Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, concepts, service characteristics, and emerging trends from Module 1: Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality.

Tourism

The activities of visitors travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for a limited period and for purposes such as leisure, business, and other personal reasons.

Hospitality

The provision of accommodation, food and beverage, service, care, comfort, and related experiences to guests, combining tangible and intangible elements.

Visitor

A traveller who takes a trip to a main destination outside their usual environment for less than a specified period and for a main purpose other than employment by a resident entity in the place visited.

Tourist

An overnight visitor taking a trip outside their usual environment.

Excursionist

A same-day visitor whose trip does not include an overnight stay.

Tourism Product

The bundle of tangible and intangible elements that creates value for a visitor, including attractions, accommodation, transport, food and beverage, activities, information, hospitality, and destination environment.

Intangibility

A service characteristic indicating that the tourism experience cannot be physically inspected before purchase.

Inseparability

A service characteristic where production and consumption of the service often occur simultaneously.

Variability

A service characteristic where service quality can differ based on employee, context, and time.

Perishability

A service characteristic meaning unused capacity cannot generally be stored for later sale.

The 6As Framework

A tourism destination framework comprising Attractions, Amenities, Accessibility, Activities, Accommodation, and Ancillary services.

Digital Transformation

The use of digital technologies to redesign processes, products, customer interactions, and business models across the tourism and hospitality sector.

Digital Visitor Journey

A 5-stage consumer pathway consisting of Dream (social media inspiration), Plan (search, reviews, AI assistance), Book (online platforms, digital payment), Experience (mobile services, smart destination), and Share (reviews, social user content).

Sustainable Tourism

Tourism that seeks to balance environmental, socio-cultural, and economic dimensions over the long term.

Ecotourism

A nature-focused form of tourism that emphasises responsible visitation, nature interpretation, conservation awareness, small-scale experiences, and local participation.

Wellness Tourism

Travel associated with maintaining or enhancing physical, mental, emotional, or broader wellbeing.

Experiential Travel

A form of travel focusing on participation, emotion, learning, authenticity, and memorable encounters rather than passive sightseeing.

Resilience in Tourism

The capacity of destinations and tourism businesses to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and recover from sudden shocks and disruptions.

Co-creation

The process in service delivery where visitors actively participate in and contribute to the value and meaning of their own experience.