These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which involve tourism expenditure.

Depending on the context, tourists are known by dozens of different names, ranging from formal industry terms to colorful local slang. In professional travel writing, they are often called travelers, visitors, excursionists, or holidaymakers. If you are looking for more adventurous synonyms, you might use globetrotters, wayfarers, or voyagers. However, in local slang, the terms can be more descriptive or even slightly mocking. In Australia, a naive tourist might be called a "touron" (a portmanteau of tourist and moron), while in many coastal areas, they are simply "out-of-towners." For those who follow a guide religiously, the term sightseers is common, while those on a quick trip are often called day-trippers. In 2026, a new term has gained traction: "digital nomads", referring to tourists who work remotely while traveling. Regardless of the label—whether you are a "pilgrim" on a spiritual journey or a "rubbernecker" stopping to look at landmarks—the core definition remains the same: a person traveling for pleasure rather than necessity or residence.