Mass tourism

Mass tourism refers to the movement of a large number of organized tourists to popular holiday destinations for recreational purposes. It is a phenomenon which is characterized by the use of standardized package products and mass consumption. Conceptually, this type of tourism features standardized leisure products and experiences packaged for mass tourists (Poon 1993).

History and development

The beginning of mass tourism is largely related to various changes, which occurred in the industrial societies in the second half of the twentieth century. In fact, the history of mass tourism began in 1851 when Thomas Cook led a mass of tourists to the Great Exhibition in London (Page 2012). The growth of leisure travel and its importance were a result of the increased spending power, personal mobility, development of public transport, and internationalization in modern communities (Bramwell 2004). The emergence of paid holidays, increased leisure time, and the development of railway networks...