world's history. 

We reviewed every country, as recognized by the United Nations, and uncovered the history behind each country's name. Read on to learn the meaning behind the places you love and wish to visit!

Afghanistan: Mountainous Country

An appropriate name for the landlocked Asian country, Afghanistan is home to the Hindu Kush and the Pamir mountains. Hindu Kush extends from the Himalayas, and the Pamir are referred to as " Roof of the World " by the Afghans.

The name also means " Land of the Pashtuns ," who were the tribal people of the Hindu Kush mountains.

*Note: Translations are from a report by Credit Card Compare .

Albania: Land of Eagles

The Albanian word for their country is Shqipëria , which translates directly into " Land of Eagles ." The name comes from the legend of a boy hunter granted the vision of an eagle and the strength to match.

He was referred to as the "son of the eagles," and the land in which he lived became the name of the country.

Algeria: The Islands

Although Algeria is not an island nation, thee small islands located off of its coast earned it the name Al Jazain , which is Arabic for " the islands ."

The name was bestowed by Bologhine ibn Ziri, who founded Algiers in 944.

Andorra: Shrub-Covered Land

Located between Spain and France, Andorra's name is said to derive from andurrial , which means " shrub-covered land " in Basque.

Still, the tiny country in the Pyrenees also could be named from the Spanish andar , which means "to walk."

Angola: The Land of Ngola

The medieval African kingdom known as Ndongo was home to Ngola, the lineage system that ruled the kingdom between the 14th and 17th centuries.

The Portuguese invaded in 1915, defeating its last king. That kingdom became the modern-day Angola.

Antigua and Barbuda: Our Own

The dual Caribbean islands that create the nation of Antigua and Barbuda originally were named by the aboriginals who lived in the tropical paradise. The name they used, wadadli,  means "our own."

When Christopher Columbus "discovered" the island, he incorporated the wadadli name as Antigua when he named it Santa Maria de la Antigua . In Spanish, Antigua means old, and it was likely a mistake on his part that the translation did not match.

Argentina: Land Beside the Silvery River

The river that gave rise to the name Argentina is the Río de la Plata , which translates into " River of Silver ." The name was given by Spanish explorers who were given silver items when bartering with tribes along the river. They were hopeful the river would be full of the precious metal.

The river estuary is located at the convergence of Argentina and Uruguay.

Armenia: Land of Hayk

Hayk is the tribal chief who led his people into freedom from Assyrian overlords. After a mighty battle, the people named their land for their brave ruler, calling it Hayastan .

The great-grandson of Hayk, Aram , led to the land's present-day name.

Australia: Southern Land

Australia's name comes from Latin, australis , which means "southern."

When English explorer Matthew Flinders discovered the continent, he named it Terra Australia ("Southern Land").

Austria: Eastern Realm

Germany was once a mighty force over Europe and long before the Hapsburgs ruled Austria, the land was part of Germany.

As it is east of German Bavaria, it was naturally referred to as the " eastern realm ," which in German is Osterreich .

Azerbaijan: Land of Fire

A unique natural phenomena — gas emitting from fissures in the ground that cause fires to burn on its hillsides — is credited for the naming of Azerbaijan. Marco Polo stumbled across the fires and passed along the stories of the land on fire during his journeys.

The country offers a shrine of fire in Ateshgah as a place of worship, and its name dates back to Persian times.

Bahamas: Land of Shallow Sea

Christopher Columbus gets credit for the name of this collection of islands that form the Bahamas.

With 700 islands scattered about, the water can get shallow for passing ships and Columbus rightfully deemed it baja mar , meaning " shallow sea " in Spanish.

Bahrain: The Two Seas

The tiny Arab nation of Bahrain is an archipelago between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. To its west is the Gulf of Bahrain; to its east is the Persian Gulf.

With " two seas " flanking it, it was called al-bahrayn in Arabic, which means exactly that.

Bangladesh: Land of the Bengals

The Bengal people of Asia lived in a land often incorporated into India and Pakistan over its centuries. When British colonial rule ended in 1947, the land was divided into free West Bengal and East Bengal, which remained under Pakistan's authority. Referred to as East Pakistan, the Bengals fought hard for independence from Pakistan and won it in 1971.

The two regions combined into Bangladesh , deriving its name from the Sanskrit desha , which means "land" or "country."

Barbados: The Bearded Ones

It wasn't a tribe of bearded men that earned Barbados its name. Instead, it was the shortleaf fig tree ( Ficus citrifolia ) that caught the eye of Portuguese explorers.

With long, hanging roots, the trees appear to have beards, earning the island the name Os Barbados .

Belarus: White Russian

Belarus was under Russian authority for quite some time, with Rus a shortening of "Russia." The term Belaya Rus, or "white Russia," can be found in medieval references and was predominant after Lithuania's annexing of the land in the 1500s.

Some say the term refers to the Christianized Slavs while others believe it is a descriptor of the people's fairer hair and complexions.

Belgium: Land of the Belgae

Back when much of Europe was divided by tribes, the native people who inhabited Gaul north of the Seine and Marne Rivers were first called Belgae by Julius Caesar during his conquests.

Belgae is simply Latin for "Belgians."

Belize: Muddy-Wattered Land

There is some question as to whether the name Belize derives from "muddy waters" or "land facing the sea," but either way, Belize's name comes from its ancient Mayan people.

The muddy water reference, Balix , refers to the country's Belize River. The sea-facing name, Belikin , refers to its Caribbean Sea border.

Benin: Land of Argument

Before 1975, Benin was known as Dahomey and was split into two colonies. One was a French colony in the southern lands that make up the current country. The northern lands were formally the kingdom of Borgu.

When the land was united into its current status, after freedom from France, it was renamed after the Bay of Benin. Some say the meaning of the name is "Land of Argument," which may stem from the all-female women warriors known as the Dora Milaje .

Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon

Bhutan has long been a mystery to other civilizations, keeping much of the world out of its Himalayan country and preserving its ancient traditions.

In Bhutanese, "Bhutan" is Druk Yul . "Druk" is a thunder dragon of both Bhutanese and Tibetan mythology, sending thunder to roll down from the mountains. The dragon also appears on the nation's flag, and leaders are even called Druk Gyalpo , "Thunder Dragon Kings."

Bolivia: Bolivar's Land

Venezuelan-born Simón Bolívar fought hard against the Spanish to help South American nations achieve independence before his death in 1830.

To honor the continental hero nicknamed El Libertador ("The Liberator"), Bolivia became the name of the new country formed after independence from Spain. The landlocked nation is home to Amazon rainforest, Andres Mountains and Lake Titicaca.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: River Bosna and Property of a Duke

The combined country that is more simply BiH has two meanings for its adjoined lands. Bosnia takes its name from the Bosna River, formerly the Bossina River, which runs through it.

Herzegovina translates into "duke's land." It was Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca who became duke over the land. His Germanic title, Herzeg of Saint Sava, lent to the name.

Botswana: Land of the Tswana

The earliest inhabitants of the land now known as Botswana were called the Tswana and collectively called Batswana. The British who controlled their land for nearly a century referred to the land as Bechuanaland , a name derived from Batswana. When the British gave independence to the nation in 1965, the name was changed to Batswana.

Some say the name means, "those who went away," referring to many tribal people who headed north after Colonial rule, but that is a more mythical description.

Brazil: Red Like an Ember

Originally , Brazil was called Ilha de Vera Cruz ("Island of the True Cross"). But once it was discovered that the massive country was not an island, it was changed to Terra de Santa Cruz ("Land of the Holy Cross").

When the Portuguese descended upon the land, however, they discovered the pau-brasil (brazilwood) tree, which had sap and wood as red as an ember. They named their colony Brasil and it stuck.

Brunei: Abode of Peace

Brunei's full name is Negara ("Country of") Brunei Darussalem (" Abode of Peace "), an Arabic name.

The country was under British rule until 1984 and is now under Sultan leadership.

Bulgaria: Home of Mixed Tribes

Another country name attributed to tribal people is Bulgaria, which was founded by the Bulgars . There are conflicting reports that the Bulgars were a branch of the Turkic tribe or hailed from western Europe.

However, the Turkic bulgha means "mix." During the Byzantines, the area was referred to as Great Bulgaria.

Burkina Faso: Land of Honest Men

When landlocked Burkina Faso gained its independence from France in 1960, it sent a clear message in the creation of its new name : "upright," "honest," "incorruptible," "men of integrity" — all translations leading to good people.

The name took Burkina  ("men of integrity") from Mooré and Faso ("fatherland") from Dioula languages to join its people. The country didn't change its name until 1984 when it was formerly known as Upper Volta.

Burundi: Home of Rundi Speakers

The people of East Africa speaking Bantu are known as Rundi . These people include Swahili, Zulu and Xhosa and are found in central and southern Africa.

They all lived in German East Africa until independence was gained in 1962 and the country received its new name.

Cabo Verde: Green Cape

The cape that extends from western Africa received its name, Cabo Verde , from Portuguese explorers in the 1400s. Meaning "green cape" due to its lush land, the explorers offered the same name to the islands off the coast.

Today, the 10 islands collectively make up the nation of Cabo Verde.

Cambodia: Country of Kampuchea

A tribe from northern India's early days known as the Kambuja spanned across Southeast Asia as part of the Khmer Empire. The Sanskrit name, Kampuchea , "Country of Kampuchea" is more commonly called "Khmer's Land" by Cambodians and was run by a monarch as the Kingdom of Cambodia from 1953 to 1970.

When the king was overthrown, the nation went through years of name changes: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea and State of Cambodia. With the United Nations backing to end the strife in the country in 1993, the country returned to its original name, Kingdom of Cambodia, as it remains.

Cameroon: River of Prawns

When Fernando Po, a Portuguese explorer, discovered a river full of shrimp in West Africa, he named it Wouri Rio dos Camarões (" shrimp river ").

The name followed around the surrounding land as Camarões , becoming Cameroun in French, Kamerun in German and Cameroon in English.

Canada: The Village

While Canada is filled with provinces, all bearing names connecting to its people and founders, the country name is credited to the Huron-Iroquois . It was a miscommunication between French explorers and the natives in the 1500s that lent to the natives using kanata ("village") to direct the newcomers.

The name began to mean all land north of the St. Lawrence River, once referred to as riviere du Canada ("river of Canada"). As Canada grew, so did its name.

Central African Republic: Republic of the Centre of Africa

When the Central African Republic was granted independence from France, it was going by the name Ubangi-Shari. It was the hope that it and the other French territories of Congo, Chad and Gabon would form one nation once they received freedom.

It didn't work, but Ubangi-Shari adopted its new name as Central African Republic in 1960, which means exactly what you think it means.

Chad: Land of the Large Lake

The large lake occupying much of Chad as well as Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon, received its name when European explorers discovered it. Using the local Kanuri word for lake, it was deemed Lake Chad.

The name followed into the land known as Chad. As the lake continues to dry up, the country may have an odd name to future generations.

Chile: Where Land Ends

No, Chile is not named after a pepper. Instead, aboriginal peoples named the land for being "where the land ends" and "the deepest point of the Earth."

Other words, such as tchili , meaning "snow," have been linked to the country's name as well, due to snow-capped mountain peaks.

China: Center Kingdom

China's name, in Mandarin is Zhongguo , which means "central state" or "middle empire." However, Romans and Greeks referred to the land as Seres , where "silk comes from."

But it was the Sanskrit name , Cina , named for the Chinese Qin ( Chin ) Dynasty that has outlasted them all. The Qin Dynasty was the first Imperial dynasty — and the one whose armies are depicted in the famed terracotta sculptures.

Colombia: Land of Columbus

Christopher Columbus has a hand in the naming of many countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Despite the fact he never visited the land that is Colombia , it was named for the explorer in 1499 by one of his fellow explorers, Alonso de Ojeda.

It is here the Spanish thought the gold of El Dorado would be discovered.

Comoros: Islands of the Moon

The archipelago found between Africa and Madagascar received its name from Arab traders. Comoros means " moon ," based on the Arabic kamar .

There are four islands in this Indian Ocean collection, but one is governed by France. That means only three of them make up this African nation.

