Tourism

Through
the Ages
Week 2
Early Beginnings of Travel
The Babylonians (Sumerians)
– The creation of money and trade
– Trade was developed around 400 B.C.
– Babylonians were also credited with
the founders of travel business.
Early Beginnings of Travel
The Egyptians
– First cruises were
organized and conducted
from Egypt.
• The first journey for Tourism
was made by Queen
Hatshepsut to the land of
Punt in 1480.

– Early Egyptians started the

trait of purchasing souvenirs
from the places they visit
Early Beginnings of Travel
The Egyptians
– 2700 BC: the Pharaohs
began to build
elaborate burial tombs
(pyramids)
– Egyptians were also
the first ones to start
celebrating festivals.
First Voyage Around the World
Use of Early roads
– Mesopotamian roads were mainly paved dirt
roads.
– The island of Crete had better roads
• 13 ½ feet wide two-lane road.
First Voyage Around the World
Use of Early roads
– The Romans developed
roads for military use and it
covered most of their
empire.
• Developed at around 150 BC
• Roman roads were quite
elaborate in
construction.
(cobblestones)
• And some of these roads
are still in use.
First Voyage Around the World
The Silk Road
– The fabled road where the east met the west.
– Some sections were directions
across trackless steppe or desert
– A trade route where states along this
route traded.
– Silk was not the only thing traded there.
The Classical World
The Olympic Games
– Started in 776 BC.
– City states gathered together every 4
years for competition
– The games created festivals, and
attractions were born out of it.
– Lodging also became a commodity needed
during these festivals
The Classical World
Herodotus
– Father of History
– Travelled all over Greecce and the Aegean
Islands, sailed to Cyrene and explored
Sicily and Italy.
– Made records of his travels
– Also considered as the worlds first
“Travel Writer”
Early Ships
Phoenicians
– Master shipwrights.
– Built a network of trading posts around the
Mediterranean.

Greeks
– Followed the Phoenicians.
– Improved ships and accelerated
the Mediterranean trade.
– Merchantships also carried passengers for profit.
Early Ships and Records of Travel
Chinese
– Had ministers for travel as early as 4,000
years ago.

Polynesians
– Used small dugout canoes under 40 feet
and used these to travel from South East
Asia.
Early Tourism Developments
Europeans
– The fall of Rome spelled disaster for travel and
tourism.
– Dark ages- only the most adventurous persons
would travel. Travel was not for pleasure.
• The Crusades
– End of the Dark Ages; pilgrimages were popular.
• The ancient Passport was born in 1388: permits
for pilgrimages were required
Early Tourism Developments
Europeans
– The rise of tour guides came about in the 14th
century.
– Pilgrimages gave birth to
different accommodation
facilities.
– The “Grand Tour”
• Travelling for educational purposes.
• Where present trips to Europe originated
Early Tourist Attractions
• Great Pyramids of Egypt
(including Sphinx)
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon
• Tomb of Mausolus at Halicarnassus
• Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Early Tourist Attractions
• Collosus of Rhodes in the Harbor at
Rhodes
• Great Lighthouse (Pharos)
in Alexandria, Egypt
• Temple Artemis at Ephesus
Other Early Accommodation Facilities
Spas, Baths and Seaside Resorts
– The use of Spas after the original use by the
Romans.
– 18th century: Spas were very fashionable
– Sea Bathing also became popular because
saltwater had medicinal effects.
First Travel Agents
Robert Smart
– Self-Proclaimed first steamship agent.

Thomas Cook
– Began Running a special excursion train
from Leicester to Loughborough
– Was recognized as the first rail
excursion agent.
First Travel Agents
Thomas Benett
– Served as the British consul general in Oslo.
– Arranged scenic tours in Norway for
visiting British notables.
– 1850: he set up a “Trip Organizer” business
and provided tourists with
itineraries, carriages, provisions and a
“traveling kit”
Historic Transportation
Stagecoach Travel
– Coaches were invented in Hungary during
the 15th century and provided regular service
on prescribed routes.
– Stagecoach travel became so popular that it
was responsible for the development of the
famous English Tavern.
Historic Transportation
Water Travel
– As early as 1772, market boats picked
up passengers and goods on ship canals
in england.
– Transport Service between Manchester and
the London Bridge
• This water travel service had a coffee room
– Then came the Steamboats in 1815.
Historic Transportation
• Rail Travel
• Automobile and Motor coach Travel
Historic Transportation
Air Travel
– 1926 saw the first US Airline: Variety Airlines
– First international route was flown by
Pan American Airways fromKey West, FL
to Havana, Cuba
– Gradual expansion of territories covered
by US Airlines.
– Most of their staff and equipment was
used for war service during WWII.
Historic Transportation
Air Travel
– The Boeing 707: the first commercial
Jet made by the United States.
– 1969: The Concorde takes flight
– 2003: The Concorde took its last Commercial
Flight.
Historic Accommodations
• Private dwellings were the earliest guest
rooms. Travellers were hosted almost like
members of the family.
• Caravansaries and inns were used in the
Middle East and in the Orient.