travel and tourism vocab

Travel and Tourism Vocabulary Words List – A to Z

Travel is something everyone loves to do. People like to explore new places, try out new cuisines, connect with people from the different geographic backgrounds. It helps them to understand how people live and also experience new things. 

We have prepared a list of common English words one would encounter while travelling from one place to another.

Travel Vocabulary Words for ESL Beginners

Englishbix has put together an entire list of words that contains relatable key terms and it’s significance in the tourism industry. Let’s have a look at tourism words and their meaning. To make it easy for you we have sorted the list from A to Z.

Tourism Vocabulary Words List

We hope that this guide will help you to get acquainted with words which are commonly used whenever you travel.

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Travel Vocabulary for English-Language Learners

With a follow-up quiz for extra practice

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The travel-related words below are the most important terms to know when talking about travel or taking vacations . Words are categorized into different sections depending on the type of travel. You'll find example sentences for each word to help provide context for learning, as well as a short quiz at the end to test your knowledge.

Air Travel Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Airport : I went to the airport to catch a flight to San Francisco. Check in : Make sure to get to the airport two hours early to check in. Fly : I like to fly on the same airline to get mileage points. Land : The airplane will land in two hours. Landing : The landing took place during a storm. It was very scary! Plane : The plane is packed with 300 passengers. Take off : The airplane is scheduled to take off at 3:30 p.m.

Vacation Travel Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Camp : Do you like to camp in the woods? Destination : What is your final destination? Excursion : I'd like to take an excursion to the wine country while we're in Tuscany. Go camping : Let's go to the beach and go camping next weekend. Go sightseeing : Did you go sightseeing while you were in France? Hostel : Staying in a youth hostel is a great way to save money on vacation. Hotel : I'll book a hotel for two nights. Journey : The journey will take four weeks and we'll visit four countries. Luggage : Can you carry the luggage upstairs? Motel : We stayed in a convenient motel on our way to Chicago. Package holiday : I prefer to buy package holidays , so I don't have to worry about anything. Passenger : The passenger felt ill during the voyage. Route : Our route will take us through Germany and on to Poland. Sightseeing : The sightseeing in this town is rather boring. Let's go shopping . Suitcase : Let me unpack my suitcase and then we can go swimming. Tour : Peter went on a tour of the vineyard. Tourism : Tourism is becoming an important industry in almost every country. Tourist : Every May, many tourists from around the world come to see the flower festival. Travel : Travel is one of his favorite free time activities. Travel agent : The travel agent found us a great deal. Trip : The trip to New York was lovely and interesting. Vacation : I'd love to take a nice long vacation on the beach.

Overland Travel Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Bicycle : One of the best ways to see the countryside is to ride a bicycle. Bike : We rode a bike from shop to shop. Bus : You can catch a bus for Seattle at the bus station. Bus station : The bus station is three blocks from here. Car : You might want to rent a car when you go on vacation. Lane : Make sure to get into the left lane when you want to pass. Motorcycle : Riding a motorcycle can be fun and exciting, but it's also dangerous. Freeway : We'll have to take the freeway to Los Angeles. Highway : The highway between the two cities is quite lovely. Rail : Have you ever traveled by rail? Go by rail : Going by rail offers the opportunity to get up and walk around as you travel. Railway : The railway station is down this street. Road: There are three roads to Denver. Main road : Take the main road into town and turn left at 5th Street. Taxi : I got in a taxi and went to the train station. Traffic : There's a lot of traffic today on the road! Train : I like riding on trains. It's a very relaxing way to travel. Tube : You can take the tube in London. Underground : You can take the underground in many cities throughout Europe. Subway : You can take the subway in New York.

Sea / Ocean Travel Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Boat: Have you ever piloted a boat? Cruise: We will stop at three destinations during our cruise through the Mediterranean. Cruise ship: It's the most elegant cruise ship in the world! Ferry: Ferries allow passengers to take their cars with them to their destination. Ocean: The Atlantic Ocean takes four days to cross. Port: There are all kinds of commercial ships in the port. Sailboat: The sailboat requires nothing but the wind. Sea: The sea is very calm today. Set sail: We set sail for the exotic island. Ship: Have you ever been a passenger on a ship? Voyage: The voyage to the Bahamas took three days.

Travel Vocabulary Quiz

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Travel and Transport

Travel vocabulary: using english for travel.

