Tourism and Hospitality — Definition

Definition

Tourism and hospitality link visitor demand with accommodation, food, transport, guiding and related services. Tourism is defined through the visitor’s activity across several industries, while hospitality services can also be purchased by local residents.

Their economic contribution therefore cannot be measured by treating the entire turnover of each connected business as tourism value added. Direct activity, supply-chain effects and wider spending effects have different scopes.

Evaluation should identify the unit counted—people, trips, visits or nights—and examine local employment, earnings, service quality and environmental pressures. A rise in visitor numbers is one indicator of activity, not a complete measure of development or business profitability.