Congo: Kingdom of Mountains

There are two different nations using the name Congo : the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Congo. Both were granted their names from the native Kongo, or Kikongo.

Formerly a kingdom, it was a medieval ruler that conquered a mountain town and bestowed upon it the Mongo dia Kongo .

Costa Rica: Rich Coast

Arriving in Central America in 1502, Christopher Columbus loved Costa Rica so much he named it the " rich coast ."

It wasn't for the country's natural beauty but rather because he was positive the country would be abundant in precious metals. He was right: Costa Rica's mines produced gold, copper and manganese.

Cote d'Ivoire: Ivory Coast

The French pronounced the land along Africa's coast as Cote d'Ivoire, "Ivory Coast," in 1893, and the Portuguese's name was Costa Do Marfim, which has the same meaning . But the country already had a name: Guiné de Cabo Verde , or Upper Guinea .

The Ivory Coast name, however, stemmed from the traders who used the area to collect valuable ivory elephant tusks. When the nation was free of French authority, it officially changed its name to Cote d'Ivoire in 1985.

Croatia: Land of Croats

The true name of the Croatian people is Horovathos , which dates back to the Greek era. Shortened to Horvath and eventually Horvat led to modern-day usage as Hrvat . However, in various regions surrounding Croatia, the people were referenced as Kraut and Chrowat , translating into Croat.

Therefore, the country is called Croatia, although to Croatians it is known as Hrvatska .

Cuba: Where Fertile Land Is Abundant

Despite Christopher Columbus christening the Caribbean island as Juana , there were discoverers of this island long before his 1492 arrival, and they gave it their own name. Although there is a lack of evidence detailing the true meaning of Cuba, some say the Taino people who settled on the island in the 1200s to grow crops called it cubao , which translates into "where fertile land is abundant."

The Taino word coabana means "great place," another word that could have lent to the naming of Cuba.

Cyprus: Island of Copper

An island nation that welcomed many sea traders since its beginning earned its name for being plentiful in copper .

The Latin translation aes Cyprium means "metal of Cyprus." It was later shortened to Cuprum .

Czechia: Land of the Czechs

Before it was Czechia, Czech Republic or Czechoslovakia, this Eastern Europe country's name was Bohemia , a shortened version of the Roman Boiohaemum , "Home of the Boii." The translation for these unconventional people was Cechy , which sounded like Czech to English speakers.

When the country was joined with Slovakia following WWII, it held the longer name. Once it was out from the Iron Curtain, it became the Czech Republic. In 2016, the government shortened the name to Czechia .

Denmark: Flat Borderland

Of course, Denmark has become the Land of the Danes, but the root of the country name stems from German . Dan is a word related to a German word that means "flat land" and Mark means "borderland."

Makes sense: After all, the country is flatland bordering Germany.

Djibouti: A Legendary Bear

The Somali Issas people told a tale of a terrorizing beast, buti ("bear"), that was finally defeated by the people. Jab means "defeat" to the Somali, and the combination earned the name of the defeated beast.

However, the country is occupied by more than the Issas. The Afar have another meaning for the name. In the mountain regions of the land, it is called  Gabood . Sailors arriving in port then began calling the land "Gabuuti."

Still, the Yemeni sailors who worked the Gulf here have another: ja-al-but , which means "the boat has arrived." Yet every story leads to the same name , and Djibouti appears on maps as the official name of the country.

Dominica: Belonging to the Lord

The first day Christopher Columbus saw the island of Dominica it was a Sunday. He chose to proclaim the land as Dominica, which is an Italian word that means " belonging to the Lord ." In Latin, the word is " Sunday ."

The last of the islands visited by Columbus, Dominica actually had its own name before his arrival. The indigenous people called the island Wai'tu kubuli , "tall is her body." A hiking trail with the same name takes visitors up the tallest mountain, Morne Diablotin.

Dominican Republic: Saint Dominic's Island

The Dominican Republic is half of the island known as Hispaniola . (The other half is Haiti.) Christopher Columbus once again introduced the name, Espaniola , meaning "Little Spain."

But it was his brother, Bartholomew, who created a settlement on the island, which he named Santo Domingo in honor of the founder of the Dominican Order, Saint Dominic. It was, as you would expect, located on the Dominican Republic side of the island.

Ecuador: The Equator

In 1736, a French team mapped out the Equator , discovering it as the center of the globe at 0 degrees latitude. But it was 200 years prior that the Spaniards were colonizing the land known as Ecuador, which translates into the Equator.

The land was originally named Nueva Granada and incorporated with Colombia and Venezuela until the people had an uprising in the early 1800s, when they adopted its new name .

Egypt: Mansion of the Spirit Ptah

Egypt's original name was Kemet . So named for the fertile land along the Nile River, "Black Land" was apropos due to the dark soil. Eventually, the name evolved into Misr or "country," which is still in common use in Egypt today.

But modern-day Egypt's name comes from its first city and capital, Memphis. Egyptians called it Hwt-Ka-Ptah , "Mansion of the Spirit of Ptah." ( Ptah is the god of Memphis.) The Greeks, however, pronounced it Aegyptos , and the name has stuck.

El Salvador: The Savior

"The Savior" in Spanish, El Salvador was named by the explorer Pedro de Alvarado in the 1500s.

But the people of the country, the Pipil, already had a name for their land. It and the capital city was called Cuscatlán , which means "Land of the Jewel." The name is often used in the country to this day.

England: Land of the Angles

The original Germanic tribes of Europe included the Angles who settled on the island nation after an invasion in the fifth century. The name, Anglii, came from the Anglia Peninsula, in which they hailed.

They were joined by the Jutes and the Saxons, also from the German peninsula, which is also why the term Anglo-Saxon is used as a descriptor.

Equatorial Guinea: Equatorial Land of the Black Men

Equatorial Guinea consists of a large area of Western Africa along with five islands. The Portuguese arrived on the islands first in 1474, but it was the Spanish who claimed the land in 1778 and provided it the name of Spanish Guinea. The word guinea is said to come from the Berber people of North Africa as a term to describe " land of the blacks ."

Once the country gained its independence in 1968, it became a republic, and its equator location is included in its name to avoid confusion with nearby Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Eritrea: Land of the Red Sea

Located on the Red Sea, Eritrea's name is an obvious choice for the country. It has been passed down from the Greek's Erythraean sea and Roman's Mare Erythraeum , both meaning "red sea."

The water isn't actually red, though. The name stems from the Tricgodesmium erythraeum algae that blooms red.

Estonia: East Land

The Baltic country Estonia's name is not as clear as some of the other countries in the world. Due to its location east of Germany, some say the word is Germanic and means "eastern way." Others say the original people of the land gave it the name with the definition meaning "waterside dwellers."

As the country is close to Scandinavia and has Finnish-speaking people, its ties to the area have found it described as Eistland , also meaning "east land." The name is still used in Scandinavia to this day.

Eswatini: Kingdom of Swaziland

Formerly Swaziland, Eswatini is a new name bestowed upon the country in 2018 by its king to mean "Kingdom of Eswatini." Swaziland was a name put upon the land by the British during colonial times describing the Swahili (or Waswahili) people.

It was often confused with Switzerland, helping to prompt the name change.

Ethiopia: Land of Burnt Faces

The Arabic word Habesh , meaning "mongrel," led to the name Abyssinia , which was used to describe the land where Ethiopia sits until the fourth century, when a new king chose a Christian name for his new kingdom.

However, the chosen name dates back to Greek sailors who, upon discovering the land of northeastern Africa, created the name from its words aitho ("I burn) and ops ("face") to describe the people they encountered. 

Fiji: Great Fiji

The name, Fiji, has long been a mistake dating back to European explorers. Captain James Cook was navigating and mapping the South Pacific for England when he landed in present-day Fiji.

The Tongans who lived on the islands called them Viti , but Captain Cook thought he heard Feegee . His mistake resulted in setting Fiji in stone on maps, and the rest is history.

Finland: Swamp Land

Before you call it Finland, know the Finnish word for Finland is Suomi. The word is a combination of suo maa, or "swamp land," which may not seem appropriate for the land with much snow and ice save for its southwestern lake-filled region.

In English, "fen" is a synonym for "swamp," but the Old English word finna was used to describe Scandinavians, which could be an origin of the English version of the name. Still, another theory is the similar word suomu means "scale of a fish," which may be what ancient peoples wore on clothing. No matter how the name began, the Finns would rather you use Suomi .

France: Land of the Franks

An ancient Germanic world for its tribe known as the Franks, the word means "fiere," making France's name more literally "Land of the Fierce."

Gabon: Hooded Cloak

The 15th century Portuguese who colonized Gabon discovered the Komo River estuary was in the shape of a hooded cloak.

In Portuguese, a gabon is a cloak, and — voila! — a country name was born.  

Gambia: The River

The Portuguese were the bearer of names for the small West African nation of Gambia. First naming the river Gambia, the land became known as The Gambia, which the British kept when it took control in the 1800s.

The country received its independence in 1965 and kept the name.

Georgia: Land of Kartvelians

Not to be confused with the U.S. state with the same name — after an English king — Georgia's name dates back to the Persians. The name does translate into the name George, with Persians using Gorj and Turks using Gurju. (The name was in honor of Saint George.) The Russians called the land Gruzia, and by the Middle Ages, the Brits were calling it Georgia, an overwhelming consensus on the country name.

However, the ancient people of the land were Kartvelian , and the people of Georgia call their country Sakartvelo ("Land of the Kartvelians), so it may be best to forget George.

Germany: Land of the People

Germany's name steeps back to the eighth century when the people called themselves Duits Disk , a name that means " of the people ." Over time, the word transformed into Deutsch, and Deutschland became the name of the country, which is still used today.

However, it was the Romans who called the land Germania, considering it a part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806. A land of various regions, including Prussia and Bavaria, it was not until the regions became united in 1871 that Germany became the traditional name. 

Ghana: King's Land

Ghana was an ancient kingdom of Africa before Europeans began calling the land the Gold Coast, beginning with the Portuguese in 1470. A land rich in gold, the British colonized the land and kept the Gold Coast as its name.

When the land received independence in 1957 — the first British colony released — it changed its name back to Ghana, which means "king's land."

Greece: Land of the Hellas

If the Greeks had their say they would be called Hellenes and reside in the country called Hellas. The name comes from ancient tribes of descendants of Hellen, or Hellinas . When the Holy Roman Empire aimed to rid Greece of their multiple gods and took the Hellenese under their rule, they renamed them Romaeos .

Still, the Turks also had their say after the fall of Constantinople. People who referred to them as Graecus and Gracus , hailing from Graecia , the "Land of the Greeks."

Greenland: Land of the Kalaallit

You may have heard the tale that the Vikings discovered Iceland and Greenland and, in an effort to throw off other settlers, purposely gave them opposite names, calling the land of ice Greenland and the land of green Iceland.

But before the Norse settlers arrived in Greenland, the massive island's indigenous people quietly went about their business. Known as the Kalaallit , the Norse named the island Kalaallit Nunaat , "Land of the Kalaallit" — commonly used in Greenland to this day.

Grenada: Place of Pomegranates

Christopher Columbus never stepped foot on Grenada, but other Spanish explorers did during the early 16th century. The island reminded them of home, so they christened her Granada . Some mistakenly claim the island is named "pomegranate," as the Spanish word for it is granada , but Grenada's namesake is a province of Andalusia, Spain. However, it is named for the pomegranates that grow in the region.

The French eventually set up colonies on the island a century later, calling it Le Grenada . When the British arrived, the name was too ingrained to change, and thus Grenada remains its name to this day. 

Guatemala: Land of Many Trees

The natives of Guatemala, located in Central America, are said to have named the country, although there is a debate as to which word is behind the name . An Aztec version of Quauhtemallan means "lands of trees," while another is Guhatezmalha means "mountain of vomiting water."

There are plenty of trees, along with several volcanos throughout the country, so either definition works!

Guinea: Land of the Black Men

As with Equatorial Guinea, the definition of the name remains the same.

