Tourism Contribution

In this essay, I will discuss the extent to which I agree that Thomas Cook made the greatest contribution to the development of international tourism. The tourism industry has been transformed into the largest and most fundamental industry to speak of today. It has become the main revenue generating activity of foreign exchange for most small island developing states, both internationally and regionally. This revenue is utilized within the development of the country’s economy or to contribute to its sustainability. However, do we know exactly what the word tourism refers too? There are various definitions of this word. It is described by the UN World Tourism Organization (1991) as the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places

Around 1500, a new reason for travel besides trade and religious pilgrimage originated and this was travelling for educational purposes. This was done through the creation of The Grand Tour by the British. It allowed for the upper classed children to gain knowledge in which they were to use on their return home from being aboard. However, it soon evolved from just being a learning experience for the young to a requirement between all age groups of the upper classes for physical pleasure. In addition, the Grand Tour brought the rise of elegant hotels which were created to host the elite while they were on their travels around the world. Another major event occurred in the last half of the 17th century where the popularity of spa towns took a significant increase. After hearing of the minerals in the water associated with medicinal purposes, the ill who believed soon sought remedies at these spas and were later joined by persons who travelled there for pleasure and recreation after these facilities were added to the spa

Through this was the introduction of the next great contribution of Thomas Cook to the tourism industry, package tours. The innovation of package tours meant that travel had now become more organized and it was easier for people to purchase a complete travel package rather than having to assemble their own excursions. They were now able to place this burden on a newly developed travel organizer. It is said that his fresh concept perfectly complemented the growth of rail transport and later passenger shipping but also brought organized travel to an increasingly large section of the public (Burkart and Medlik, 1974). These package tours incorporated the use of other tourism-orientated travel service providers such as hotels, restaurants and car rental agencies. Mr. Cook would organize the means of the traveler’s transportation to the particular destination, arrange for their accommodation while there, provided different activities in which the traveler could participate in and likewise, coupons were made available which could be redeemed for cash or used as at participating lodging facilities. In addition, Thomas Cook offered these complete travel packages at reduced prices which gave the middle class people an efficient low cost means to