The attraction is the core product in a destination. For travelling to the destination, and while at the destination, tourists demand other services like transport, accommodation, food and beverages and support services, all of which constitute supplementary services.

A core tourism product is the fundamental benefit or experience that a tourist is actually seeking when they visit a destination. It represents the "heart" of the destination's marketing mix. For example, the core product of the Maldives is "relaxation and tropical beauty," while the core product of the Taj Mahal is "historical and architectural wonder." Beyond the core product, the actual product includes the specific features like the hotel quality or the tour itinerary, and the augmented product includes the added-value services like free Wi-Fi or airport transfers. Understanding the core product is essential for tourism planners because it dictates why the customer is willing to travel in the first place. Whether it is a natural resource (like a beach), a man-made site (like an amusement park), or an event (like the Olympics), the core product is the specific "center of interest" that fulfills the traveler's primary psychological or physical need.