However, this land was under French control as French Guinea , only releasing it to the people in 1958.

Guinea-Bissau: Black Bissau

The land now known as Guinea-Bissau was under Portuguese rule from when the explorers discovered the islands and land in the 1400s into the 1970s.

To separate it from the other countries with similar names, it added the name of its capital city, Bissau . The port city was a Portuguese trading center, established in 1687 .

Guyana: Land of Many Waters

The native peoples of the land called Guyana were the bearers of the South American nation's name. Their word, guiana , means "lands of water," which works well due to the Amazon River making its way through part of the country.

Colonized by both the Dutch and English, who kept the name, Guyana has been independent since 1966 and is the only English-speaking country on the continent.

Haiti: Land of Mountains

The Taíno people living on the island of Hispaniola (the aforementioned "discovered" country Christopher Columbus named) called their land Haiti. Columbus' brother first built a settlement that was named Santo Domingo , so when the French colonized the other half of the island, the French name was Saint Dominique .

A slave rebellion on the island, ironically inspired by the French Revolution, ended French authority in 1803 , and the newly independent country was renamed Haiti.

Honduras: Deep Water

Christopher Columbus did not always encounter good weather when sailing around the Caribbean in search of the New World. Upon an exploration in 1502, a storm raged over the waters when Columbus found Honduras . The story goes that he uttered, " Gracias a Dios que hemos salido de estas honduras !" or "Thank God we've escaped these treacherous depths!"

He named the cape where he sought shelter Gracias a Dios and the land Honduras.

Hungary: Country of Magyars

Although the name may lead some to believe Hungary is named for Huns, it is the Magyars for whom the land is named. Existing during the time of the Huns and Turks, the Magyars existed in the Eastern European and Russian areas and were as fierce as warriors as the others.

The name descends from the word onogur , which was an alliance of 10 tribes during the fifth century. Westerners eventually added the "h."

Iceland: Ice Land

The green and fertile land that was Iceland is, as one would think by its location, often covered with ice and snow during the winter months. It is said it was Norseman Flóki Vilgeroarson who named the island Iceberg when seeing icebergs that filled a fjord.

Before Vilgeroarson, Norwegian Naddoour Ásvaldsson called it Snaeland (Snowland) after experiencing snow during the summer. The island wasn't officially named until 874. Interestingly enough, in Icelandic, Iceland means "island." 

India: Land of the Indus

The Indus River , one of the largest in Asia, had numerous names. The Greeks called it Sinthos , the Chinese called it Shendu, the Urdu called it Indus, and in Sanskrit, it was known as Sindhu for a "large body of water."

Earning its name from the river, the land beyond the Indus River was simply Indía in Greek, meaning " Indian Land ." The French called it Inde , which appears as a name in the works of William Shakespeare, but by the 17th century, it returned to India, as it remains today.

Indonesia: Indian Islands

As the islands that make up modern-day Indonesia lay beyond the Indus River, so, too, did they receive Indian Land designation by the Greeks. As they were islands, they added nésos , meaning "island," to the name. With the French calling the land Indie in following centuries, spice traders to the islands called them the East Indies . (The Caribbean islands earned the moniker the West Indies.)

Held under Dutch colonial rule until 1949, the nation dropped its Dutch East Indies name for its original Indonesia.

Iran: Land of the Aryans

The people of the kingdom once referred to as Persia were actually living in the Achaemenid Empire . Referring to themselves in names that came from the word Aryan , it meant the people who spoke an Indo-European language. (Nothing to do with the Nazi version of the word, by the way.)

One name for the Aryan included Iranshahr . It was the Romans who mistakenly called the land Persia after an area within the Achaemenid Empire. It took 1,000 years, but in 1935, the Shah of Persia asked the world to refer to it as Iran. It wasn't fully adopted until the 1970s.

Iraq: Between Two Rivers

Like Iran, the land where Iraq rests was formerly called a different name for centuries: Mesopotamia . Greek for "between two rivers," the land encompassed the Arabian land between the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers.

At one point, it fell under the Persian Empire and eventually the Ottoman's, but it was not until World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire when the country known as Iraq was created. The name comes from a mixture of Arabic words that translate back to its original name.

Ireland: Land of the Eiru

The goddess of the island we call Ireland was called Éiru. Long before Christianity swept across the isle, the people of the island believed in their sovereign and called the land Éire and themselves the Éiru .

Still, there is mention in Norse history of referring to the island as the "westland isle," or Inis na Fidbadh , but Ireland is far easier to pronounce! Éire is still in use in the country today.

Israel: He That Striveth With God

Israel's name can be found in the Old Testament when Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, was given the new name directly by God after wrestling God all night. According to Genesis 32:28 , “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

The name means "struggles, or strives with God." It did not become the State of Israel until after World War II. 

Italy: Land of Young Cattle

You would think a country that formed such a strong empire and bestowed names to various countries in the world would have a name of strength or be called Romania. But before the Roman Empire grew, the land was ripe for farms and ranches. Italia , as it is called in Italy, descends from víteliú , which means "land of young cattle." (It is the name of veal, vitello , in Italian.)

Emperor Augustus used the name for the entire peninsula we know as Italy to this day.

Jamaica: Land of Wood and Water

The indigenous people of Jamaica, the Tainos (also known as the Arawaks) called their island Xaymaca . Meaning " land of wood and water " for plentiful rainforests and rivers, Christopher Columbus sought out the island in hopes of finding gold. He never found his precious metal but did claim the land for Spain during the 1500s.

The English came along a hundred years later and took over the island, keeping its name Jamaica.

Japan: Origin of the Sun

In Japanese, the country name is Nippon or Nihon , which means " origin of the sun ." Located to the east of China, and the first to see the sunrise, the name was used by the Chinese as "land of the rising sun" or Zipang or Cipangu .

Although Marco Polo never traveled to Japan, he learned about the country, pronounced Ji-pang, through his travels to Southern China and brought the name back to the west.

Jordan: Descend to the Sea

Jordan's name comes from its river of the same name. Descending to the Dead Sea, to cross the river Jordan meant you would be entering the land that was the Kingdom of Jordan.

The river received its name from the Greeks who called it Aulon (" channel ").

Kazakhstan: Place of the Free Man

The people who live in this remote region of Asia were deemed Kazakhs by the ancient Turks. The name means "free man" or "secessionist" as the people broke away from the Uzbek khan.

In the Persian dialect, stan means "place of" making the combination the Place of the Free Man. The name was picked up by the western nations and Kazakhstan has been recognized since the 17th century.

Kenya: Mountains of Whiteness

Africa's second-highest mountain peak, Mount Kenya, earned its name from the native people who called it Kirinyaga or Kerenyaga . This name, meaning mountain of whiteness , was bestowed due to its snowcap.

When the Brits came along to colonize the land, they could not pronounce the name and instead called it Mount Kenya, as well as the land around it.

Kiribati: Gilbert Islands

Formerly called the Gilbert Islands, Kiribati was named for Thomas Gilbert , a British captain who discovered the islands. The people of the island, known as the Gilberts, pronounced it Kiribati.

When granted independence in 1979, the people decided to use their pronunciation for the country and abandoned the English version.

Korea: Goryeo Kingdom

Before Korea was divided by north and south into two countries, it was one kingdom of people who called it Goryeo . A passage along the Silk Road, Marco Polo's version of the word became Cauli . Eventually, the English took the word and made it Corea , so it's a series of transliterations that resulted in the current name. 

Today, South Korea calls itself Hanguk , which means "the country of the Han" and North Korea calls itself Joseon Democratic People’s Republic . Joseon was the name of the dynasty that ruled the region for 543 years before the Japanese colonized it in 1910.

Kuwait: The Fortress

Kuwait is derived of the Arabic word for " fort ," or kut . An apropos name as it served as a fort to protect the sheikdom existing here in the mid-1700s.

But before, it was Kuwait it was part of the Sassanid Empire of Persia and called Meshan or Mesene until the Banu Utub people arrived.

Kyrgystan: Land of 40 Tribes

The Kyrgyz for which the country is named were a large tribe of people spanning across the modern-day areas of China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, earning them the name 40 tribes.

In ancient Turk language , Kyrg means "40" and gyz means "tribe."

Laos: Kingdom of Three Laos

Laos began as the Lan Xang Kingdom, which lasted nearly 400 years. The name meant "million elephants." When the kingdom was broken into three different states , the Siamese swooped in and took control of all three and moved them into modern-day Central Thailand.

Another century nearly passed, and France fought Siam for control of the land, uniting with the kingdom and giving the people their independence as Laos.

Latvia: Home of the Forest Clearers

The land of Latvija was home to the Baltic tribe of Latgalians. The name meant " forest clearers " ( Latvis ). The Baltic tribe joined with the Germans during the medieval times but was divided by Poland and Sweden in the mid-1500s. By the 18th century, however, Russia annexed the country.

It received its independence in 1918 — short-lived as Russia claimed it again following WWII. It received its current independence in 1990.

Lebanon: White Mountain

The ancient Phoenicians, so called because of the phoinikies purple dye they made and sold, were the first to live in Lebanon.

Although the Greeks called them Phoenicians, they were a Semitic tribe of people who called themselves " Men of Sidon " and their land " Lebanon " (white mountain), due to its snow-capped mountain of the same name. It did not become a country until 1944 .

Lesotho: Land of the Sotho

A small, landlocked country in southern Africa, Lesotho was formerly called Basutoland and then baSotho, home to the Sotho .

As a kingdom, the people are close relatives to the Bantu and regained independence from Dutch and British colonization in 1966.

Liberia: Land of Freedom

Americans play a part in the creation of Liberia . Formed as a colony in 1820, the African nation served as a settlement for African American freed slaves to return their motherland and was deemed the "Land of Freedom."

Taking their cue from the United States, the people drafted their own Declaration of Independence and became a free nation.

Libya: Land of the Libu

Not to be confused with Liberia, Libya is on the opposite side of the continent and was not named for liberation. In fact, Libya is an ancient land that stretched across much of North Africa's coastline as home of the Berber tribe, also called the Libu .

It was called Libya by ancient Greeks and Romans, but it did not become a country until 1947 .

Liechtenstein: Light Stone

The small nation bordering Switzerland and Austria bears a German name. Liecht , meaning "light," and Stein , meaning "stone," Liechtenstein was the name of the family dynasty that has claimed this land since the Middle Ages.

The Holy Roman Emperor granted the title of principality in the name of Anton Florian of Liechtenstein in 1719.

Lithuania: Shoreland

Another of Europe's Baltic tribes, the Lithuanians date back to Medieval times. It is thought the name Lietuva descended from the Latin litus , which means "shore."

Located near Poland, the two territories were united and allies through most of the 1700s until Russia annexed it at the end of the century. The country did not get its independence back for nearly 200 years.

Luxembourg: Little Fortress

Another principality nestled between two European countries, Luxembourg is also a medieval land.

Named Lucilinburhuc , which means "Little Fortress," the territory began with Lucilinburhuc Castle and developed into the city and one of the world's smallest countries.

Madagascar: Great Red Island

It is said Marco Polo named the large island off the eastern coast of Africa during his travels. Although he never visited the island, Polo heard of a "great red island" and deemed it Madagascar, although the rumor is he mistook it for Mogadishu in Somalia.

The first Europeans to visit were the Portuguese, using the name they had heard it called for generations.

Malawi: Land of Flames

The ancient African Kingdom of Maravi existed in the 1400s and took its name from the sun rising over its lake.

As the lake turned red with the sun, its rays were said to look like fire rising off of it in flames, and thus began the name. Malawi translates into "fire flames," and the country's flag features a fiery red sun and lake.

Malaysia: Land of Mountains

For the mountainous islands that makeup Malaysia, not officially a country until 1963 , its name translates into the perfect descriptor. "Land of Mountains" was used by Indian traders who visited, recognizing the Titiwangsa Mountains that dissect the country. The word melayu . comes from the ancient Sanskrit.

The traders referred to the land as Malayadvipa .

Maldives: Garland of Islands

The Indian Ocean islands — nearly 1,200 of them!—are officially called Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, which is quite a mouthful.

