2. Reasons for Travel.

People travel for many different reasons. In the tourism industry we divide the reasons for travel into three main categories: leisure tourism, business tourism, and visiting friends and relatives (VFR).

Leisure tourism can mean anything from excursions, day trips, and weekend breaks to package holidays, pleasure cruises, and longer independent trips such as hill walking or treks in the mountains. It also includes cultural trips (for example, to music festivals), educational trips (for example, study tours), and religious trips (for example, pilgrims on a walking tour to a holy place).

Business tourism includes any travel away from one’s main place of residence, for such events as meetings, conferences, and trade fairs. It also includes special trips when workers are given a reward or a ‘thank you’ for good work (this is known as an incentive tour).

Travel in order to visit friends or family relatives is also regarded as part of the tourism industry. This could be for a special family party, such as a wedding or a regular trip made every year.

When we look at the movement of tourists there are three types of tourism: domestic, inbound, and outbound. Domestic tourism involves people who take holidays in their own country. Inbound tourism means people entering the country from abroad to take holidays. Outbound tourism involves residents of one country traveling to another country.

The things that attract travelers to a particular country are the following: climate and natural features; built attractions; accommodation; events; food drink and entertainment. The top ten tourist destinations of the world are France, the USA, Spain, Italy, China, the UK, Mexico, Russia, Canada, and Germany. The biggest tourist spenders are the USA, Germany, the UK, Japan, Spain, and France.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page. (St. Augustine).

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it. (Moore).

3. Destinations.

Tourist destination is a place or area to which tourists travel. It may be a resort, but it also may be a city.

The Balearic Islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibitsa, Fotmentera.

• Sun, sea, and culture – with a Spanish style.

• 300 days a year of guaranteed sunshine.

• Fabulous beaches.

• Great entertainment.

• Something for every type of tourist.

Floating between Spain and the North African coast, the Balearic Islands offer the perfect location for a fantastic holiday. There are four main islands for you to choose from, each with their own special atmosphere.

The gorgeous climate boasts 300 days a year of guaranteed sunshine, making the islands the ideal setting for a beach holiday. The long hot summer stretches from may to October, with temperatures around +27 C – just right for relaxing and getting a tan.

The islands offer a number of attractions for tourists. Sun-seekers will love the fabulous beaches. Fun-seekers will enjoy the exciting nightlife – the clubs of Ibitsa provide plenty of entertainment for young people. But there’s more to these islands than sun and fun. You can also enjoy wonderful architecture (the Gothic cathedral at Palma is well worth visiting), hilltop villages, olive groves, and hidden beaches. You can take a relaxing fishing or sailing trip, or go to one of the many festivals. If you go in June, don’t miss the spectacular Fiesta of San Juan at Ciutadella on Menorca.

Whatever you want from a holiday, the Balearics will help you find it.