History of Tourism - Comprehensive Notes

Early Beginnings of Travel

  • Tourism didn't emerge suddenly; its origins trace back to basic human needs and explorations.
  • Motivations for early travel included:
    • Searching for basic human needs.
    • Territorial expansions.
    • Trade and commerce.
    • Seeking knowledge.
    • Satisfying curiosity about unknown lands.
    • Religious purposes.

Mesopotamia

  • Mesopotamia, the "land between rivers" (modern-day Iraq), is considered a cradle of civilization.
  • Factors contributing to both civilization and tourism's emergence:
    • Permanent water supply (Tigris and Euphrates rivers).
    • Alluvial soil suitable for cultivation.
    • Warm climate.
    • Central location between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
  • Innovations arising from Mesopotamia:
    • Wheel and wagon.
    • Money.
    • Alphabet.
    • Domestication of animals like horses.
    • Roads that facilitated travel and tourism.

Egypt

  • Egyptian civilization, along with that of the Indus Valley, emerged following Mesopotamia's.
  • Early evidence of pleasure tourism exists, including tourism graffiti found in Egyptian pyramids.

Ancient Greece

  • Tourism existed in Greece, primarily for religious festivals and consulting oracles.
  • Olympic Games:
    • Greek city-states gathered every four years for religious ceremonies, athletic events, and artistic performances.
    • The Games evolved into festivals, giving rise to attractions.
    • Lodging became a necessary commodity during these events.

Ancient Rome

  • Pleasure travel gained popularity during the Roman Era (3 BC).
  • The Roman elite's inclination for leisure holidays stimulated tourism as an industry, encompassing accommodation, guidebooks, transportation, and guides.
  • The Roman Empire's vast size offered a wide array of destination choices.
  • Evidence of tourism growth:
    • Roads were developed for military use, expanding to cover 80,000 kilometers of first-class roads, 5 meters wide with drained stone surfaces, facilitating private travel.
    • Tourism resorts combined leisure activities like bathing, arts, and spas (e.g., Pompeii).
    • Sightseeing within the empire became a form of tourism.

The Dark Ages and Middle Ages

  • The fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD severely impacted travel.
  • The Dark Ages saw travel diminish, with only the most adventurous undertaking journeys, not for pleasure.
    • The Crusades of 1095, military campaigns by Christian powers to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim control.
  • Tourism almost disappeared due to factors such as:
    • Deterioration of travel infrastructure.
    • Decline of elite classes and urban areas.
  • Towards the end of the Dark Ages and the beginning of the Middle Ages, travel revived with Christian pilgrimages and interest in art, architecture, and culture.

The Grand Tour (1613–1785)

  • Originated with young, wealthy Englishmen seeking educational and cultural enrichment.
  • Involved travel throughout Europe to gain knowledge and experience the cultures of the "civilized world."
  • Became a fashionable trend among other affluent individuals.
  • Characterized luxurious travel and tourism activities.

19th Century Tourism Development

  • Real foundations for modern tourism were established.
  • Tourism industry activities increased with new roads, stagecoaches, passenger trains, and sailing ships in the early 1800s.
  • Thomas Cook (1808–1892) popularized travel among the general public by organizing local rail excursions, laying the groundwork for modern package tourism.
  • Cook organized similar excursions and became the world’s first travel agent.

Growth of Long-Haul International Tourism

  • Tourism grew rapidly, and long-haul international leisure tourism began to take root.
  • Introduction of automobiles and motor coach travel.
  • Motel businesses began to thrive, catering to motorists with convenient accommodations.

Other Historical Highlights in Travel & Tourism

  • Stagecoach Travel:

    • Coaches were invented in Hungary during the 15th century, providing regular service on prescribed routes.
    • Stagecoach travel led to the development of famous English taverns.

  • Water Travel:

    • Mesopotamians are credited with inventing the sailboat.
    • Steamboats in the 19th century expedited travel and transportation.

  • Air Travel:

    • The first successful flight by the Wright brothers occurred in 1903.

  • Wright Brothers in 1876

    • The first half of the 20th century was marked by two World Wars, leading to increased production of aeroplanes.
    • After World War II, surplus military aircraft were converted for passenger air travel.

History of Tourism in Sri Lanka

  • Sri Lanka's appeal as a destination stems from its location, uniqueness, and resources.
  • Historically known as Ceylon, Taprobane, and Serendib.
  • Foreign invasions:
    • 1505: Portuguese.
    • 1658: Dutch.
    • 1815: British control over the Kandyan Kingdom.

National Economic Policies and Tourism Development in Sri Lanka

  • 1937 - First Tourism Bureau was established.

  • Before The pre-independence-1948 open economic policy

  • 1940 - Tourist Bureau ceased its operations due to the War

  • 1948 - Revival of Government Tourist Bureau - Began to undertake tourism marketing and promotional strategies immediately after independence from the colonial rulers.

  • Closing up the economy with the import-substitution strategy

    • Under the closed economy tourism did not play an important role in the national development strategy - Under the directionless and loosely organized Tourist Bureau there were no tourism promotional and marketing activities.

  • 1966 - The government legislative body was established for the tourism sector - Revival of tourism promotion and marketing strategies.

  • 1966 - Introduction of the first Ten Year Master Plan for tourism

    • The plan became the blueprint for tourism development and witnessed first tourism boom in Sri Lanka. - Tourist Board Act No. 10 of 1966, Ceylon Hotel Corporation Act No 14 of 1966, Tourist Development Act No. 14 of 1968.
    • The country witnessed a first-wave of new hotel construction with five resort development zone

  • Closing up the economy again

  • No new government initiative to develop tourism

  • 1977 - Introduction of trade liberalisation, exchange rate reforms and incentives for FDI.

    • Rate of investment growth in tourism fell down due to the re-establishment of import control measures. However, tourism grew rapidly as a result of previous promotional activities and peaceful environment.

  • Sri Lanka managed to attract a large number of tourists especially from Europe under the open economic policies. Tourism was promoted. The progress continued until 1983. Tourism became a victim of war after 1983.

  • 1992 - Introduction of the second Ten Year Tourism Master Plan

    • Temporary rebound in tourism sector and recovery of tourism arrivals with the second wave of trade reforms

  • 2002 - Signing a cease fire agreement and created peaceful environment for the tourism sector.

  • 2005 New tourism Act.

  • 2008 Introduction of the Third Tourism Master Plan

  • End of war in 2009 - Launching new tourism promotion strategy

  • 2011-Implementation of the Tourism Development Strategy

    • The relatively peaceful short term environment gave rise to an increase in tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka
    • Closer relationship between government and private sector through joined experiences board has built integrated approach to tourism.
    • Tourism sector has made a remarkable recovery and it is becoming one of the fastest growing and dynamic industries in the country due to peaceful environment.