Another Sanskrit name was used for this atoll: maladvipa , which means "garland of islands."

Mali: Hippopotamus

Some say the African land known as Mali was named for the animals roaming freely on it. Hippopotamus ( Bambara mali ) comes from the native tongue and the folklore of Mali Sadio .

The country's national animal is a hippo, as well, but some argue the name comes from the word that means "where the king resides." The Mali Empire was quite large in West Africa, and the powerful beast's name became the name of the kingdom.

Malta: Place of Refuge

Between North Africa and Europe lies an island nation that has long been a stopping point for seafarers maneuvering across the Mediterranean Sea.

The Phoenicians are credited with naming the island Maleth , meaning "refuge." It was a safe place between warring nations to trade and harbor.

Marshall Islands: Island of John Marshall

When British naval Captain John Marshall set foot on the islands in the South Pacific he gave them his name in 1788. It didn't matter tht he wasn't the first to visit or name the islands.

Micronesian sailors called them their own as well: Aelon Kein Ad . Marshall's name stuck, however, and it wasn't until 1982 they became the Republic of the Marshall Islands and an independent nation.

Mauritania: Land of the Mauri

It's the Mauri people who called the land home for which Mauritania is named. Originally an ancient kingdom, known as Mauretania, it was home to Berber and Arab tribes.

The French established colonies and took control during the mid-19th century but granted the nation its independence in 1960.

Mauritius: Land of Prince Mauritz Van Nassau

Not to be confused with Mauritania, Mauritius is an island nation that received its name from explorers. When the Dutch sought a trading route in the Indian Ocean, they found one particular land to be named for their royal family.

Prins Mauritz van Nassaueiland of the House of Nassau, son of William the Silent, became the namesake of the island kept in Dutch possession until 1710. The French and then the British eventually took control, but the island earned its independence in the 1940s.

Mexico: In the Navel of the Moon

Before there was a country, there was an Aztec city named in honor of the god of war : Mexitli. His name was a combination of metztli (moon) and xictli (navel).

Literally, it means "in the navel of the moon," but it more commonly means "child of the moon." By the time the Spanish arrived, Mexico-Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Mexica empire.

Micronesia: Small Islands

With thousands of islands, it became easier to classify them as one geographical unit. That's exactly what French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville did in 1831 when he suggested Micronesia become the name of the islands stretching from Polynesia to Melanesia. (He also classified those as well as Malasisia.)

The islands became the Federated States of Micronesia in 1979.

Moldova: Dark River

Long entwined in the Ottoman and Russian Empires, Moldova received its independence in 1991. A Slavic nation , its name comes from the language's mold, a word for spruce and fir trees and was first given to the Moldova River that runs through today's Romania. ( Ova at the end of the word is commonly used as a Slavic suffix as ownership.)

Although it may seem to indicate its name is "Land of the Trees," the dark evergreen needles often meant the river was referred to as black. (The river was called "Black Wallachia" or Valahia Neagra  in Romania.)

Monaco: Single House

A small sovereign state remains a lone wolf. Monaco's name dates back to the ancient Phocaean Greeks who colonized the area. They named the land Monoikos , which means "single or alone house."

This was meant to showcase its independence and self-reliance, which very much remains intact after nearly half a century.

Mongolia: Land of the Mongols

The largest empires in the history of the world was that held by the Mongols , a nomadic tribe that was led most famously by Genghis Khan. Expanding across most of Asia during its 1200s heyday, the empire was divided into four dynasties after Khan's death.

His grandson Kublai Khan ruled what is now China and Mongolia. The Chinese overthrew the Mongols in 1368, reducing the Khan dynasty to just Mongolia. ("Just" being nearly 1 million square miles.)

Montenegro: Land of the Black Mountain

The Slavic King of Serbia, King Milutin , called the land where Montenegro rests Crna Gora .

But with its mountain dense with forests, it was the invading Romans that christened it "Black Mountain" ( Montenegro ).

Morocco: The Furthest West

Home to the Berber tribe, the name of the largest city in the North African land flanked by both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea is Marrakesh , a word derived from Amurakuc , meaning "Sacred Land."

As the "furthest west," "Kingdom of the West" and "Kingdom where the sun sets," Morocco was a further deviation of Marrakesh, in Arabic al-Maghrib al-Aqsa . The Portuguese and Spanish translation followed by the English attempts at translating resulted in Morocco becoming the country's true name.

Mozambique: Land of Musa al Biq

The large stretch of coastal land of eastern Africa was claimed by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama , who called his "found" land Portuguese Guinea and Portuguese East Africa.

But it was an Arabian chief who lived on the island of Mozambique, derived from Arabic Mussa Bin Bique , that inspired the country's name.

Myanmar: Swift and Strong

Before it was Myanmar, the British called this land Burma (and still do, despite the country's official name). The country earned back its independence from Britain in 1989, having been called Burma by the colonists since the mid-1700s.

It was the Portuguese that bestowed the name, however, arriving before the English and calling it Birmania . The word stood for the Bama , the largest of aboriginal people. But even Bama comes from the name Myanma or Mranma , a name used in ancient periods, and the people chose to return to its original name.

Namibia: The Vast Place

Once called South West Africa (SWA), it was a professor who was instrumental in the change of Namibia's name. Professor Mburumba Kerina inspired the people of SWA to the Republic of Namib.

In 1977, South Africa conceded and agreed to annex the land made up of the vast Namib Desert, which already had its name from the Khoekhoegowab as the fitting "vast place."

Nauru: I Go to the Beach

The Oceania island Nauru, south of the Marshall Islands, was settled by people from Polynesia and Micronesia. The British were the first from the West to find the island in 1798 and called it " Pleasant Island ."

Germany annexed the island nearly 100 years later and chose to use the name of the people, calling it Nawodo or Onawero . It is said the now self-governing island's name means "I go to the beach." 

Nepal: The Country Looked After by Ne

The Hindu sage Ne, sometimes called Nemi or Ne Muni, looks over the land of Nepal, according to its people. The Sanskrit pal means "tented house," and the name Nepal indicates it is the home of Ne. 

That isn't the only theory on the country's long-established name. Another Sanskrit name, Nipalaya , means "at the foot of the mountains" while the word Nep means "cow herders" — either is a proper description of the country.

Netherlands: Lowlands

Another apropos name of a country is the Netherlands , which means "low-lying country." (Originally called Holland, the word Houtland meant "wooded land.")

One-third of the country is so low it is below sea level, and the country's highest point is just 1,000 feet above it.

New Zealand: Sealand

New Zealand was named by the Dutch explorers who discovered the islands in Oceania. Abel Tasman named it Nieuw Zeeland for a province in Holland. (New Holland was given to Australia. Zeeland is Dutch for "Sealand.")

But the Maori who lived on the islands, like many indigenous people, had their own name to their home: Aotearoa . This name means "Land of the Long White Cloud." 

Nicaragua: Land by the Water

The aboriginal people in the Central American country of Nicaragua were able to keep the name (somewhat) of their land when the Spanish explorers settled. The tribe of people around Lake Nicaragua called the land Nicarao in Nahuatl.

The Spanish added Agua (water) after discovering an abundance of lakes.

Niger: River Among Rivers

Niger's name comes from its river, known as " river among rivers ." The name comes from gher n-gheren in the native tribal Tamashek language.

The river stretches 2,600 miles and serves as a water source for the Sahara.

Nigeria: Land of the Niger River

Like Niger, Nigeria took its name from the river.

The countries share a border  as well, albeit one created during the colonial era.

North Macedonia: Land of Tall People

Macedonia was an ancient — and very large kingdom — well before the Byzantine era. In fact, Alexander the Great ruled this land. The word is also ancient, deriving from the Greek makednós , which means "tall," and makednoi , which meant to come from the mountains. Translation: Tall people from the mountains.

Long embattled with Greece as to its identity, in February 2019 , the country changed its name to the Republic of North Macedonia.

Norway: Northern Way

Norway's location in Northern Europe makes its name an easy one: It's the Northern Way. Explorers and seamen traveling the Atlantic Ocean's northernmost reaches knew of the land by its Old English name, Norpweg , which translates into "northern way" or "way leading to the north." The name has been recorded since 880.

There are contradictory claims that the name does stem from ancient Norwegian people. The Old Norse definition for "narrow inlet or channel" comes from the word nór . The country's fjords could be the result of this name.

Oman: Land of Oman

Oman's name is attributed to the sultan who lived and ruled in this East African nation long before western explorers set foot on it.

The country, which dates back to before the Portuguese colonists arrived in the 1500s, has been under the Al Bu Sa'id Dynasty since 1749.  

Pakistan: Land of the Pure

In the Urdu and Persian tongue, Pakistan means "Land of the Pure" — pak meaning "pure" and -stan a suffix to mean "place of." The name is also an acronym for the various regions, Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Indus-Sind and Baluchistan (the "-stan").

It was created to unite the regions in 1933 and the definition just happened to be a good one.

Palau: The Island Village

The Malay people who lived on these Pacific Islands referred to their name as Palau, meaning "island." An English captain was shipwrecked near the islands and uncovered the hidden treasure in the late 1700s and called it Belau . 

Spain quickly claimed the island, however, and it continued to be controlled by numerous countries until its independence in 1994 .

Panama: Abundance of Fish

The original people of Panama lived in small villages. They called their land Panama , meaning an "abundance of fish."

Times were good in a country blessed with natural resources, and before long, the Spanish came to explore and colonize it. Panama was free of Spain by 1821 and independent of Colombia by 1903.

Papua New Guinea: New Land of the Blacks

It is said Ynigo Ortiz de Retez, the Spanish explorer who came to the islands in the South Pacific, called the land Nueva Guinea based on the resemblance of the people to those he encountered in Africa. The islands experienced many European settlers claiming control, and the northern half joined with Germany by 1884 while the British held Papua.

By 1972, the combination became its own nation.

Paraguay: People Born Along the River

Named for the 1,600-mile Paraguay River that runs through the nation, Paraguay referred to the people who lived along the river.

Natives known as the Payaguas were peaceful and welcomed the Spanish explorers in the 1500s.

Peru: Land of the River

Peru's name does not come from a tribal language but instead from a tribal ruler. Known as Birú, who lived in Panama, the land known as Peru was given the name, Viceroyalty of Peru, by the Spaniards.

Another theory to the name is the Spanish met a man by the name of Berú who stood in the river, or Pelú . Asking for the name of the land, the misinterpretation resulted in Peru. Either way, after fighting for its independence from Spain in the 1800s, Peru became the Republic of Peru and has kept its name for centuries.

Philippines: Philip's Land

A ruler's name is also the meaning behind the Philippines. Spanish explorers encountering the island nation in Oceania in the 1500s named them in honor of King Philip II of Spain, deeming the land Las Felipinas .

Over the centuries, the people have considered new names for their land, but nothing has taken effect since independence was achieved in 1946.

Poland: People of the Fields

A Slavic tribe who lived near the Warta river basin was known as Polans or Polanie. The word derived from the word pole, meaning "field."

During the medieval period, Poland became a kingdom, a dynasty that lasted more than 500 years.

Portugal: Warm Port

As you may imagine with a name like Portugal, the country on the Iberian Peninsula is named for a port. Given the name Portus Cale in Latin, the name translates into " warm port. "

Cale were also known as the early settlers around the Douro River, where a warm port was offered to traders and explorers. It is said their name comes from the Greek "beautiful," which was used to describe the river. The name evolved into Portugale and then Portugal.

Qatar: Land of Rain

Qatar's name and background are a bit more fuddled as the land was home to Bedouin nomads before the 18th century. In that century, the Al Khalifah migrated into the area and created settlements and ruled the land until sheikhs took over in the 20th century.

The meaning of the name has yet to be determined. Some say it is Arabic for "raindrop" or "rain" or simply "land."

Romania: Citizens of Rome

When the Roman Empire moved through Europe, conquering lands, it deemed a large chunk of it Romanus , meaning "Citizen of the Roman Empire."

Romania , as it became, was also known as Vlachs , which was a Germanic word describing Romance-speaking people.

