Tourism is travel for recreational or leisure purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places 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". Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2007, there were over 903 million international tourist arrivals, with a growth of 6.6% as compared to 2006. International tourist receipts were USD 856 billion in 2007.
Despite the uncertainties in the global economy, international tourist arrivals during the first four months of 2008 followed a similar growth trend than the same period in 2007. However, as a result of the economic crisis of 2008, international travel demand suffered a strong slowdown beginning in June 2008, with growth in international tourism arrivals worldwide falling to 2% during the boreal summer months, while growth from January to April 2008 had reached an average 5.7% compared to its 2007 level. Growth from 2006 to 2007 was only 3.7%, as total international tourism arrivals from January to August were 641 million tourists, up from 618 million in the same period in 2007.
Tourism is vital for many countries such as U.A.E, Egypt, Greece, Thailand and many island nations such as The Bahamas, Fiji, Maldives, Seychelles due to the large intake of money for businesses with their goods and services and the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services such as cruise ships and taxis, accommodation such as hotels and entertainment venues, and other hospitality industry services such as resorts.
And just to get some creativity flowin', we will automatically disqualify Michael Jackson and Paris Hilton.
What do you think?
OK good answers so far but then i'll give two story's from the Bible.one is Elijah being taken up in a firey chariot and the other is at the start of ...
one night i seen a space ship hovering it looked like a big cube. it was trying to be invisible but i caught the reflection from glass window. then 10...
I'll be in Italy in December, going to Rome and Florence. Am thinking of making a trip to San Marino from Florence, before going to Geneva. Any idea w...
What is the significance of the Florence cathedral/dome on the florence cathedral? What did it mean to the community of Florence? What were some imp...
How does one get from the cruise port of Livorno, Italy to Florence, Italy inexpensively and quickly. Can one take a train? I don't want to pay the ...
Did the rapid creation of wealth in Florence contribute to the burst of activity in the arts? Explain your answer.
I'd much prefer to hear from first mothers, or others who have done extensive research on this. A friend told me that she is going to work for a Fl...
I would prefer places which have ample scenic beauty and are not very crowded. I am planning to visit Florence in mid december.
I'm coming to Buenos Aires next week. I know it's a winter time in there, so how do people dress at this time of year in Buenos Aires? Does anyone wea...
I need some good websites where I can get alot of info about Buenos Aires. Im researching things about its: history of country/region, enconmic politi...
I'll be spending two months in Buenos Aires. Can anyone tell me what the weather is like? How cold does Buenos Aires' winters compare to California's?...
I am planning on going to Argentina for 2 weeks and planning on spending about 5 days in Buenos Aires, then going to Iguazu Falls for 2 days. We are ...
Is it possible to move to Buenos Aires with only English given that we are not planning to work or have business there?
A few buddies and I are traveling to Buenos Aires from the States for a few days, and we are planning things wed like to do down there. One thing I w...
I am taking a trip to Bangkok, Thailand in August and planning to do a lot of shopping. I am not interested in the regular malls because I can find t...
I am planning an overland journey starting in Bangkok to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and ending up Ho Chi Minh City. My hope is to do the trip in 7 days w...
I am looking for a place to rent and I need to be able to get to Minburi AND central Bangkok (or at least a short five minute taxi ride to Sky Train/U...
My flight leaves from Brisbane at 11:59 pm Sunday EST and is due to arrive at Bangkok International at about 6 am Bangkok time. With all the protests ...
Can someone also give us what to do in Bangkok as this is our first time.We shall be with 2 kids aged 8 and 6 so what tourist spots would interest the...
Since I am moving to Bangkok to work from July, I would like to know the minimum expenses I need to live in BKK per month, including housing, transpor...
Rome was an extremely sophisticated society. Do you believe that the fall of Rome was a set back in the development of future societies?
What factors allowed Julius Ceasar to seize control of Rome and expand its control? And do you feel that this factored into the collapse? Can you see ...
im a college kid going to rome planning expenses, so how much is the average drink in rome? are they expensive or cheap?
