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Tourism can be defined as a temporary visit, usually for pleasure, to a place where you do not usually live, creating the need for transport, information and catering services, accommodation and entertainment. While today people make temporary trips for many reasons – to visit friends or family, work, study, do sport, have a holiday, or for cultural interest – up until the 16th century people travelled mainly for commercial and religious reasons.

The Greeks and the Romans travelled in the Mediterranean and also to other more distant parts to buy and sell their goods and also to expand their empires. In the Middle Ages people started making trips to places of religious importance and later people began to travel for health reasons.

While the Romans were in Britain they discovered the benefits of the water at a place that we now call Bath. This town has the only hot springs in Britain. The Romans built baths there, giving the town its name. During what we call the Georgian period (1714-1830), it was fashionable for middle-class people to go there to take the waters. They needed entertainment, so magnificent ballrooms were built and soon there was a second reason for going to Bath – it was a great place to find a husband! So families with young girls made the long journey there hoping for success! This was the beginning of tourism as we know it today.

During the 18th century, members of the British upper classes began going on what they called the Grand Tour when they visited the most important cultural centres in Europe, particularly France and Italy. The Grand Tour therefore introduced a cultural dimension to tourism. But still the journey itself from one place to another was long, uncomfortable and often dangerous. It was also very expensive so only the richer people moved. Poor people moved around the countryside looking for work, usually on farms and often staying in one place for only a short time.

This situation changed with the Industrial Revolution. People moved to the cities and stayed there. During this period one of the most significant

developments was that of transport. At first boats and trains were used to transport materials and goods to and from factories but gradually people started using them, too, especially trains. People could now travel further, more quickly and more comfortably. Industrialisation led to a new class of wealthy people and in a short time the phenomenon of tourism went from being the privilege of the rich minority to an important part of life for a large majority.

(Source: Giuliana Bernardi Fici. Travel Pass. English for Tourism, 2010)