Russia: Land of the Rus

The Slavic people called their eastern state Rus . It is said this name actually came from the Old Norse who used it to describe "men who row."

The Greek for Rus is Rossiya , which became Russia or Russkaya Zemlya (Land of the Rus), and has been in use since the 15th century.

Rwanda: Domain

Rwanda was home to three different tribes : the Twa, Hutu and Tutsi. When Europeans arrived in the area, it was the German people who first colonized it in the late 1800s, just as the tribes had divided their land.

Rwanda, a Kinyarwanda word, means "domain," and the strife that followed between the people even after it became an independent country in 1962 included genocide that lasted into the 1990s. 

St. Kitts and Nevis: St. Christopher's and Our Lady of the Snows

The islands of St. Kitts and Nevis are an adjoined nation that both received names in passing by Christopher Columbus. The former is said to have received the former name due to its shape. The story goes that Columbus sailed by the island and felt it looked like St. Christopher carrying the Christ child, giving it the name St. Christopher. Over the course of time, the name was shortened as a nickname that stuck.

The smaller neighboring island of Nevis earned the name Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves ("Our Lady of the Snows") due to the cloud-capped mountain peak Columbus could see from his ship.

The two islands did have names before Columbus though. The people of St. Kitts called their land Liamuiga , or "fertile land." On the isle of Nevis, the Arawaks called it Dulcina , or "Sweet Island," and the Caribs called it Oualie , or "Land of Beautiful Waters."

St. Lucia: Land of Saint Lucy

A French pirate was the first foreigner to live on the island of St. Lucia, with the Dutch, English and French all claiming the island referred to by its native people as Iouanalao , "Land of the Iguanas."

The French had the most influence and named the isle for the patron St. Lucy of Syracuse . 

St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Isle of Saint Vincent

St. Vincent was not the first name bestowed upon these Caribbean islands. The first group of foreigners to arrive came from South America. These Amerindian explorers named St. Vincent Hairoun , which means "Land of the Blessed." When the Europeans arrived in the 1700s after Christopher Columbus spotted the island on his voyages, they christened it as St. Vincent for maps to follow.

The chain of small islands known as the Grenadines , of which half are included under St. Vincent and half to Grenada, get their name from Grenada.

Samoa: Sacred

The legend of Samoa passed down for generations tells of the god of the universe, Tagaloa, and his two children, Moa and Lu. Lu's son was also named Lu and was taught to put his uncle before him in everything he did.

Fleeing to Earth, he named his new home Sa-ia-Moa , which means Sacred for Moa. To this day, the Manu'a people use Moa as a name for royalty.

San Marino: Land of Saint Marinus

San Marino, the small independent state located on a mountain in Italy, was settled by Christians and Saint Marinus in the fourth century in an attempt to escape persecution.

Their little sanctuary became known as San Marino.

Sao Tome and Principe: Saint Thomas and Prince's Island

Sao Tome and Principe are two islands that joined to become one nation off the coast of West Africa. The names come from the Portuguese influence.

Sao Tome, founded in 1493, is Portuguese for Saint Thomas. Principe, founded in 1500, originally was named Santo Antao for Saint Anthony but changed its name two years later to Prince's Island ( Ilha do Principe ) because it paid its sugar taxes to the Prince of Portugal. 

Saudi Arabia: Kingdom of the House of Saud

For the Arabic nation that occupies much of the Arabian peninsula, the show of power is evident with a name taken from the Al-Saud monarchy .

The family traces its roots back to the 1700s but didn't take control of the land in 1824. Abdul Aziz bin Saud became king of Saudi Arabia in 1932, and his family continues the monarchy.

Scotland: Land of the Scots

For the Scots and the land named for them, the Romans came up with the name. The Gaels (as in Gaelic) were called Scoti/Scotti , which dates back to the fourth century.

The word wasn't meant to be a feel-good one, though, as the Romans considered the Gaels to be pirates and raiders. 

Senegal: Our Canoe

Senegal is blessed with both an Atlantic Ocean coastline and rivers flowing through its interior, so it's no wonder fishing is a way of life for many of its people. The 675-mile Senegal name is credited for bearing the country's name.

The word Senegal itself is said to come from the Wolof language's Sunu gaal , which means "our canoe." This symbol of the country has been challenged, as some claim Portuguese explorers heard the Berber people calling the river Senega , named for the Zenega people.

Serbia: Land of Serbs

The Serbs are a branch of the Slavic people of Europe. Dating back to the sxith century, the Serbs settled into areas that became known as Yugoslavia , the "Land of the South Slavs" ( Jugoslavija ).

The former country of Yugoslavia became Serbia and Montenegro in 2003, although the Serbian Empire existed long before Yugoslavia.

Seychelles: Republic of Seychelles

The name may sound like "shells" and seem the appropriate title for islands in the Indian Ocean, but the country name is a French one . Jean Moreau de Séchelles, in fact.

The Minister of Finance for King Louis XV and a Viscount received the honor of having this colonial land named for him in 1756. 

Sierra Leone: Lion Mountains

The Portuguese exploring Africa's West Coast christened Sierra Lorne during the 15th century.

Calling it Serra Lyoa ("Lion Mountains") for the mountains around the harbor, the British liked the name and kept it when they colonialized it in the late 18th century.

Singapore: Lion City

Another lion-inspired name was given to Singapore. The Malay tell the story of a Sumatran prince landing on Temasek and seeing a lion — voila! He named it Singapura as Singa means "lion" in Malay.

As Temasek , the land comes from the Javanese name for "Sea Town." This name is still prominent around Singapore, even after its 14th-century name change, but the lion remains a symbol of the small nation.

Slovakia: Land of the Slovaci

The West Slavic group of people are known as the Slovaks . During the Austria-Hungarian Empire, this minority of people were poorly treated and called the land formed as Czechoslovakia home after the 1918 Treaty of Versailles.

Taken behind the Iron Curtain, the country became an independent state in 1993.

Slovenia: Land of People Who Speak the Same Language

Like Slovakia existing as part of Czechoslovakia, the people of Slovenia suffered the same fate. United as Yugoslavia in 1945, the area was home to the South Slavic people, once again a minority to the Austria-Hungarians.

Becoming an independent country in 1918, it was forced into Yugoslavia and then the Iron Curtain before once again regaining independence in 1991.

Solomon Islands: King Soloman Islands

Spanish explorers yet again turned to Christianity to name the island archipelago in the South Pacific, this time taking the biblical King Solomon's name.

The Spanish were searching for King Solomon's gold and believed them to be in the islands they called Islas Salomón . When the country gained its independence in 1978, they changed the name to the English version.

Somalia: Land of Somali

Somalia's land dates back to Biblical times as the kingdom of Punt . This ancient and lost kingdom was known as Punt Land and the "Land of the Gods" and covered much of Cape Horn.

Over centuries, a Muslim clan known as the Somali began to occupy the coastal territory that is known as Somalia. Formed in 1960 with Somaliland and Puntland by 1998, it has remained Somalia, home to the Somali, since 2012.

South Africa: Southern Land of the Afri

Africa, as a continental name, was created by the Romans . Meaning "land of the Afri," it was meant to describe Northern Africa.

Of course, as the name spread across the land, the southern tip was rightfully called South Africa .

Spain: Land of Many Rabbits

The ancient Carthaginians provided a romantic name to the country of Spain, or Spania — it rolls right off the tongue. Yet the name is less romantic as it means "land of rabbits."

Prior to its Spanish name, it was referred to as Iberia , which is the name of the peninsula to this day. The name was so-called by its people for Iber , or "river."

Sri Lanka: Resplendent Island

The people of Sri Lanka long called the land as such — Lanka meaning "island" and Sri meaning "resplendent."

But when the colonists arrived, they labeled it Ceylon , a take of the Arabic Saheelan . The name was restored in 1972.

Sudan: Country of the Blacks

Both Sudan and South Sudan have names from the Arabic bilad as-sudan , which means "land of the blacks."

The name referred to lands south of the Sahara.

Suriname: Land of the Surinens

The Surinens who lived on the small portion of land found in northern South America had their name changed slightly by the British who colonized the land along the river, which they spelled Surinam.

Sweden: Land of the Svear

For more than 1,000 years, Sweden has remained an independent nation.

The Svear , or Suiones, occupied the land before the Romans ever stepped foot in Scandinavia. The name is derived for its people.

Switzerland: Land of the Swiss

One of the oldest countries in Europe, Switzerland called one of its cantons (or provinces) Schwyz . When it joined with the Uri and Unterwalden cantons, they became the Ewiger Bund (Eternal League).

More cantons eventually joined, and the country became Schweiz in German, meaning "strength." Switzerland is the land of the Swiss and land of the strong.

Syria: Land of the Syrians

The ancient Mesopotamia was called Assyria by Greek historian Herodotus. The Hebrews who lived in the land were often called Siryons for their soldiers in metal armor, which is one theory for the name.

Another comes from Siryon , the Siddonian name for Mount Hermon. No matter how the name began, the country has been called Syria since 63 BC.

Tajikistan: Land of the Tahiks

As with other "stan" country names, Tajikistan is a Persian name: stan means "place of" or "country." As for Tajik, those were the tribal people who lived in the land before.

The name in Persian means "person who wears a crown," with tak meaning "crown" and ik meaning "head."

Tanzania: Land of the Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Tanzania is actually a combination of two names. Originally Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the combined name came in 1964.

Zanzibar comes from the Persian Zangh Bar , which means "Negro Coast." The Swahili provided the name Tanganyika for "what is beyond Tanga," where a large tribe lived along the Indian Ocean coast.

Thailand: Land of the Tai People

Before Thailand, which received its name in 1939, it was called Siam.

A Sanskrit name meaning "dark" or "brown," Syama was a description of the natives of the land. 

Timor-Leste: Land in the East

In the Malay language, timur means "east." The Portuguese who visited then named the land Timor.

But the funny thing is leste also means "east" and was used by the Portuguese to describe the eastern side of the island, not realizing they had named it East East.

Togo: Land Behind the Lake

The people who lived "behind the lake" in Ewe were called the togodo , referring to Lake Togo.

This Western African land was discovered by Europeans during the 1500s and was used as a prime location during the slave trade. The country has had much strife in its independence with military coups and battles continue to this day.

Tonga: Island to the South

The Polynesian nation known as Tonga earned its name due to its geography.

The archipelago is the southernmost point of central Polynesia, and its Tongan name , fakatonga , means "southwards."

Trinidad and Tobago: Island of the Holy Trinity and Tobacco

Like the many islands Christopher Columbus charted, Trinidad and Tobago each had their own names from the peoples who lived on the land. For Trinidad, it was lere , "Land of the Hummingbird," an Arawak name. Columbus renamed it La Isla de la Trinidad , "the Island of the Trinity," as it was his third voyage around the Caribbean. 

For Tobago, the Caribs called it Tavaco , which was a pipe used to smoke tobacco leaves. That name did stick, just with a slight variation from Columbus.

Tunisa: Land of Tunis

The Tunis people are a branch of Berber tribes so named for the city in which they lived. Tunis was actually Tunes during ancient times and was Berber meaning "encampment" — thus the city name.

Europeans who visited adopted the name Tunisia as "Land of the Tunis."

Turkey: Land of the Turks

The Turks are one of the oldest tribes known to man, and one of the dominant during the Ottoman Empire.

The name meant "strong and powerful," which they most definitely were. Now, the country is pushing to change its international name to Turkiye.

Turkmenistan: Land of the Turkmen

Another tribe of Turks living in a different region as the result of the similarly named country. (Although the Turks of Turkey will claim they are the better and stronger of the two.)

The Persian stan for "land of" was used for this country in Central Asia.

Tuvalu: Eight Standing Together

As a collection of nine islands in Oceania, only one was inhabited by people. The name given by those people is Tuvalu , meaning "eight standing together." 

The English eventually took control and called the islands Ellice, or Lagoon, Islands, but the country has been independent since 1978.

Ugana: Land of the Ganda People

Winston Churchill called Uganda the " Pearl of Africa ," but its name simply comes from the people who lived there.