Travel vocabulary is one of the most useful areas of language learning today, as more people than ever are travelling far and wide for business and pleasure. There are many useful words and phrases we use when travelling and dealing with transport.

Although our travel plans have been put on hold for a while due to the Coronavirus pandemic , the world is slowly starting to open up again. This means we need to be ready with our travel language and vocabulary for when we can get a flight, a bus or a train!

For non-native speakers , travel vocabulary is a particularly useful topic of study and always a popular subject, allowing you to enjoy organising your travels without worrying about language issues.

Explore travel  vocabulary  here and learn useful  vocabulary related to travelling and using public transport. We have included useful words related to using trains, buses, cars, taxis, planes and boats, so you can have your travel phrases covered, whatever your mode of transport.  

General English Travel Vocabulary:

to arrive , to depart, to leave, to stay,

to cancel, cancellation, cancelled, delay, delayed

to book, to reserve, reservation, to cancel a reservation

holiday, business trip

suitcase, bag, luggage

trip, journey, to travel, map

travel agent, brochure

ticket office, fare, price, single/return ticket

by foot, on foot

travelling by plane, by train, by taxi, by car, by boat

roundabout, road, traffic lights, speed limit, junction, cross roads, road signs

Image source

Transport Vocabulary and Useful Phrases:

Wheels, steering wheel, dash board, indicators, headlights, roof, bonnet, boot, engine, battery, windscreen wipers, garage, car mechanic, petrol station, service (a ‘check up’ for a car)

Double decker, single decker, passengers, bus driver, bus stop, bus station, bus conductor, coach, luggage hold, bus lane

Bus travelling phrases:

the next stop, the last stop, to get on/off the bus, to buy a ticket

Train station, platform, track, level crossing, locomotive, underground, cross-country, local, return, single, ticket, carriage, first/second class, train driver, ticket inspector, waiting room, seat, timetable, guard, season ticket, fare, travel card, buffet car

Train travel phrases:

to catch a train, to check the timetable, on the platform, to travel cross-country

to get on the train, to embark, to set off (on a journey)

to get off the train, to disembark, to alight

ticket machine – a machine where you can buy your train tickets

ticket gate – a mechanical gate blocking access, where you need to insert your ticket to pass through

the buffet car – a carriage on a train where you can buy drinks and snacks

Grand Central Station , New York City – image source

Cab, black cab (official English taxi), fare, taxi rank, taxi driver, tip ( noun and verb )

Taxi travel phrases:

to hail a taxi / to flag down a taxi (when you raise your arm to get a taxi driver’s attention to encourage it to stop in the street)

to pay the fare (the fare is the fee for the journey)

to tip the driver (verb) / to give the driver a tip (noun)

Aeroplane, airport, airline, wing, runway, pilot, gate, passport, excess baggage charge, cabin crew, flight attendant, air steward/stewardess, security, turbulence, seatbelt

take off, landing

turbulence (uncomfortable, sudden movements of a plane due to air pressure/temperature changes)

hand luggage (luggage you take into the cabin with you)

hold luggage/checked luggage (luggage you check in for stowage under the aircraft)

over-head locker (where you can put your hand luggage)

boarding card, customs, departures, arrivals, lounge, aisle seat, window seat, check-in, in-flight movie, in-flight entertainment

terminal 1, terminal 2 / T1, T2 (a terminal is where passengers go to buy tickets, check in luggage, go to their boarding gate etc.)

boarding gate – where passenger go to board the plane (i.e. to get on the plane), located inside the terminal building

A plane takes off – image source

Plane travel phrases:

to put luggage/bags in the hold

to board the plane

prepare for take off, the plane will be taking off in 30 minutes

prepare for landing, the plane will be landing in 20 minutes

to fasten your seatbelt, to buckle up (‘buckle up’ is slang for ‘fasten your seatbelt’)

the flight was quite turbulent, to experience some  turbulence,  there was some light/heavy turbulence

“How was your flight?”

“It was good, thanks, except there was some turbulence during the descent that made me spill my drink!”

“Great – it was a smooth flight and I slept most of the time.”

Ferry, cruise ship, harbour, deck, port, sea, ocean, cabin, captain, sail, sea sickness , crossing, on board, life belt/jacket, foot passenger, buffet, port side, starboard

• The difference between a boat and a ship: boats are small to mid-sized vessels, often used for pleasure trips. Boat is also a generic term for water vessels. Ships are normally larger and are used to carry cargo, passengers or smaller boats.

