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noun B1 Intermediate Common

tourism

TOOR-rih-zuhm

Tourism (noun) means the activity of traveling to and visiting places for pleasure, especially away from one's home area. Example: “Tourism drops sharply during the rainy season.”

noun
1
The activity of traveling to and visiting places for pleasure, especially away from one's home area.
"Tourism drops sharply during the rainy season."
2
The industry that organizes and provides services for travelers, such as hotels, tours, and attractions.
"Tourism is the country's biggest source of foreign income."

How to Use Tourism

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTraveling for leisure, or the industry built around that kind of travel.

Common pairings
boost tourism tourism industry sustainable tourism

Word Forms

tourisms plural

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Test yourself on “tourism” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ drops sharply during the rainy season.

Etymology

Formed from tour plus the suffix -ism, following the pattern of nouns describing systems or industries.

Related Words

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “tourism” mean?

The word “tourism” means the activity of traveling to and visiting places for pleasure, especially away from one's home area. In plain terms, traveling for leisure, or the industry built around that kind of travel.

How do you pronounce “tourism”?

“Tourism” is pronounced TOOR-rih-zuhm (/ˈtʊɹɪzəm/ in IPA).

How do you use “tourism” in a sentence?

Here is “tourism” used in a sentence: “Tourism drops sharply during the rainy season.”

What part of speech is “tourism”?

“Tourism” is a noun.

Is “tourism” a common word?

“Tourism” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “tourism” have?

“Tourism” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the activity of traveling to and visiting places for pleasure, especially away from one's home area.

What is the difference between tourism and travel?

Travel is the general act of moving from one place to another for any reason, while tourism specifically means traveling to and visiting places for pleasure, usually away from home. Tourism also refers to the industry that serves such travelers, whereas travel does not carry that commercial meaning.

What is the difference between tourism and hospitality?

Tourism is the activity of visiting places for pleasure and the broader industry that organizes travel services. Hospitality is a related but narrower field focused on accommodation, food, and guest services, such as hotels and restaurants that support tourists.

What are common types of tourism?

Because tourism means traveling for pleasure and the industry serving those travelers, it is often described by type, such as ecotourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism, and medical tourism. These labels specify the main purpose or experience the travel centres on.

Is 'tourism' a countable or uncountable noun?

'Tourism' is an uncountable (mass) noun, so it is not normally used with 'a' or in the plural. You would say 'tourism is growing' rather than 'a tourism' or 'tourisms.'

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