Hunters and gathers, the land was part of the Buganda kingdom and the home of the Gandan people.

Ukraine: Borderland

Bordering Russia, the Slavic nation of Ukraine literally meant just that: "borderland." It began as a definition of the land between the Kievan Rus border, but when its border met with the Polish Kingdom, Ukraina was used.

However, oukraina has been found mentioned as far back as the late 1100s and meant "outskirts."

United Arab Emirates: United Arab Kingdom

Just as the United States (coming up next), took a name that showed the uniting of its states, so, too, did the United Arab Emirates . A federation of seven emirates, or kingdoms, the country emerged in 1971.

Its seven emirates include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaywayn, Ra's al-Khaymah and Al-Furjayrah.

United States of America: United States of Amerigo

America received its name centuries before the states began to form. Named after Amerigo Vespucci who found the new continent after Christopher Columbus' Caribbean explorations, the continents in the north and south were both christened America. 

It was in 1776 that the Continental Congress replaced the name of its British colonies with United States when declaring independence. 

Uruguay: Land of Painted Birds

Taking the name of its river, Uruguay , the translation in the Guarani language means "river of painted birds."

The river, which begins in Brazil, creates a border between Argentina and Uruguay.

Uzbekistan: Land of Genuine Men

This "land of" ( stan ) refers to the Uzbeks, the largest ethnic group in the country.

That name was a Turkish name to refer to the people of Uzbekistan and stood for "genuine man" after the Mongol khan Oz Beg.

Vanuatu: Our Land Forever

The island nation of Vanuatu is one of the oldest inhabited islands in the South Pacific. The Portuguese explorers discovered the land, but it was the British's Captain James Cook who named it New Hebrides.

However, the Melanesian people finally received independence in 1980, renaming the country with the apropos "Our Land Forever."

Vatican City: Papal Palace on the Hill

The literal definition of the Latin word Vatican is "divining serpent." St. Peter's Basilica was built on a pagan site that had been called vaticanus mons , which meant "hill" or "mountain of prophecy."

As home to the Pope, this hill is now the Papal Palace. The Italians call the city-state Citta del Vaticano , but the Catholic Church calls it the Holy See.

Venezuela: Little Venice

When Amerigo Vespucci sailed along the coast of South America they saw houses built on stilts.

Reminding them of Venice, Italy, they called the land Veneziela for "Little Venice." (Venice to the Spanish is Venezia .)

Vietnam: Viets of the South

Vietnam's name was bestowed upon it by the Chinese who used the word Viet to mean "far off." The distant land was granted to Emperor Vu, who controlled China's remote countries 1000 BC.

Eventually, the land was renamed Van Lang to mean "land of the learned people." It went through several new names, with Vietnam being used for the first time in 1802. 

Wales: Land of Foreigners

Wales's word for its country is Cymru , Welsh for "fellow countrymen." Yet, its name comes from invading Anglo Saxons , who used it to mean "foreigners" — even though the Welsh were there first!

There were other Germanic names that called the people foreigners, but props to the Welsh for making their name something more positive.

Yemen: Land of Happiness

Yemen's original name was Arabia Felix , which in Latin meant "happy" or "fortunate." In Arabic "happiness" is yumn . 

The country was eventually absorbed by the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s, handed to the British in the 1800s, divided into two with two different leading rulers in the 1900s, became unified in 1990 and continues to fall under strife, so that name didn't work out so well.

Zambia: Land of the Great River

Home to the Tonga people, Zambia takes its name from its great Zambezi River , the fourth-largest in Africa. Until its independence in 1964, however, it was called Northern Rhodesia and held by South Africa and Britain since 1891.

That name and other areas of Rhodesia came from the white settlers who named "their" land after Cecil Rhodes of the British South Africa Company.

Zimbabwe: Stone Enclosure

Also part of Rhodesia, Zimbabwe earned its name in 1960. The name is a Shona word for Great Zimbabwe , an ancient city that was enclosed and protected by large stone fortifications.

Theories of the word's origin is that Shona's word dzimba meant "house," and mabwe meant "stone."

Tourism – Definition, Types & Forms, History & Importance of Tourism

Tourism is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries and a major foreign exchange and employment generation for many countries. It is one of the most remarkable economic and social phenomena.

The word ‘tour’ is derived from the Latin word tornus, meaning ‘a tool for making a circle.’ Tourism may be defined as the movement of people from their usual place of residence to another place ( with the intention to return) for a minimum period of twenty-four hours to a maximum of six months for the sole purpose of leisure and pleasure.

According to WTO (1993), ” Tourism encompasses the activities of persons traveling and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes.”

The Rome conference on tourism in 1963 defined tourism as ‘ a visit to a country other than one’s own or where one usually resides and works. This definition, however, did not take into account domestic tourism, which has become a vital money-spinner and job generator for the hospitality industry.

The UNWTO defines tourists as ‘ people who travel to and stay in place outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.

According to the Tourism Society of Britain ,” tourism is the temporary short-period movement of people to destination outside the places where they usually live, work; and activities during their stay at these destinations.” This definition includes the movement of people for all purposes.

The development of technology and transportation infrastructure, such as jumbos jets, low-cost airlines, and more accessible airports, have made tourism affordable and convenient. There have been changes in lifestyle – for example, now retiree-age people sustain tourism around the year. The sale of tourism products on the internet, besides the aggressive marketing of the tour operators and travel agencies , has also contributed to the growth of tourism.

27 September is celebrated as world tourism every year. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of UNWTO were adopted. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the role of tourism within the international community.

History of Travel and Tourism

Inbound tourism, outbound tourism, domestic tourism, forms of tourism, classification of tourism, nature of tourism, importance of tourism, economic impacts, social impacts, cultural impacts, environmental impact, industries related to tourism, tourism products.

Travel is as old as mankind on earth. At the beginning of his existence, man roamed about the planet’s surface in search of food, shelter, security, and better habitat. However, with time, such movements were transformed into wanderlust.

About five thousand years ago, climate changes, dwindling food and shelter conditions hostile invaders made the people leave their homes to seek refuge elsewhere like the Aryans left their homes in Central Asia due to climate changes. Perhaps, this leads to the development of commerce, trade, and industry.

Religion, education, and cultural movement began during the Hindu and Chinese civilizations. Christian missionaries, Buddhist monks, and others traveled far and wide carrying religious messages and returned with fantastic images and opinions about alien people.

For centuries movement of people continued to grow due to the efficiency of transport and the assistance and safety with which the people could travel. By the end of the 15th century, Italy had become Europe’s intellectual and cultural center. It represented the classical heritage both for the intelligentsia and the aristocracy.

During the 16th century, travel came to be considered an essential part of the education of every young Englishman. Travel thus became a means of self-development and education in its broadest sense. The educational travel was known as the ‘ Grand Tour .’

The industrial revolution brought about significant changes in the pattern and structure of British society. Thus, the economy of Britain was greatly responsible for the beginning of modern tourism. It also created a large and prosperous middle class. Because of remarkable improvement in transportation systems in the latter half of the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th century, an increasing number of people began to travel for pleasure.

Travel was inspired initially by the need for survival (food, shelter, and security), the desire to expand trade, and the quest to conquer. As the transportation system improved, the curiosity for transforming the vast and virgin world into a close neighborhood created a new industry, i.e., Travel and Tourism .

However, the developments of rails, roads, steamships, automobiles, and airplanes helped to spread technology across the globe. Earlier travel was a privilege only for wealthy people, but with the industrial revolution, the scenario altogether changed. Transportation, as well as accommodation, became affordable to middle and working-class citizens.

Essentially, with the development of jet travel, communication, new technology, tourism, and travel became the world’s largest and fastest-growing industry.

Travel and tourism have recently emerged as a dominant economic force on the global scene, accounting for more than 12% of total world trade and growing at 8 percent annually.

Types of Tourism

Tourism has two types and many forms based on the purpose of visit and alternative forms of tourism. Tourism can be categorized as international and domestic tourism .

Tourism has two types and various forms. Based on the movement of people, tourism is categorized into two kinds. These are the following:

International Tourism

When people visit a foreign country, it is referred to as International Tourism . To travel to a foreign country, one needs a valid passport, visa, health documents, foreign exchange, etc.

International tourism is divided into two types; Inbound Tourism & Outbound Tourism.

This refers to tourists of outside origin entering a particular country. Traveling outside their host/native country to another country is called inbound tourism for the country where they are traveling. For example, when a tourist of Indian origin travels to Japan, it is  Inbound tourism for Japan because foreign tourists come to Japan.

This refers to tourists traveling from the country of their origin to another country. When tourists travel to a foreign region, it is outbound tourism for their own country because they are going outside their country. For example, when a tourist from India travels to Japan, it is outbound tourism for India and Inbound tourism for Japan.

The tourism activity of the people within their own country is known as domestic tourism . Traveling within the same country is easier because it does not require formal travel documents and tedious formalities like compulsory health checks and foreign exchange. A traveler generally does not face many language problems or currency exchange issues in domestic tourism.

Tourism has various forms based on the purpose of the visit and alternative forms. These are further divided into many types according to their nature. Forms of tourism are the following:

Some most basic forms of tourism are the following:

• Adventure Tourism
• Atomic Tourism
• Bicycle Tours
• Beach Tourism
• Cultural Tourism
• Industrial Tourism
• Medical Tourism
• Religious Tourism
• Rural Tourism
• Sex Tourism
• Space Tourism
• Sports Tourism
• Sustainable Tourism
• Virtual Tourism
• War Tourism
• Wildlife Tourism

Tourism can be classified into six distinct categories according to the purpose of travel. These are the following:

1) Recreational : Recreational or leisure tourism takes a person away from the humdrum of everyday life. In this case, people spend their leisure time in the hills, sea beaches, etc.

2) Cultural tourism satisfies cultural and intellectual curiosity and involves visits to ancient monuments, places of historical or religious importance, etc.

3) Sports/Adventure : Trips taken by people with a view to playing golf, skiing and hiking, fall within this category.

4) Health : Under this category, people travel for medical, treatment or visit places where there are curative possibilities, for example, hot springs, spa yoga, etc.

5) Convention Tourism : It is becoming an increasingly important component of travel. People travel within a country or overseas to attend conventions relating to their business, profession, or interest.

6) Incentive Tourism : Holiday trips are offered as incentives by major companies to dealers and salesmen who achieve high targets in sales. This is a new and expanding phenomenon in tourism, These are in lieu of cash incentives or gifts, Today incentive tourism is a 3 billion dollar business in the USA alone.

Tourism as a socio-economic phenomenon comprises the activities and experiences of tourists and visitors away from their home environment and are serviced by the travel and tourism industry and host destination. The sum total of this activity experience and services can be seen as a tourism product.

The tourism system can be described in terms of supply and demand. Tourism planning should strive for a balance between demands and supply. This requires an understanding not only of market characteristics and trends but also of the planning process to meet the market needs.

Often tourists from core generating markets are identified as the demand side; the supply side includes all facilities, programs, attractions, and land uses designed and managed for the visitors. These supply-side factors may be under the control of private enterprises, non-profit organizations, and the government. New and innovative forms of partnerships are also evolving to ensure the sustainable development and management of tourism-related resources.

The supply and demand side can be seen to be linked by flows of resources such as capital, labor, goods, and tourist expenditures into the destination, and flows of marketing, promotion, tourist artifacts, and experiences from the destination back into the tourist generating region.

In addition, some tourist expenditures may leak back into the visitors generating areas through repatriation of profits of foreign tourism investors and payment for improved goods and services provided to tourists at the destination. Transportation provides an important linkage both to and from the destination.

For planning purposes, the major components that comprise the supply side are:

• Various modes of transportation and other tourism-related infrastructure.
• Tourist information.
• Marketing and promotion.
• The community of communities within the visitor’s destination area.
• The political and institutional frameworks for enabling tourism.

The tourism system is both dynamic and complex due to many factors linked to it and because of the existence of many sectors contributing to its success. These factors and sectors are linked to the provision of the tourist experience and the generation of tourism revenue and markets .

