Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.

According to UN Tourism (formerly the World Tourism Organization or UNWTO), tourism is a social, cultural, and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These individuals are referred to as "visitors," and the definition specifies that their stay must be for less than one consecutive year and at least 24 hours. The purpose of the trip must be anything other than to be employed by a resident entity in the country or place visited. This comprehensive definition encompasses leisure, business, medical, and religious travel, emphasizing that tourism is defined by the activity of the traveler rather than just the traditional concept of a "holiday" or vacation.