tourism

American  

[toor-iz-uhm] / ˈtʊər ɪz əm /

noun

1. the activity or practice of touring, especially for pleasure.

2. the business or industry of providing information, accommodations, transportation, and other services to tourists.

3. the promotion of tourist travel, especially for commercial purposes.

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tourism British  

/ ˈtʊərɪzəm /

noun

1. tourist travel and the services connected with it, esp when regarded as an industry

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Etymology

Origin of tourism

First recorded in 1805–15; tour + -ism

Explanation

Tourism is the travel business — it caters to people who are visiting a place. Tourism turns a destination into a vacation spot. Tourism is also a word for the act of traveling, especially abroad. Fanny packs are not required. If you’re visiting a new place, stop by the office of tourism and they’ll give you the lowdown on the local hotspots. If you’ve visited somewhere because it has beautiful sights, great museums, or interesting history, you were a tourist. Tourism is the business that makes money from tourists. As the word implies, tourism often involves actual tours, which could be on foot, in a bus, or even on the back of a llama.

Example Sentences

"Tourism isn't just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people's physical and mental health," Ms. Hu added.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

"Tourism relies on people's disposable income," he explains.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress needed about 93,000 signatures to qualify the referendum for the ballot, but fell short by about 9,000, according to the city clerk.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Tourism in Cuba previously flourished somewhat thanks to a diplomatic rapprochement between Havana's communist government and former US president Barack Obama.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

Tourism goes back a long way on Mount Washington.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• travel