In the 15th century, Cyriacus of Ancona journeyed in search of the Mediterranean's Classical past. In so doing, he laid the groundwork for the 18th-century Grand Tour and today's cultural holidays, as Marina Belozerskaya explains.

While "tourism" has ancient roots, historians often credit Herodotus of Halicarnassus (5th century BC) as the first known tourist and travel writer. He traveled extensively through Asia Minor, Egypt, and Greece, documenting local customs and landmarks for leisure and historical research. Another strong candidate is Cyriacus of Ancona (15th century), who is considered the father of archaeology and one of the first true leisure tourists to explore Mediterranean ruins. However, the first "modern" mass tourist is often cited as a member of Thomas Cook’s first organized group in 1841. Before the 19th century, travel was largely for pilgrimage, trade, or education (like the "Grand Tour" for aristocrats). In 2026, the legacy of these early explorers is still celebrated, as they transitioned travel from a dangerous necessity into a leisure activity that defined the beginnings of the global travel industry we recognize today.