This presentation provides a general view of the world tourism growth scenario, beginning from the early travels until the modern tourism

1. Development of International
Tourism- The Historical
Perspective
Dr. Kingsley Guruge
Retired Senior Lecturer in Geography
Sri Lanka

2. Queen of Sheba - The
First Traveller
 “Sheba's desire to encounter Solomon was
ardent enough for her to embark on a 1400
mile journey, across the desert sands of
Arabia, along the coast of the Red Sea, up into
Moab, and over the Jordan River to
Jerusalem. Such a journey required at least six
months time each way, since camels could
rarely travel as much as 20 miles per day.”

3. Evolution of International Tourism
FOUR MAJOR PERIODS OF TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT
 Period Before 1840 A.D. ( From Greek,
and Roman Periods up to 1840)
 Development of Seaside Resorts
 The Grand Tour
 Industrial revolution in Europe and its
impact on International tourism

4. 2. Age of Rail and Water Transport
(1840 – 1914)
 Impact of railways on horse driven
carriages
 Thomas Cook’s travels
 Development of Seaside Resorts
 Take over of ferry services by railway

5. 3. Period Beginning from 1914 to the
mid 20th
century
 1st
World War and it’s impact on
International tourism

6. 4. 2nd
Half of the 20th
Century
 Introduction of high powered jet air
crafts for air travel
 Other factors affecting tourist mobility

7. Greek & Roman Period
 Very first travelers were Babylonians,
Phoenicians and Polynesians
 Mode of Travel: primitive canoes
Navigation Tools: moon and stars
 Romans traveled on horseback
 Travel Motives: Pleasure, Religious Reasons
 Destinations: Greece, Mediterranean Countries

8. Women Travelers of the Classical
Period
 St. Sylvia of Aquitane
 Fabiola
 Melania
 Paula

9. The Grand Tour
 Popularized during the 16th
and 17th
century among
the European and American Land owners)
 “ grand Tour” was considered as a sign of prestige
 First “Grand Tour” was in 1670 A.D. ( Popular
destinations were France and Italy)
 Golden Era of the “Grand Tour” began after the 7 year
war which lasted from 1756- 1763 A.D.
 Between 1763-1765 A.D. 40000 British Travelers have
visited Europe.

10. Collapse of the “Grand Tour”
 Political instability in France and in other
European countries due to the French
Revolution (1789)
 Changes occurred regarding the purpose of
travel
 Development of “Spas”

11. Development of “Spas”
 Evolution of “Spas” dates back to the classical
periods of tourism development
 Development of “Spas” was accelerated with the
educational renaissance in Europe
 Popular “Spas” in Briton
 Bath, Baxton,Tunbridge, Epson
 By the end of the 18th
century number of “Spas”
in Briton has exceeded 100.

12. Decline of “Spas”
 “Spa” areas had to be developed to meet the needs
of the residential population
 Loss of initial quality of the “Spa”, due to the
provision of various facilities to the incoming
high spending tourists
 Exceeding the carrying carrying capacity of the
“Spa”
areas
 Emergence of seaside holiday resorts

13. Development of Seaside Resorts
 Dr. Richard Russel’s article on sea water, in 1752A.D.
(Rheumatism, Abdominal Disorders, Syphilis)
 Special Features of “Seaside Resorts”
 Seaside resorts were located close to Spas
 State sponsorship

14. Industrial Revolution in Europe
 Industrilisation led to temporary movement of
people to rural areas
 Development of coastal towns ( facing the
Atlantic ocean) as important harbors
Ex: Bristol , Liverpool, Glasgow

15. 2 nd
Period- 1840-1914
Age of Rail and Water Transport
 The first train track , from Manchester to Liverpool
was built in 1830
 By 1845 Bristol, Leeds and Birmingham was linked
with London
 Development Status of the total rail track
1845 - 2500 miles
1850 - 7000 miles
At the end of the 19th
century - 22,000 miles
 By 1881 - more than 100 railway companies were in
operation

16. Thomas Cook’s Travels
 1841 – From Leicester to Lowborough
 1850 – Day trips to rural areas, and week end
trips
 1851 - Leicester to London (London Exhibition)
 the first package tour
 1855 - To Paris ( Paris Exhibition)
 1865 - An office to promote tourism was opened
 In London.
 1866 - Introduced a travel Magazine
 1867 - Trip to America (unsuccessful)

17. Growth of Seaside Resorts
 Growth of Rail Transport , and better
accessibility
 Industrialization and its impact on the
environment
 Old “inns” replaced by Modern Hotels
 Construction of Middle Class hotels in towns
 In 1860, all ferry services operating between
Europe and Ireland was taken over by the
railway companies

18. Impact of Steamships on Travel
 Steam Ships services across Atlantic Ocean
began in 1820, and continued for 50 years
 In 1840 Cunard Shipping Company , and
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation,
Companies were formed
 In 1870 “Oceanic” was launched
 In 1870 Mauretania ( The Greyhound of the
Ocean) was launched

19. From 1914 to the mid 20th
century
 A period of continuous progress in travel
 Reasons:
 Existing facilities for travel through railways & steamships
 Political stability in Europe
 Until 1860, visa permits were not required to visit Europe
 1st
world war and its impact on travel – visa requirements were
enforced to visit European Countries
 Large scale migration between European Countries
 Rail services declined, Number of companies were reduced to 4
 Motor car became very popular. Pioneering motor companies were
Duryea and Studbaker Brothers, Carl Benz,Louis Renault, Ettore
Bugatti

20. From 1914 to the mid 20th
century ( Continued)
 Air travel facilities were established on a
competitive basis
 French Air Ways, K. L.M. Royal Dutch Air
Lines, Lufthansa,
 In 1924 Imperial Airways was established
 1930 British Air Ways was formed
 In 1940, B O A C was created joining the
previous 2

21. From 1914 to the mid 20th
century ( Continued)
 Steps taken during 1930s, to promote individual
mobility
 Holiday Camps for low income persons,
initiated by Billy Bulton In 1936
Important holiday Camps:
Black Pool,Scar Borough,South end, Brighton,
 Seaside Holiday Camps : Broad Stairs Skegness,
Clown Bay

22. Second Half of the 20th
Century
 Golden era of Tourism Development
 Paid leave for employees
 Introduction of more reliable, speedy jet
aircrafts ( Ex Boeing 707)
 Introduction of Boeing 747 in 1970, (Seating
capacity 400, )
 Commencement of Charter Flights in 1950.

23. Reasons for the popularity of Charter Flights
 Availability of numerous aircrafts in Europe
and America, after the war.
 Acceptance of Social Equality among
Europeans
 Growth of the the motive of visiting seaside
resorts among common people,
 Tour operators ambition of popularizing ‘
Charter Flights”
 Beginning of Sun, Sea, and Sand Tourism

24. Other factors Associated with Tourism
Development (2nd
half of the 20th
century)
 Measures adopted to develop the “Potential
demand”
 Provision of paid Leave to employees
 Granting a limited percentage of money (from
the employees salary)as a bonus
 Introduction of “Travel Now, Pay Later”
scheme.
 Introduction of concessionary prices on trains
for group travels
 Emergence of “Travel Clubs”

25.  Tourism policy in U.S.A.
 Advances in technology-Supersonic jets,
Electric Trains
 Theme Parks Disney Land in Florida
Disney Land in France
Disney Land in Japan
Tampa Gardens
 Advances in Communication Technology
Other factors Associated with
Tourism Development
(2nd
half of the 20th
century)