The tourism industry, also known as the travel industry, is linked to people traveling to other locations, either domestically or internationally, for leisure, social, or business purposes. It is closely connected to the hotel industry, the hospitality industry, and the transport industry.

In economic terms, tourism is a major component of the Tertiary Sector, also known as the service sector. Unlike the primary sector (agriculture/mining) or secondary sector (manufacturing), tourism focuses on providing "High-Fidelity" intangible services such as accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and guided experiences. In 2026, tourism is recognized as a "High-Fidelity" multi-dimensional industry that supports a vast high-fidelity network of sub-sectors, including hospitality, retail, and regional development. It is a high-fidelity "strategic growth driver" for many nations, contributing significantly to global GDP and serving as a high-fidelity engine for job creation. Because it relies on the "High-Fidelity" delivery of human experiences rather than physical goods, it is categorized alongside other high-fidelity service industries like healthcare, education, and finance, representing the "High-Fidelity" final stage of economic output in modern, developed societies.