There are two ways we can look at this activity.

One is visiting some place for a reason and then go

as a tourist or you can directly go as a tourist.
You already know that tourism is an activity done
by an individual or a group, moving from one place
to another, from a country to another for
performing a specific task, or a visit to a place or
several places for entertainment which leads to an
awareness of other civilizations and cultures and
history.
Tourism is an important industry that depends
on culture and science and has a direct impact on
the national revenue for all touristic countries.
There are different purposes of visits.
Leisure Tourism
Forms of Tourism
Leisure Tourism
 Tourists may travel to experience a change in climate
and place and learn something new, enjoy pleasant
scenery, or to know more about the culture of a
destination.
 Tourists, who seek break from the stress of day to day

life, devote their holiday to rest and relaxation, refresh

themselves.
 These tourists prefer to stay in some quiet and relaxed

destination preferably at a hill resort, beach resort or

island resort. Nowadays tourists undertake various
adventure sports activities for leisure and to refresh
themselves after working hard. This tourism includes
following forms based on the activities undertaken:
Cultural Tourism
 It is also called as heritage tourism. People are
curious to know about foreign lands and their
cultures. Culture is most important factors
which attracts tourists to a destination.
 Cultural tourism gives insight to
◦ Way of life of the people of distant land
◦ Dress, jewellery, dance, music, architecture
◦ Customs and traditions
◦ Fairs and festivals
◦ Religions
◦ Culinary delights
Religious Tourism
 It is also called as Pilgrimage tourism / Spiritual
tourism. It is a form of tourism, where people
travel individually or in groups for pilgrimage.
 The world's largest form of mass religious
tourism takes place at the annual Hajj
pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Modern
religious tourists are more able to visit holy
cities and holy sites around the world.
 The most famous holy cities are Jerusalem,
Mecca and Varanasi.
Family Tourisn
 Family tourism involves the family unit and
their participation in diverse forms of
tourism activity.
 This includes visiting one’s relatives and

friends for interpersonal reasons. Many

people in India travel for visiting their
friends and relatives. While visiting friends
or relatives, people also visit tourists’
attractions in and around the city.
Health Tourism
 Health tourism is also called as Medical
tourism. People have been travelling for
centuries to improve and rebuild their health
and stamina. Today, many people travel great
distances to exotic locations or health care
facilities in faraway countries, in search of
medical treatment and care.
Health Tourism
 Medical tourism is an age-old concept that has
gained popularity in the recent times. Many
developing countries are emerging as hot
medical tourism destinations capitalizing on
low cost advantages. Many hospitals have
specially designed packages including resorts
facilities. Thus health tourism covers one or
more of the following aspects-
◦ Change of climate
◦ Alternative therapy- Ayruvedic treatment, hot
Sulphur springs, Naturopathy and art of living
◦ Medical treatment
Sports Tourism
 Sports Tourism refers to travel which involves
either viewing or participating in a sporting
event staying apart from their usual
environment.
 Sport tourism is a fast growing sector of the
global travel industry.
 Sports tourism refers to people travelling to
participate in a competitive sport event.
 Normally these kinds of events are the
motivators that attract visitors to visit the events
like Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup.
Sports Tourism
 Sports tourism can be adventurous also.
Adventure sport tourism is also called as
Adventure tourism.
 Adventure sport tourism is more challenging

because it takes the tourists into regions which

are less frequently visited and may not have
easy access.
 According to the National Tour Association,

adventure tourism is a "tour designed around an

adventurous activity such as rafting, hiking, or
mountain climbing."
Sports Tourism
 Adventure sports tourism is a package of
◦ Recreation
◦ Enjoyment
◦ Education
◦ Thrills of participating in an adventure
 Adventure tourism has various forms, which
can be broadly categorized as follows:
◦ Land Adventure
◦ Water Adventure
◦ Aerial Adventure
Educational Tourism
 Educational tourism developed, because of the
growing popularity of teaching and learning of
knowledge and the enhancing of technical
competency outside of the classroom
environment.
 In educational tourism, the main focus of the
tour visiting another country to learn about the
culture, such as in Student Exchange Programs
and Study Tours, organizing specialized
lectures of the eminent personalities and for
research.
Business Tourism
 The business traveller's main motive for travel
is work.
 Tourists visit a particular destination for

various reasons pertaining to his /her work

such as attending a business meeting,
conferences, conventions selling products,
meeting clients.
 Business tourism is popularly called as MICE

(Meetings, incentives, conferences, and

exhibitions) tourism (MICE
Alternative forms of Tourism
 Alternative tourism aims at seeking a change
from impersonal, traditional tourism to
establishing cardinal rapport between visitors
and the local community.
 Instead of using touristic commodities these

tourists prefer to use or share the services of

local people.
 The focus in these travels is the preserved

natural environment, authentic atmosphere

and cuisine, and local traditions.
Alternative forms of Tourism
 Alternative tourism is nowadays
regarded as a key to sustainable
development. 
 It is also known as special interest

tourism. It is of various types

◦ Ecotourism
◦ Food tourism
◦ Agro-rural tourism
Summary
Nowadays, people are more aware of destinations and
attractions, have money to spend, and need break
from their routine stressful life. They take breaks to
refresh and relax or may travel for some psychological
and social needs. Tourism service providers need to
understand what motivates a person to travel.
Various purposes have been categorized and these
have led to different forms of tourism. The popular
and most basic form of tourism is leisure tourism,
under which family tourism, cultural tourism, religious
tourism, sports tourism are included. Business
tourism is also getting momentum.