What is tourism?
Tourism is when people travel from their home to other places for relaxation and pleasure.
Watch: Learn about tourism in the UK
Find out more about tourism in two different UK cities - Edinburgh and Brighton.
The UK is in the top ten of the most visited places in the world and lots of people who already live here like to see the different parts of it and who wouldn't want to come here on holiday.
Hi, I'm Jude.
The iconic castle is just one of many reasons why Edinburgh is such a popular destination. It's the capital of Scotland, which means the Scottish Parliament is here, which you can see behind me. It's the centre of Scottish politics and only one of many sites on our journey.
Capital cities are often centres of tourism for lots of different reasons. The castle represents two of them. It offers an amazing viewpoint… and it's full of history.
Edinburgh isn't short of museums. These are buildings that house important historical items. There are over ten to choose from! The National Museum of Scotland is a must for history fans.
Another reason for so much tourism is the thousands of pubs, cafes and restaurants that serve local drinks and dishes like haggis and food from around the world. Loads of tourists love shopping too… especially on the Royal Mile.
Edinburgh has a lot of culture to experience as well, such as art galleries, theatres and comedy clubs. Once a year, the city hosts The Fringe, one of the biggest arts festivals in the world!
You'll find performers everywhere. It's pretty cool.
Edinburgh is located quite far north in the UK, in Scotland, but south at the bottom of England, you'll find Brighton.
Brighton is a bustling city that like Edinburgh has attractions, restaurants, history and culture. Many visit to see the museums, Georgian terraces and annual Pride parade.
But one of the reasons why the city has become so popular is what makes it totally different - the beach. People are able to swim, sunbathe and play.
Brighton's popularity began as a health resort in the 18th century, where many people were recommended the salty sea air to improve their wellbeing.
Hotels are where many people stay, but some people rent out other peoples houses or stay in caravans. Where they choose to stay is called accommodation.
Tourism is a vital industry, because tourists spend lots of money when they visit and that money goes back into local jobs, services and businesses.
Where would you like to go on holiday and why?
Why do people travel?
People travel for different reasons, such as work, visiting family and friends and shopping. When people travel for pleasure or to relax, they are called tourists.
The places people visit are called destinations, and they often depend on the reasons for travelling, such as:
- to rest
- to learn about new cultures and history
- to go to a warmer climate
- to take part in sporting activities
- to spend time in nature
Tourism in the UK
The varied landscape, coasts and historical cities attract many tourists each year.
Tourism is important for the The way money is earned and spent. of the UK and it provides many people with jobs. It often brings money to remote areas, where there are few other jobs and little natural resources.
Some popular tourist destinations are shown on the map below:
Can you recognise any places on the map?
Well done if you spotted:
Loch Ness in Scotland
Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland
Lake District in England
Blackpool Tower in England
Liverpool in England
York Minster in England
The Cotswolds in England
Bath in England
Stonehenge in England
Tower Bridge, London in England
Cornish beaches in England
Snowdonia in Wales
Cities
With the invention of the steam engine and the building of railways, cities became more accessible and popular as a holiday destination.
When people visit cities, they choose them for many reasons. Click on the slideshow to find out more:
Reasons for visiting cities
Image caption, History
Historical landmarks and buildings, such as Tower Bridge in London, allow people to enjoy views, learn about history and discover how people lived at different times.
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Countryside
Unlike cities, places in the countryside are not always as well-connected and might be more complicated to travel to. This can mean that rural areas are not as crowded as cities.
When people go on holidays to the countryside, some of its Features of a place. can make tourists want to visit more or less.
Characteristics of the countryside
- Climate - Sunny and warmer areas, such as Cornwall in the South West region of England with its sandy beaches, attract people from colder regions of the UK.
- Natural environment - the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District and the White Cliffs of Dover are all locations popular due to their scenery.
Wildlife - Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland is a location know to bird-watchers, because of the colonies of Birds that lives in colonies in coastal locations..
Accessibility - Some locations are only accessible by car, others only by foot.
- Costs - In popular holiday destinations, such as the Lake District, there might not be enough accommodation for all the visitors, which means that the prices of hotels can be very high.
- Safety - Tall mountains can have difficult, challenging routes to the top. Some remote areas might not have a telephone signal in case of emergencies.
Activity
Quiz: Tourism
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