Me and my friend are planning yo visit Rome this summer, but haven't chosen a month yet... Can you advice us something. And (don't take as an offence...
How did the old the fall of Rome and occupation of Germanic tribes contribute to the change of europe and the establishment of feudalism? Thanks in...
What was the relationship between rome and the barbarians during medieval times?
Obviously I've inhaled some dust from the Sydney dust storm and I keep coughing. I've tried tea, have been drinking water all morning but nothing has ...
I would like to have a nice pot near my front door but the problem is that it doesn't get a lot of sun, if any at all. I could move the pot to be in ...
I suppose I could just e-mail Sydney, KY and ask that way, but it's much more fun to ask like this. I hope God is looking after Sydney, KY, and I hop...
I have just graduated from teaching and I have had trouble getting casual work. I am looking to work in special schools across Sydney. I have had expe...
I'm Italian 21 years old girl. I'm planning moving to NSW with my australian boyfriend. I'm a viola student and I want to study in a conservatory in N...
Say beer in a typical pub in sydney. Also what size would you get for that compared to the average 'pint' you get here in England?
I'm gonna be planning a trip to New York pretty soon here, any suggestions on fun things to do? Or any good stores to shop?
New York is a hectic place. People in New York work long hours, live near many different types of people, and don't usually live near nature, or in q...
The New York Times applies an effect to portraits featured in the newspaper. How could I replicate it inside Photoshop? Or, if the Times uses a specia...
My husband and I are planning a trip to New York City some time soon and I want to know is a list of the MUST DO's while visiting New York and some of...
I would like the know the starting salary for a prosecutor in New York City. I like to watch Law & Order on tv and I know life isn't like tv. I pl...
I was on the New York Times site and they showed a New York and national version of the paper. What's the difference?
K...I'm doing a project on India and i need ALOT of information!!!! First...I need to find 2 VERY important people that helped or made a diffrence in ...
India could get a place in corrupt countries and this is shameful. Therefore, time has come when people of India must think of methods through which ...
A population of over 1 billion and a lot of its citizens are hard working and talented people. But somehow beating Australia still remains a near ...
I am doing the project on India so I need references and if possible please give me at least 5 web-pages. I already got 2 so you need to help me find ...
Also, if you happen to know any other major things that were affected by the British colonization in India, that would be nice.
I need to interview someone about an event in india's history. I need learn things like how the person felt and stuff. What are some events in India's...
What can I do with my family around San FRancisco at Christmas time? It's our second trip there, so we've done all the touristy things - Alcatraz, Na...
I am a freshman at san francisco state university and my major is biochemistry. what are the requirements to transfer from san francisco state univers...
What San Francisco Schools give students laptops to use during the year in school and to take home? Not Universities, but Elementary, Middle or High S...
have lived in San Francisco so long that i have took it for granted and dont understand what makes it so special Why should i consider myslelf lucky...
I am a 16 year old teen living in San Francisco looking to learn how to play the piano during the summer. I am looking for a place to take a class or...
I need to get from San Jose to north SF by 9:30 AM on a Sunday, and won't be able to drive there. Unfortunately, the earliest Caltrain on Sunday doesn...
I am a 19 yr old female and I am going to Cape Town, in about two weeks, to teach. I am going alone and I will be there for 6 weeks. I leave May 5th. ...
Can any one tell me what the difference is now between the two places. I have heard that the humidity is also very high in Cape Town. I believe there ...
I am actually from Cape Town. I've been living in Australia since I was 5 but I fly back for holidays regularly. I haven't been back for 2 years thoug...
How long does it take to travel by road from Johannesbourg to cape town? And what are the best sight seeing joints in Johannesbourg?
I am trying to find a good, safe place to stay in Cape Town for 2 weeks. This will be my first time in South Africa (flying from London). Any advice...
I am going to Cape Town and a family member tells me i have to go to this restaurant but didnt remember the name. If anyone does know this place, wou...