Boat travelling phrases:

to embark  (to get on the boat) / to disembark (to get off the boat)

‘choppy’ seas / rough seas / strong waves

Calm waters will provide a peaceful cruise for this ship  –  image source

calm waters / still waters

to sail, to have a good crossing (a ‘crossing’ is when you go from one place to another on a boat/ship) – e.g.  “Did you have a good crossing?”

to go out on deck (to go outside on the ship)

welcome aboard/on board (you might hear this when you embark for the first time)

the captain’s table (where the captain sits at dinner – sometimes passengers might get an invitation to site at the captain’s table at some point during their cruise)

• ‘Plain sailing’ is an idiom that means an event that goes smoothly: ‘It’s all plain sailing from here’

It’s a great day to be ‘out on deck’ – image source

English at the Train Station

Useful travelling vocabulary for using the train, including phrases you may want to say, phrases you may hear and comments you might want to make about travelling by train:

• Train times on timetables are always given in the twenty-four hour clock format. So, 5.15 pm would be 17.15 and 9.05 am would be 09.05.

A busy airport – image source

“How was the journey?”

“It was fine, the train arrived on time and I managed to buy a coffee from the buffet car.”

“Terrible, the first two trains were cancelled and then I had to stand up for the entire journey.”

“My train was delayed, so I passed the time by browsing in the station bookshop”

English vocabulary at the airport

Travelling vocabulary for using planes and visiting the airport, including phrases you might hear at the airport and sentences you might need to say when travelling by plane:

Click here to explore more essential English vocabulary and phrases for everyday situations.

When travelling and using transport, you might also need to ask for directions. Check out how to ask for directions in English when travelling around a city with our directions page. Our article includes possible questions you might want to ask and answers you could receive when navigating your way around a new town.

Let us know your thoughts on travel vocabulary

What do you find most difficult about using English when travelling?

Do you find any of these phrases related to travel and transport confusing?

Can you think of other useful English travel vocabulary for using different modes of transport?

TEFL teachers, how do you incorporate travelling vocabulary into your English lessons?

2 thoughts on “ Travel and Transport ”

Thank you for the provided phrases and words. I would also like to see a short dialogue or common phrases when someone got lost in a city or trying to get somewhere, so that there should be various options for speaking about traveling ina city

Hi Tatyana, thanks for your comment. A dialogue like this is a great suggestion. We will looks to add something like this to the travel and transport page soon. In the meantime, you might find our directions page useful, as this contains phrases for asking for directions when travelling in a city.

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Literary English

Travel and Tourism Vocabulary | English Vocabulary

The language of travel and tourism is rich and diverse, with a wide range of words and phrases that help us navigate the world. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or an industry professional, understanding the vocabulary of travel and tourism can enhance your experiences and expand your horizons.

A detailed plan or schedule of a trip, including destinations, activities, and travel arrangements.

•  “I spent hours planning our itinerary for the Europe trip, making sure we had enough time to see all the famous landmarks.”
• “The travel agent provided us with a daily itinerary for our cruise, including shore excursions and onboard activities.”

When you leave a place to go somewhere else, like starting a trip or journey.

• “Our flight was supposed to leave the airport at 5pm, but it was delayed and we didn’t take off until later.”
•  “The train is leaving the station at 8am, so you need to be there on time to catch it.”

A vacationer is a person who is taking a vacation or holiday, often traveling to a different location for leisure and relaxation. Vacationers are typically on a break from work or their regular routine, seeking to unwind, explore new places, and enjoy various activities.

•   “The beach was filled with vacationers soaking up the sun and enjoying the warm weather.”
• “As a vacationer in a foreign country, she made sure to try all the local cuisine and drinks.”

The term “safari” has its roots in Swahili, where it means “journey” or “travel”. “safari” refers to a journey or adventure that involves exploring and observing wildlife in their natural environment, often in a rugged or remote setting. In English, it typically refers to a journey or expedition to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitat, especially in Africa.

• “The family went on a safari in Tanzania and got to see lions, elephants, and giraffes up close in their natural habitat.”
• “The photographer’s safari to the Maasai Mara National Reserve resulted in some stunning wildlife shots that were published in a prestigious magazine.”

A trip or travel from one place to another, often taking a long time. In other words, a journey is a trip that takes a while, and might be exciting, challenging, or memorable!