The dynamic nature of the tourism system makes it imperative to scan the external and internal environment of the destinations on a regular basis so as to make changes when necessary to ensure a healthy and viable tourism industry.

Thus, it is now an accepted fact that tourism development can no longer work in isolation of the environment and the local communities, nor can it ignore the social and cultural consequences of tourism.

Tourism and hospitality , which are inextricably linked to each other, are among the major revenue-earning enterprises in the world. They happen to be among the top employers too. There has been an upmarket trend in tourism over the last few decades as travel has become quite common. People travel for business, vacation, pleasure, adventure, or even medical treatments.

Tourism constitutes an important industry today. It has opened up new vistas for the play of economic emancipation. It provides a very potent contribution by strengthening and developing the financial resources of a country. Moreover, it is a process in which mutual material and mental benefits occur. Furthermore,

• Tourism fetches foreign exchange in the form of invisible exports, which results in the manifold progress of the nation.
• Tourism generates jobs. These employments are the main contribution of tourism to generating national income. But one should remember that employment in the tourism industry is often seasonal.
• Tourism often leads to the commercialization of art forms and especially handicrafts. Art items with cultural or religious meaning are sought by tourists as souvenirs. As more and more tourists visit a destination, souvenir production has increased, often leading to mass production. This production also generates income.

With several business-related activities associated with tourism, the industry has a tremendous potential to generate employment as well as earn foreign exchange. Many countries, such as Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, and the Caribbean, whose economies are primarily driven by tourism. Tourism can contribute to the economic growth of a country in the followings ways:

Employment Generation

It creates a large number of jobs among direct services providers (such as hotels , restaurants, travel agencies , tour operators , guide and tour escorts, etc.) and among indirect services providers (such as suppliers to the hotels and restaurants, supplementary accommodation, etc.)

Infrastructure Development

Tourism spurs infrastructure development. In order to become an important commercial or pleasure destination, any location would require all the necessary infrastructure, like good connectivity via rail, road, and air transport , adequate accommodation, restaurants, a well-developed telecommunication network, and, medical facilities, among others.

Foreign Exchange

The people who travel to other countries spend a large amount of money on accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, etc. Thus, an inbound tourist is an important source of foreign exchange for any country.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) predict in 1997 that the twenty-first-century economy would be dominated by three industries: telecommunications, information technology, and tourism. The travel and tourism industry has grown by 500 percent in the last 25 years.

Now withstanding this bright outlook and prospects, the tourism and hospitality industries are very vulnerable to the fluctuations of national economies and happenings in the world, especially terrorist attacks that have at times dealt severe blows to business.

In recent years, there have been a few setbacks in tourism, such as the terrorist siege of the Taj and Oberoi in Mumbai, India (26 November 2008); the attack on the World Trade Centre in the United States of America (11 September 2001); bombing in a hotel on the Indonesian island of Bali (12 October 2002); tsunami in Southeast Asia and South Asia on 26 December 2004, in which thousands of the lives where lost and consequently tourism was hit. Nonetheless, the sector is now getting back to business.

Impacts of Tourism

Tourism is a multi-dimensional activity. The scope of tourism activities is so wide and varied that it cannot be restricted to any particular field of activity. Tourism has ramifications in almost all sectors and is influenced by the performance of each of these sectors directly or indirectly. Tourism in any country can be an apt reflection of the nation’s economic and social endowment apart from its natural wealth.

Tourism has vast potential to bring about changes in the country’s economic, environmental, societal, and cultural edifice. Tourism has two basics: the supply of facilities and the demand for participation. The twin market forces of supply and demand interact to produce tourism patterns. These patterns are associated with economic, social, cultural, environmental, and ecological impacts.

Establishing or developing a tourism industry involves expenditure, gains, costs, and benefits. If these impacts are considered from the outset of planning, strengths and opportunities can be maximized while weaknesses and threats can be minimized.

Each destination will be different in terms of tourism characteristics . The cost and benefits of tourism will vary in each destination and can change over time, depending on tourism and other activities in a destination’s local and regional context.

Tourism activities impact the economy of the country as well as the local economy of the destination.

Economics Benefits

• Tourism generates local employment, directly in the tourism sector and in the support and resource management sectors.
• Tourism stimulates profitable domestic industries, hotels and other lodging facilities, restaurants and food services, transportation systems, handicrafts, and guide services.
• Tourism generates foreign exchange for the country and injects capital and new money into the local economy.
• Tourism helps to diversify the local economy.
• Improved tourism infrastructure.
• Increase tax revenues from tourism.

Economic Costs

• Higher demand created by tourism activity may increase the price of land, housing, and a range of commodities necessary for daily life.
• Demands for health services provision and police service increase during the tourist seasons at the expense of the local tax base.

Tourism also affects the society of the destination in good as well as bad ways. It benefits and costs the local communities.

Social Benefits

• The quality of a community can be enhanced by economic diversification through tourism.
• Recreational and cultural facilities created for tourism can be used by local communities as well as domestic/international visitors.
• Public space may be developed and enhanced through tourism activity.
• Tourism Enhances the local community’s esteem and provides an opportunity for greater understanding and communication among people of diverse backgrounds.

Social Costs

• Rapid tourism growth can result in the inability of local amenities and institutions to meet service demands.
• Without proper planning and management, litter, vandalism, and crime often accompany tourism development.
• Tourism can bring overcrowding and traffic congestion.
• Visitors bring with them material wealth and apparent freedom. The youths of the host community are particularly susceptible to the economic expectations these tourists bring which can result in complete disruption of traditional community ways of life.
• The community structure may change, e.g. community bonds, demographics, and institutions.
• The authenticity of the social and cultural environment can be changed to meet tourism demands.

Tourism activities also affect the culture of the host country. There are many positive and negative cultural impacts of tourism.

Cultural Benefits

• Tourism can enhance local cultural awareness.
• Tourism can generate revenue to help pay for the preservation of archaeological sites, historic buildings, and districts.
• Despite criticism about the alteration of cultures to unacceptable levels, the sharing of cultural knowledge and experience can be beneficial for hosts and guests of tourism destinations and can result in the revival of local traditions and crafts.

Cultural Costs

• Youth in the community begin to emulate the speech and attire of tourists.
• Historic sites can be damaged through tourism development and pressures.
• There can be long-term damage to cultural traditions and the erosion of cultural values, resulting in cultural change beyond a level acceptable to the host destination.

Tourism impacts the environment in positive as well as negative ways. These impacts are following below.

Environmental Benefits

• Parks and nature preserves may be created and ecological preservation supported as a necessity for nature-based tourism.
• Improved waste management can be achieved.
• Increased awareness and concern for the environment can result from nature-based tourism activities and development.

Environmental Costs

• A negative change in the physical integrity of the area.
• Rapid development, over-development, and overcrowding can forever change the physical environment and ecosystems of an area.
• Degradation of parks and preserves.

Over the years, tourism has become a popular global activity. Depending upon the nature and purpose of their travel, tourists, need and demand certain facilities and services. This has given rise to a wide range of commercial activities that have acquired industry proportions. Thus travel and tourism nowadays represent a broad range of related industries.

Hotels are a commercial establishment that provides accommodation, meals, and other guest services. In the travel and tourism industry, the hotel industry plays a very significant role, as all tourists need a place to stay at their destinations, and require many more services and facilities to suit their specific needs and tastes.

Restaurants

Restaurants are retail establishments that serve prepared food and beverages to customers. In the travel and tourism industry, restaurants and other food and beverage outlets are very important as tourists like to experiment with the local cuisines of the places they are visiting.

Retail and Shopping

The retail industry is very important as tourists shop for their day-to-day necessities as well as look for mementos and souvenirs. In recent years, some cities in the world have been promoted as shopping destinations to attract people with a penchant for shopping by offering various products, such as garments, electronic goods, jewelry, and antiques. New York, Paris, London, and Milan in Italy are famous as fashion havens of the world.

Transportation

It is the movement of people and goods from one place to another. A well-developed transport industry, as well as infrastructure, is integral to the success of any travel and tourism enterprise.

Travel Agencies

A travel agency is a retailing business that sells travel-related products and services, particularly package tours, to customers on the behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise liners, hotels, railways, and sightseeing.

Travel agencies play a very important role as they plan out the itinerary of their clients and make the necessary arrangements for their travel, stay, and sightseeing, besides facilitating their passport, visa, etc.

Tour Operators

A tour operator assembles the various elements of a tour. It typically combines tour and travel components to create a holiday. Tour operators play an important role in the travel and tourism industry.

Tourist Destinations

A tourist attraction is a place of interest for tourists, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, nature or building beauty or amusement opportunities. These are the basic fundamentals of the tourism industry.

Cultural Industries

Cultural or creative industries are responsible for the creation, production, and distribution of goods and services that are cultural in nature and usually protected by intellectual property rights. As tourists like to visit places of cultural significance and soak in the culture of the area, the cultural industry is very important to travel and tourism.

Leisure, Recreation, and Sport

Leisure or free time is a period of time spent out of work and essential domestic activity. Recreation or fun is spending time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of the body or mind. While leisure is more like a form of entertainment or rest, recreation requires active participation in a refreshing and diverting manner.

As people in the world’s wealthier regions lead an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, the need for recreation has increased. These play a significant role in the travel and tourism sector.

A tourism/tourist product can be defined as the sum of the physical and psychological satisfaction it provides to tourists, during their ‘traveling and sojourn’ en route at the destinations.

Since the travel and tourism industry is an agglomeration of too many sectors that promote travel-related services. These sectors are referred to as travel vendors and their services and goods are called ‘travel products’. A tourism product includes five main components such as physical plant, services, hospitality, freedom of choice, and a sense of involvement.

Thus, whatever the natural and man-made resources and services brought about the consumption of tourists are called tourism products .

Charecterstatics Of Tourism Products

By now, you must have understood what a tourism product is. Now let us look at some of its characteristics:-

1) Intangible : Tourism is an intangible product means tourism is such a kind of product that can not be touched or seen and there is no transfer of ownership, But the facilities are available for a specified time and for a specified use. For e.g. a room in the hotel is available for a specified time.

2) Psychological : The main motive to purchase a tourism products is to satisfy the psychological need after using the product, by getting an experience while interacting with a new environment. And experiences also motivate others to purchase that product.

3) Highly Perishable : Tourism product is highly perishable in nature means one can not store the product for a long time. Production and consumption take place while a tourist is available. If the product remains unused, the chances are lost i.e. if tourists do not purchase it.

A travel agent or tour operator who sells a tourism product cannot store it. Production can only take place if the customer is actually present. And once consumption begins, it cannot be stopped, interrupted, or modified. If the product remains unused, the chances are lost i.e. if tourists do not visit a particular place, the opportunity at that time is lost. It is due to tourism reason that heavy discount is offered by hotels and transport-generating organizations during the offseason.

4) Composite Product : Tourist product is a combination of different products. It has not a single entity in itself. In the experience of a visit to a particular place, various service providers contribute like transportation The tourist product cannot be provided by a single enterprise, unlike a manufactured product.

The tourist product covers the complete experience of a visit to a particular place. And many providers contribute to the tourism experience. For instance, the airline supplies seats, a hotel provides rooms and restaurants, travel agents make bookings for stay and sightseeing, etc.

5) Unstable Demand : Tourism demand is influenced by seasonal, economic political, and other factors. There are certain times of the year that see greater demand than others. At these times there is a greater strain on services like hotel bookings, employment, the transport system, etc.

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Definition of visit verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• My parents are coming to visit me next week.
• to visit friends/family
• It looks like a lovely place to visit.
• to visit a country/city/town
• to visit a museum/shrine
• to visit a hospital/an office
• to visit a home/house
• She went to visit relatives in Wales.
• The Prime Minister is visiting Japan at the moment.
• You should visit your dentist at least twice a year.
• This is an area rarely visited by Europeans.
• I first visited New York in 1991.
• He is planning to visit China later this month.
• The best time to visit is during the winter dry season.
• A million people are expected to visit the museum over the next 12 months.
• We've just been to visit my grandparents.
• Be sure to visit us next time you're in London.
• I visited her in hospital.
• Jason invited us to visit his ranch.
• Next time you visit the States you'll have to come and see us.
• She's gone to visit her mother in Texas.
• The President will be visiting six European capitals.
• The shops are a major reason for visiting the city.
• The president recently visited Athens.
• She regularly visits the cemetery to tend the grave of her son.

