Travel Versus Tourism

While on the surface travel and tourism mean approximately the same things, they represent two completely different ways of approaching a journey. Here are the differences between travel and tourism, broken down by issues every person must consider when going to a new place.

Travel versus Tourism: Destination

The most obvious difference between travel and tourism is in the destination. Because travelers seek out experiences that are both educational and exciting, they tend to stray farther off the beaten path than tourists. Tourists, on the other hand, seek pleasure and comfort, so they will end up in places that cater to the tourist experience.

For example, a traveler and a tourist each go to New Mexico for two weeks. The traveler might choose to hike part of the Continental Divide Trail, while the tourist might stay at a popular Taos resort.

Travel versus Tourism: Transportation

Because immersion in local culture is important to the traveler, she will get around the way the locals get around. If that means taking a bus full of chickens or renting a rickety bicycle, the traveler considers it all a part of the experience.

Tourists generally don't need to do much thinking in terms of how to get around, because tourist destinations always have tour buses and cabs going to all the major attractions.

Travel versus Tourism: Cost

Tourists generally spend a lot more money than travelers, because they expect convenience to be included in the prices of things. Sure, a chartered tour to the Coliseum might be more expensive, but it's worth it to the tourist not to have to figure out how to take a local bus. Tourists also expect to pay more for things like food in nice restaurants and souvenirs.

Travelers, on the other hand, don't spend money on things like souvenir key chains or fancy night clubs. They are comfortable eating food from a cart on the street or hitting up a local farmer's market for staple items.

Travel versus Tourism: Amenities

Tourists generally experience much nicer (and more standard) amenities than travelers. Because they choose package deals or hotels based on what services are available, they are guaranteed good food and pleasant accommodations. If something goes wrong, a mild complaint usually fixes the issue right away.

Travelers, conversely, often have to deal with discomfort when they choose destinations where tourists don't usually frequent. The amenities in a remote fishing village in Malaysia will not be anything like amenities offered to international tourists in Kuala Lumpur. Travelers will sometimes choose to save money by staying in hostels or couch crashing with friends or acquaintances, where amenities simply do not exist.

Travel versus Tourism: Safety

Travelers who stray far off the beaten path take far greater safety risks, but say the rewards of knowing a place intimately are worth it. Tourists don't experience nearly as much genuine local culture, but they say it's worth it to stay safe in an unfamiliar place. On the other hand, obvious tourists can become targets for petty criminals like pickpockets and scammers, while travelers do a better job of blending in.