• Sunday 01st February 2026
• 18

Tourism Skills Course

What is tourism?

Before we go into the types of tourism. We must first familiarize ourselves with the definition of tourism. You want to go on a trip. Your temporary departure from your daily life may happen for any reason. You will experience different things on each trip. But what is the characteristic of your trip? If you were to describe your trip in one word, what would it be?

In today's world, tourism has taken a large share of culture and economy, and in the future, this share will be even greater. Travel can be considered movement from origin to destination, but tourism and travel are close concepts. By understanding the types of travel and tourism, you can travel more easily and enjoy more suitable facilities. Perhaps you will be encouraged by understanding the types of travel.

Types of tourism

Tourism, as one of the most prosperous industries in the world today, has had a great impact on many tourist-friendly countries. Every year, millions of people travel to different parts of the world for various reasons, including visiting historical sites, recreation, relaxation, etc. But do not forget that this industry is not just for visiting attractions, relaxation, or entertainment. The tourism industry has many different types. Knowing the types is also very important. Do not forget that each type of tourism has its own specific demands and services and cannot be compared.

For example, tourists who travel somewhere for business purposes, hotels and accommodation facilities are of particular importance to them. However, they may not be interested in local markets. At the same time, tourists who visit relatives and friends do not need hotels and restaurants outside. However, they are very interested in having fun and visiting local markets.

Cultural tourism

Traveling to see cultural attractions, including buildings, museums, exhibitions, visiting art galleries, etc., all fall under the category of cultural tourism. Between 35 and 40 percent of the world's tourists are cultural tourists.

Seeing different cultures and getting to know them is a profound experience for humanity. Therefore, many international organizations and peace organizations are supporters of this type of tourism. In Iran, this issue has also been given attention in recent years, and in addition to relevant organizations, many private sector investors have also contributed to the development of this type of travel in the country by creating tourism facilities. Cultural tourism can be defined in a broader scope. And that is when many religious ceremonies are considered under its umbrella. However, given the breadth of this category, we will define it in a separate section. One of the most important areas of cultural tourism is visiting historical monuments and buildings. The attractiveness of these monuments usually reflects the culture and civilization of different ethnicities and nations. The magnificent buildings of ancient Iran, or the architecture of the Islamic period, the mosques of Istanbul, the sculptures of Italy, the palaces of Moscow, etc., all express the culture of society. A detailed and historical acquaintance with these works, in addition to the visual attractions, will lead to the cultural enrichment of the tourist himself. Tourism in ancient monuments is one of the most cautious types of tourism; because the preservation and protection of these works is of primary importance.

Another area that is considered in cultural tourism is the use of art exhibitions and festivals. You have also heard of the Louvre Museum in Paris, and if you go to Paris, one of its most important attractions is visiting this museum, which is under the cultural tourism category. Historical and anthropological museums are also under this category. Of course, if you are more persistent, you can also see private galleries. Although not much investment has been made in this area in Iran, before traveling to any city, you can prepare a list of museums and galleries in a city and plan a cultural trip for yourself.

Religious Tourism

This type of tourism is also under the cultural tourism category. In every religion in the world, one can find places that are sacred. Every Muslim who has a suitable financial status has an obligatory journey, and that is the Hajj journey. The shrines of the Imams also have a high status among Muslims. In any case, pilgrimages have accompanied the human race since ancient times, and man will understand many of his spiritual experiences in these trips.

On any trip, you may prepare gifts for those around you who did not travel with you, but on religious trips, these gifts have a more spiritual aspect and are considered a kind of blessing.

Usually, there are facilities for pilgrims around holy places. Usually, there are also restrictions on types of entertainment, which are determined according to the laws of the religion in question. For example, in Muslim hotels, pork or alcoholic beverages are no longer served.

Ecotourism

The growth of urbanization has immersed humans in the social environment. No matter how useful and beneficial society is for humans, we cannot ignore its losses. One way to reduce this loss is to stay away from social spaces, and on the other hand, humans have always nurtured a great mother in their minds and are interested in visiting her: nature. Earth.

In modern societies, nature is one of the places that frees humans from daily chores; but that is not all. Sometimes nature also shows off its glory. Seeing the silent leaves of forest trees under the sunlight, until the moments of sunset in the clouds of a mountainous land, amazes us all.

Nature tourism includes traveling in natural environments, including mountains, forests, seas, deserts, and other natural landscapes. Ecotourism has a twenty percent share in the tourism market. Nature tourism is usually considered the healthiest type of tourism, and economically it can also be considered the fairest type of investment if the tourism macro-planning is done properly.