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• For more information, visit our website .
• to visit a site/page
• search engine
• unsubscribe
• We don't live here. We're just visiting.
• visit something Ships visit the island occasionally.
• The lake is also visited by seals in the summer.
• Government inspectors are visiting schools in the area.
• Council officers will be visiting premises to inspect safety arrangements.

Other results

• courtesy visit
• visit with somebody
• visit something on somebody/something
• visit something upon somebody/something

Nearby words

• Hispanoamérica
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Why Do We Travel?

• Written by Nicolás Valencia
• Published on September 13, 2019

Everyone wants to travel the world, whether it's to meet new people, taste new food, or visit new places. Travel is consequently an extremely lucrative industry, but tourist destinations are getting more crowded than ever and associated pollution emissions are only worsening the climate emergency .

Why do we travel? In this edition of Editor's Talk , four editors from ArchDaily based in Lebanon, the United States, and Chile share their thoughts on the meaning of travel, and why tourists enjoying a beach in a location like Brazil should also care about the cities they visit.

Nicolas Valencia: Travel was June's Monthly Topic . Back then we published articles about architecture guides and travel-related typologies, but we didn't talk about the experience of traveling. What does travel mean to you?

Dima Stouhi : I was born and raised in Lebanon, but I'm moving to Switzerland next month. This will be the first time that I experience living abroad. Because Lebanon is so different from any other country, traveling is incredibly important for me to see how other people live and what other cultures are like.

Eric Baldwin: I often introduce myself by saying that I’m a farm kid from rural Iowa. My idea of the world, including different cultures and ways of working, was limited for much of my youth. In college, that worldview expanded greatly. I was able to study and travel around the world, in places like China, Italy, and Greece. I believe that context is everything; travel is one way to expand your context.

Christele Harrouk : I was born in Beirut too, coming from French roots, so It was always easier for me to travel, and it was always an option for me to live abroad. Nevertheless, I never opted for this choice: I did spend a couple of months here and there, but to me, the notion of home was more important. Traveling has opened my eyes to what this world holds, and it has also made me better appreciate what I had and took for granted.

Nicolas Valencia:  But it's still a luxury nowadays.

Eric Baldwin:  Travel has been priceless to me, but it’s also become terribly destructive to our environment. In many ways, it is a luxury. As Greta Thunberg showed when sailing across the Atlantic on a zero-emissions yacht, we have to come up with better ways to travel. Our current conditions are becoming more and more unsustainable.

Dima Stouhi:  Traveling is definitely a luxury now. Especially for people who need visas to travel, like me.

If you travel, you are a loser

Nicolas Valencia: In June we published an article titled The Age of Travel is Over . The author says that "if you travel to earn your living, you are a loser. If you travel to see places, or to learn, you are an enemy of the planet."

Eric Baldwin: I think it was meant to be a sort of provocation. Travel is still so important, but that doesn't mean there aren't better ways to travel. Or that we shouldn't continue to imagine new modes of connection that bring us together and expand our context without harming the environment.

Christele Harrouk:  Traveling is a pure form of learning, possibly the most genuine way of getting information, but I always go back to the idea that if you don't do anything with these experiences, they become useless and the whole process becomes futile in a way. The more I meet people, the more I discover that a lot of them, who pretend to roam the globe, are so closed into themselves.

Dima Stouhi:  The idea of traveling is different now. People want to travel to show everyone that they traveled or just for the sake of traveling. There isn't much thought to what they harm along the way.

Nicolas Valencia:  Dima has a point. Traveling has become a sort of meta-traveling:  visit  a place to say you visited a place.  I'm very critical of those who don't learn anything from traveling, but then, I think, "Why should they experience it the same way I do?"

Dima Stouhi:  That's the thing, it's a matter of perspective. I doubt that people "never learn" from traveling. Regardless of how different each individual is, at least one experience, building, or even meal is going to get stuck in their head. It's just a matter of what people are paying attention to while traveling.

Eric Baldwin:  We travel to work, to discover, to connect with family or friends, to get the perfect Instagram post, to escape. As long as we continue to question why, and whether we are doing so responsibly, I think travel will continue to have meaning. Beyond location, I think being a "good" vs. a "bad" tourist is part responsibility and part perspective. If you travel to escape your daily life and enjoy a beach in Brazil, but you don’t care to learn about the city, people, or culture you visit, is that inherently bad? Again, it’s a matter of context.

Cities for rich tourists

Nicolas Valencia: Bloomberg published a chart on Instagram a few days ago explaining that "tourist destinations are only going to get more crowded," especially in Europe. We recently saw Venice ban large cruises from its historical center . How do we think other cities are going to deal with tourism?

Dima Stouhi:  I support Venice's decision. I went to Vatican City last year in August. I remember at one point I just wanted to leave because of how crowded it was. We couldn't even stop for one second to look around us. There was no place to stand in the Sistine Chapel. It's sad.

Eric Baldwin:  It’s a tricky thing. It’s tied to preservation: when does saving something relegate it to becoming frozen, functionless scenery? Again, I go back to context. What does tourism give to a city, and what does it take away? Does heritage have a part to play? No city remains the same, and in turn, tourism and travel have to change too.

Dima Stouhi:  But Eric, the way we see it, preservation comes first because we know and appreciate the value of historical sites. The majority of people don't.

Eric Baldwin:  I question the value of historical sites. How do we measure relevance or heritage? Why are the pyramids worth preserving? It’s a question — and battle — of values and those things that define us. In turn, it’s directly related to why we travel.

Nicolas Valencia:  Countries such as Spain rely strongly on tourism — the industry accounts for around 13% of its GDP. It's hard to regulate if your city's economy relies so strongly on tourism. Anyway, I'd assume that restricting access to tourists will eventually punish middle-class tourists. 

Christele Harrouk:  Well, I'm not sure about this. Maybe not restrict accesses but make them more organized.

Dima Stouhi:  I don't believe that increasing prices and limiting access to rich tourists is the way to solve it. I think it's like what Christele said: it's how governments organize it that might make a difference.

Christele Harrouk:  This is the responsibility of the cities: they have to advertise different areas. It's not difficult, but they just don't take the initiative. Changes in marketing strategies can indirectly reduce the concentration of tourists in one place and divide it into many regions, making new areas grow and develop as well.

Nicolas Valencia:  If I'm going to Venice, I'm going to visit downtown, not a peripheral neighborhood.

Christele Harrouk:  But if there is a Zaha Hadid building in the periphery, you will go there, and spend less time downtown.

I Love City Branding

Nicolas Valencia:  We have been talking about Europe, but what about Latin America? Africa? Asia? Have you visited these regions?

Dima Stouhi:  Dream destinations, big budgets!

Nicolas Valencia:  In Latin America, we are more interested in visiting Europe and the US, rather than our own region. This is despite the fact that airfare has plummeted in this region, so it's cheaper than ever to travel across Latin America.

Christele Harrouk:  This may be global, but don't you think this is where city branding comes in hand?

Nicolas Valencia:  Sure, city branding defines what we think about them. But one thing that freaks me out about traveling is that after spending a week abroad, people think they gain a certain power to explain what a whole country is like. We each have different backgrounds of emotions, ideas, and expectations, so a gay man visiting a city after breaking up might have a totally different experience from a heterosexual woman who meets a guy in that same city. Each person's visions of the same city are completely unique, which means these narratives can't be universal.. 

Dima Stouhi:  I think these assumptions are a normal human reaction. Whatever is different from what they usually see, they pin-point it as if it were a flaw..

Eric Baldwin:  I think that's a very hard thing to change. You inherently have more perspective than someone who has never been there, but at the same time, you have an inherently limited understanding as well. I think the after-visit stereotypes will continue to happen, as Identity is always tied to travel and context. How that context is shaped happens in a myriad of ways, and defines who we are.

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[ viz -it ]

verb (used with object)

to visit a friend; to visit clients; to visit Paris.

• to stay with as a guest.

to visit a church for prayer.

a general visiting his troops.

to visit the sick.

The plague visited London in 1665.

to visit him with sorrows.

• to access, as a website.
• to inflict, as punishment, vengeance, etc. (often followed by on or upon ).

verb (used without object)

• to make a visit.

to visit on the phone with a friend.

• to inflict punishment.

a nice, long visit.

We had a good visit on the way back from the grocery store.

• a call paid to a person, family, etc.
• a stay or sojourn as a guest.
• an official inspection or examination.

the right of visit and search.

• to go or come to see (a person, place, etc)
• to stay with (someone) as a guest
• to go or come to (an institution, place, etc) for the purpose of inspecting or examining
• tr (of a disease, disaster, etc) to assail; afflict

the judge visited his full anger upon the defendant

• archaic. trusually foll bywith to afflict or plague (with punishment, etc)
• informal. often foll by with to chat or converse (with someone)
• the act or an instance of visiting
• a stay as a guest
• a professional or official call
• a formal call for the purpose of inspection or examination

the right of visit and search

• informal. a friendly talk or chat

Derived Forms

• ˈvisitable , adjective

Other Words From

• inter·visit verb (used without object)
• non·visit·ing adjective
• pre·visit noun verb
• re·visit verb noun
• un·visit·ed adjective
• un·visit·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of visit 1

Idioms and Phrases

Example sentences.

“Time Capsule” walks users through a linear experience with between 45 and 60 minutes of content, but it sounds like it’s also designed to support further exploration and additional visits.

A visit to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is just 23 miles west.

The agency has since extended its agreement with contractor Allied Universal through the end 2021 to allow MTS’s new security director to play a greater role in the process, and to conduct visits now complicated by coronavirus restrictions.

Bregman said that visits with his brother in their younger years meant tagging along with him to medical emergencies.

Only companies that understand what makes a customer satisfied will be the ones able to implement an effective customer experience strategy that will make the visit worth repeating.

You will have your beloved father back sooner than you think, and you can visit and communicate with him all the while.

He hasn't bothered to visit Iguala, the place where the students were abducted and killed.

From his purview, our visit and interest had brought excitement to him and his peers.

On May 9, which Moscow commemorates as World War II “Victory Day,” Klaus paid a highly visible visit to the Russian Embassy.

Both Prados have enough magic that, after you visit them, the whole world feels like their gift shop for a few hours.

When the women came, he was preparing to go to the west side for his daily visit with Mrs. Pruitt.

M'Bongo, the great chief of this neighbourhood, paid a ceremonial visit to my husband.

Levee: a ceremonious visit received by a distinguished person in the morning.

I really ought to visit my California estates, and I have always wanted to see that part of America.

In the spring of 1868 he was taken by his mother for a visit to England, and there, in the same year, his sister was born.

Related Words

• appointment

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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More results

• visit something on somebody/something
• return visit
• conjugal visit
• a flying visit
• courtesy visit/call
• pay (somebody) a call/visit
• fact-finding trip/visit/mission etc

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of visit in English

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• I want to buy a little something to give to Val when I visit her in the hospital .
• There are several places of interest to visit in the area .
• I've never been to Kenya, but I hope to visit it next year .
• I have clear memories of visiting my grandfather's farm as a child .
• He picked up malaria when he was visiting the country on business .
• beard the lion (in his/her den) idiom
• call (in) on someone
• happen along/by (somewhere)
• on your rounds idiom
• state visit
• stomping ground

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Phrasal verbs

• They received a visit from the police .
• My uncle paid us a surprise visit yesterday .
• He gave a talk about his visit to America .
• The schedule for our trip to Paris includes visits to Notre Dame , the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
• The president's official visit marks the start of a more relaxed relationship between the two countries .

visit | Intermediate English

Examples of visit, collocations with visit.

These are words often used in combination with visit .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of visit

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out of harm's way

in a position that is safe from harm or from which harm cannot be done

Trial, judge, and jury: talking about what happens when a criminal is caught

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