Distinguishing Between a Tourist & a Traveler

Making a trip, going on a vacation, touring, and travelling are some common words and phrases associated with the idea of visiting different places. Throughout history, there have been renowned travelers, such as Christopher Columbus and Hsuan Tsang, but not many tourists. This raises the question: what is the difference between a traveler and a tourist?

Tourist

The word “tourist” comes from tourism, which refers to travel for pleasure and recreation. People who visit distant locations for pleasure, business, or other purposes, and stay there for a period of less than one year, are considered tourists. A tourist is someone who goes to far-off places without any intention of staying permanently. They may be on vacation, a business trip, visiting relatives or friends, attending cultural or musical events, or participating in sports events.

Tourism has become a commercial activity, and many countries rely on the foreign exchange earned through their tourism industry. In 2011, nearly 1000 million tourists arrived at various destinations around the world.

Traveler

The term “traveler” refers to a person who travels. Travel is more of a verb than a noun, as it describes the activity of moving from one place to another. A traveler journeys for the sake of traveling itself, as if it were a vocation. Travelers do not plan their destinations or attractions in advance and do not make arrangements like tourists. Instead, they embark on their journey with a one-way ticket and no set dates for departure or arrival. While travelers may visit tourist attractions and historical landmarks, they sometimes simply pass through locations, unlike tourists who plan every detail of their trip and often take guided tours to save time and see everything of importance.

Key Takeaways

• Both tourists and travelers visit far-off places, but tourists usually plan their visits in advance and have specific attractions in mind.
• Tourists travel for recreation, pleasure, or business, whereas travelers are more interested in the act of traveling itself and may pass through places without collecting souvenirs or visiting specific tourist attractions.
• Famous explorers of the past are referred to as travelers rather than tourists, as travel is more of a verb than a noun.