The last 20 to 30 years have brought dramatic technological changes which gave left no sector untouched, including travel and tourism. Advances in aviation and rail have fostered high speed transportation that makes our world seem even smaller. Advances in architecture have brought new design to hotels. More and more, computer electronics are integrated into a property’s design and help to increase staff productivity.
Theme parks have grown and become destinations in and of themselves within the last 29 years. Disney World in Florida is a center of high technology and speaks of the benefits of detailed planning and excellent crowd management. Disney’s success in America inspired new Disney parks in Japan and in France. For all practical purposes, parks became major tourism destinations for Americans and foreign guests alike.
In conclusion, the history of tourism is filled with social, economic, and political currents that move the industry forward. Central to understanding tourism’s history are the mix of people’s motivations and the availability of attractions. Travel patterns change with the times, technology, and policies, but do not stop. The spark of adventure first experienced by prehistoric travelers has been passed from the visitors to the Nile, to pilgrims and crusaders, to the first tourists on a Cook’s tour, and on to the modern day traveler who enjoys the luxury of cruising or flying by supersonic jet.
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