We can trace the origin of the modern concept of tourism back to the 17th century, when young nobles from western and northern European countries made what was called the Grand Tour: a trip around Europe (usually covering France, Germany, Italy and Greece) with the main purpose of soaking up history, art and cultural ...

The modern tourism industry traces its origins to the 19th century, specifically with the work of Thomas Cook, who organized the first planned commercial voyage in 1841—a train trip for 570 people in England. While people have traveled for "tourism" since antiquity (Romans visited Egyptian pyramids and Greeks traveled to the Olympics), the industry as a commercial enterprise was born from the Industrial Revolution. The expansion of railways and steamships made travel faster and more affordable for the growing middle class, leading to the creation of the first "tourist packages." In 1901, New Zealand opened the first dedicated national tourist office, signaling the transition of tourism into a major government-led economic sector. By the mid-20th century, the "jet age" and the rise of the automobile transformed tourism into a global phenomenon. In 2026, the industry is defined by digital platforms and "experiential travel," but the fundamental concept of organized, commercially supported leisure travel remains rooted in the 19th-century British model of making far-off places accessible to the average person.