Iran is among the top five countries in the world in terms of the diversity of natural environments, and this makes the need to pay attention to this area more noticeable. On the other hand, naturally, proper environmental infrastructure has not been created in the country. The lack of these structures has sounded the alarm of a crisis in the environment. The environmental crisis will not only negatively affect tourism, but will also endanger our human life. Pollution of large cities is one of the results of environmental crises.

Ethnic Tourism

Each community, over the years and the creation and accumulation of common experiences, finds differences from other ethnic groups. Getting to know these differences and understanding them is considered one of the most attractive types of tourism. The main manifestation of these differences can be seen in the customs and traditions of a nation, tribe, or tribe. Local festivals, customs and traditions of different times are the main and attractive manifestations of these differences. Participating in these festivals and ceremonies can be one of the most attractive human experiences for a person.

Of course, do not forget that the goal may be to see a people, but at the same time you will get acquainted with nature and its way of life and interaction with the world around it, and your ethnic tourism may also be a professional nature tour. On the other hand, getting to know a culture is of great importance. So do not forget about cultural tourism.

Business tourism

Conferences, trade, industrial and commercial exhibitions are common purposes of this type of travel. Business travel is growing more in developed countries. In this regard, hotels and special accommodations are usually designed for businessmen and businessmen. In addition to these conferences, business tourism is also common in cities with high industrial production.

Geotourism

It is a subset of nature tourism, with the difference that in this part, people usually do not travel to a place just to relax, but they are also interested in seeing the special features of the earth. For example, regular layers of the earth in high-altitude rocks, sand dunes, salt domes, etc. In addition to nature tourism, this tour also has a lot of scientific aspects, and the presence of a competent guide can be very helpful.

Sports Tourism

The appeal of a football match is no secret. Perhaps the term tourism is not the right term for fans of a match. But if you know that a major sporting event is going to be held somewhere, its tourism aspect is important. Usually, before a cup is held, special conditions are considered for fans. The Olympic Games, the World Cup in Athletics, and the World Cup in Football are among the competitions that require a suitable space for fans to be designed and built before they are held.

In addition, we can mention special sports that can only be done in certain places, such as surfing, which is also a subset of sports tourism. Another aspect of sports tourism is player training tours. Many places are considered suitable places for sports players to prepare due to their suitable weather or natural conditions. Many investors also try to attract sports teams in various disciplines by providing suitable accommodation conditions and providing the necessary sports facilities. The void of this type of investment is acutely felt in Iran. The last major sporting event held in Iran was the 1974 Asian Olympics, for which the Azadi Sports Complex was built.

Medical Tourism

Health tourism is defined in two main areas: treatment and care.

A group of travelers travel to cities or countries where the medical facilities they desire are available to use medical services. Therefore, such a trip includes various activities that are carried out with the aim of ensuring the health and well-being of the individual or tourist. Such as health care and undergoing a period of convalescence and rehabilitation. Health tourism is a new concept. In health tourism (treatment, health), there is usually a movement from the periphery to the center because it requires special medical and health facilities that are often available in developed countries. In recent years, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Malaysia have always been among the countries where many patients have traveled to these countries for treatment. Special scientific and hardware infrastructures are required to treat some diseases.

The existence of these infrastructures in some regions of the world causes many patients to refer there for treatment. Years ago, many serious diseases in Iran were previously untreatable, and many Iranians traveled to Europe or America for treatment. But in recent years, Iranian medicine has made significant progress. As a result, it has become a destination for many patients who enter Iran from neighboring countries.

The cities of Tehran, Shiraz, Yazd, and Mashhad are considered medical tourism hubs. It should be noted that a health tourist spends almost twenty times more than an ordinary tourist.

In addition to the field of treatment, tourism is also very important in the field of patient care. Some patients require special care and special climate for treatment. Creating special care conditions for these patients is defined in the field of health tourism.

Dark Tourism

The word tourism is always associated with fun and enjoyment; but in dark tourism you have other goals. Getting to know the suffering that has befallen humanity at any time and place, or getting to know places that are a kind of encounter with death for humans. In black tourism, sometimes a more important goal is pursued, which is to help victims. Lands that have been attacked or where war has occurred can be considered destinations for this type of tourism. Black tourism itself has different types. War tourism, poverty tourism, earthquake and flood tourism, and cemetery tourism are some of these types of tourism.

Importance of Tourism

Tourism has found a special place in the economies of countries. Investment in this industry is increasing day by day. A country like Turkey, with nearly 40 million tourists, recorded an extraordinary figure of 37.5 billion dollars in tourism exports in 2017. More than 11 percent of Spain's gross national product is obtained in this way.

This industry has a significant ability to create jobs in different communities. Tourism can play a prominent role in economic prosperity and can also be very important and useful from a cultural and social perspective. Host countries can develop and promote their culture, language, and social customs through this industry.