What is Tourism?

WHAT IS TOURISM?

1. The Study of Tourism

a. Definition of Tourism

Tourism is a recreation activity done in outdoor place that takes time more than 24 hours (Marpaung, 2000 : 14).

Tourism is a temporary departure process of somebody or more to go to another place outside their residence (Gamal, 1997 : 04).

b. Definition of Tourist

Tourist is somebody or group who make a tourism journey (Gamal, 1997 : 04).

According to WTO (World Tourism Organization), tourist is everybody who resides in a state without reference of their origin – come to a place at the same state for the duration of more than 24 hours.

2. The Study of Special Interest Tourism

a. Definition of Special Interest Tourism

Special interest tourism is a tourism journey (tour), where the tourist visit to a place because they have a motivation or enthusiasm about the various objects or activities which can be met or done in location or in the location of tourist object (Special interest tourism, 1992).

In the decade of 1990s (WTO’s report), desire to get something new and unique in tourist activity was found. The tourist entangled their self in activity of education or science, emphasis and appreciation of esthetics value, requirement of their self development or personal and also desire to live and to have interaction exhaustively with the society ( Puspar-UGM : 1997).

b. Definition of Special Interest Tourist

The definition of special interest tourist is a tourist who is actively involved in their tourism activity, that is in the environment of physical or environment of community or social, cultural, experience, it has opportunity to have interaction with the object and the society here.

Special interest tourism generated by a shifted orientation of tourism and the motivation of people to do tourism journey, many tourists want to exploit their vacation time as their active involvement.

New values seeking and new form of journey are showed by the friction of tourism orientation with the development of new products which are recognized as the active vacation and special interest tourism (Danang parikesit, Dr., Msc, 1997). The product of tourism packed in special interest tourism is marketed to penetrate the market of special interest tourism. The organizer of tourism product has facilitated interested person or person who is interested in special hobby or enthusiasm.