At one time, people used to travel to foreign countries because they thought they would be different from home--the building, the food, the national dress.
At
one
time
,
people
used
to
travel
to
foreign
countries
because
they
thought
they
would
be
different
from
home
--
the
building
,
the
food
,
the
national
dress
.
Nowadays, however, one large city is very like another.
Nowadays
,
however
,
one
large
city
is
very
like
another
.
They all have their Hilton or Sheraton Hotels which look Hilton or Sheraton Hotels everywhere.
They
all
have
their
Hilton
or
Sheraton
Hotels
which
look
Hilton
or
Sheraton
Hotels
everywhere
.
They all have their McDonald's, their KFCs, their Pizza Huts.
They
all
have
their
McDonald
's
,
their
KFCs
,
their
Pizza
Huts
.
Office buildings look the same everywhere, and most city centers are full of office buildings.
Office
buildings
look
the
same
everywhere
,
and
most
city
centers
are
full
of
office
buildings
.
And, of course, people are driving the same brands of Japanese or European cars, usually wearing the same kinds of clothing and the world's airlines are all flying the same aircraft, Boeings or Airbuses.
And
,
of
course
,
people
are
driving
the
same
brands
of
Japanese
or
European
cars
,
usually
wearing
the
same
kinds
of
clothing
and
the
world
's
airlines
are
all
flying
the
same
aircraft
,
Boeings
or
Airbuses
.
What, therefore, is the purpose of foreign travel for people who are not on business?
What
,
therefore
,
is
the
purpose
of
foreign
travel
for
people
who
are
not
on
business
?
What do tourists hope to experience in a foreign country that they cannot experience at home?
What
do
tourists
hope
to
experience
in
a
foreign
country
that
they
can
not
experience
at
home
?
Why travel to foreign countries at all?
Why
travel
to
foreign
countries
at
all
?
The answer could be that people are very interested in the past.
The
answer
could
be
that
people
are
very
interested
in
the
past
.
It is a nation's history that is its main attraction.
It
is
a
nation
's
history
that
is
its
main
attraction
.
Most of today's tourists travel overseas to find out what foreign countries and cultures used to be like, not what they are like today.
Most
of
today
's
tourists
travel
overseas
to
find
out
what
foreign
countries
and
cultures
used
to
be
like
,
not
what
they
are
like
today
.
The words "cultural tourism" are now part of the language of tourism, and it is the museums and works of art in many countries that are their main attractions.
The
words
``
cultural
tourism
''
are
now
part
of
the
language
of
tourism
,
and
it
is
the
museums
and
works
of
art
in
many
countries
that
are
their
main
attractions
.
If they are lucky--and have had sensible, strong governments--many countries also usually have at least a few beautiful places for tourists to visit.
If
they
are
lucky
--
and
have
had
sensible
,
strong
governments
--
many
countries
also
usually
have
at
least
a
few
beautiful
places
for
tourists
to
visit
.
Finally there is perhaps a nation's greatest attraction: its people.
Finally
there
is
perhaps
a
nation
's
greatest
attraction
:
its
people
.
A nation is not just its historical buildings, its works of art or beautiful places, it is also the people who live in it.
A
nation
is
not
just
its
historical
buildings
,
its
works
of
art
or
beautiful
places
,
it
is
also
the
people
who
live
in
it
.
This is why a country such as Thailand attracts millions of people every year.
This
is
why
a
country
such
as
Thailand
attracts
millions
of
people
every
year
.
They come mainly because of the friendliness of the Thai people.
They
come
mainly
because
of
the
friendliness
of
the
Thai
people
.
It is why the Pacific Islands are also so popular.
It
is
why
the
Pacific
Islands
are
also
so
popular
.
There may not be much to see or do in Fiji, but there are lots of friendly, smiling people to make visitors feel welcome.
There
may
not
be
much
to
see
or
do
in
Fiji
,
but
there
are
lots
of
friendly
,
smiling
people
to
make
visitors
feel
welcome
.
At one time, people used to travel to foreign countries because they thought they would be different from home--the building, the food, the national dress. Nowadays, however, one large city is very like another. They all have their Hilton or Sheraton Hotels which look Hilton or Sheraton Hotels everywhere. They all have their McDonald's, their KFCs, their Pizza Huts. Office buildings look the same everywhere, and most city centers are full of office buildings. And, of course, people are driving the same brands of Japanese or European cars, usually wearing the same kinds of clothing and the world's airlines are all flying the same aircraft, Boeings or Airbuses.  What, therefore, is the purpose of foreign travel for people who are not on business? What do tourists hope to experience in a foreign country that they cannot experience at home? Why travel to foreign countries at all? The answer could be that people are very interested in the past. It is a nation's history that is its main attraction. Most of today's tourists travel overseas to find out what foreign countries and cultures used to be like, not what they are like today. The words "cultural tourism" are now part of the language of tourism, and it is the museums and works of art in many countries that are their main attractions.  If they are lucky--and have had sensible, strong governments--many countries also usually have at least a few beautiful places for tourists to visit.  Finally there is perhaps a nation's greatest attraction: its people. A nation is not just its historical buildings, its works of art or beautiful places, it is also the people who live in it. This is why a country such as Thailand attracts millions of people every year. They come mainly because of the friendliness of the Thai people. It is why the Pacific Islands are also so popular. There may not be much to see or do in Fiji, but there are lots of friendly, smiling people to make visitors feel welcome.