• “The journey from New York to Los Angeles by car takes a few days, but the scenery along the way is beautiful.”
• “The hike to the top of the mountain was a long and difficult journey, but the view was amazing.”

 To travel back and forth between your home and work or school every day.

• “I commute to the office every day by car, it takes about 30 minutes.”
• “She commutes to school by bus, it’s a long ride but she uses the time to study.”

The system or vehicles that help people travel from one place to another, like buses, trains, or subways.

• “The transit system in our city is really good, you can get anywhere easily.”
• “She uses public transit to get to work every day, it’s cheaper than driving.”

Definition: The bags, suitcases, or containers you use to carry your stuff when traveling.

• “I need to pack my luggage for the trip, I don’t want to forget anything important.”
• “He had a lot of luggage with him, it was hard to carry everything up the stairs.”

Finding your way from one place to another, often using maps, GPS, or landmarks.

• “Navigation on the hike was tricky, but we used our compass to stay on track.”
• “The navigation system in my car helps me find the best route to my destination.”

A journey or trip with a specific purpose, like exploration, research, or adventure.

• “The expedition to the Amazon rainforest was led by a team of scientists.”
• “The climbing expedition to Mount Everest required careful planning and preparation.”

A person who is on a trip or journey, often to a new or unfamiliar place.

•   “The traveler got lost in the city, but eventually found their way back to the hotel.”
• “She’s a frequent traveler, always exploring new countries and cultures.”

To go on a journey or travel to a new place, often with a sense of adventure or risk.

• “I ventured to the new cafe downtown and discovered a hidden gem.”
• “They ventured into the unknown territory, eager to explore and discover new things.”

A motel is a type of lodging establishment that provides rooms for rent, typically with direct access to a parking area and often with exterior corridors. Motels usually offer basic amenities and are designed for travelers who need a convenient and affordable place to stay. the motel provides a comfortable and convenient place to stay, often with a focus on practicality and affordability rather than luxury or frills.

• “After driving for hours, we stopped at a cozy motel off the highway to rest for the night and grab a good breakfast in the morning.”
• “The vintage motel on the beach had a retro charm and offered stunning ocean views, making it a perfect spot for a quick weekend getaway.”

A suite is a set of rooms in a hotel or other accommodation that are connected and designed to be used together. It typically includes a bedroom, a living room, and sometimes additional rooms like a dining room or kitchenette. Suites often offer more space, comfort, and amenities than a standard hotel room. the suite provides a more spacious and comfortable accommodation experience, with multiple rooms and amenities that offer a higher level of luxury and convenience.

• “The luxury suite at the five-star hotel featured a private balcony with breathtaking city views, a spacious living room, and a king-size bed with plush linens.”
• “After upgrading to a suite, we enjoyed having a separate living area to relax and entertain friends, making our stay feel more like a home away from home.”

A place or thing that people visit because it’s interesting or enjoyable.

• “The theme park is a popular attraction for families.”
• “The museum’s new exhibit is an attraction for art lovers.”

“Check out” refers to the process of settling your account and departing a hotel, resort, or other accommodation, typically at the front desk or reception area. It’s the moment when you officially end your stay and prepare to leave.

• “What time is check-out for our hotel room? We don’t want to be late!”
• “After packing up our bags, we headed to the front desk to check out and start our journey home.”

Check-in” refers to the process of arriving and registering at a hotel, resort, or other accommodation, typically at the front desk or reception area. It’s the moment when you officially arrive and begin your stay.

•   “What time is check-in for our hotel room?”
• “After a long flight, we finally arrived at the hotel and checked in around midnight.”

A famous or notable building, place, or structure that’s often visited by tourists.

• “The Eiffel Tower is a landmark in Paris.”
• “The Statue of Liberty is a landmark in New York City.”

A place people visit for rest, relaxation, and recreation, often with amenities like hotels, beaches, or spas.

• “The resort in Hawaii offers luxurious accommodations and activities like surfing and snorkeling.”
• “The ski resort in the mountains has cozy cabins and slopes for all skill levels.”

A person who travels to a new place for pleasure, often to sightsee, relax, or experience a different culture.

• “The tourists got lost in the city, but enjoyed exploring new streets and shops.”
• “She’s a tourist in Paris, visiting famous landmarks like the Louvre and Notre Dame.”

A small book or paper with information and pictures about a place, attraction, or service.

• “The travel brochure highlighted the best restaurants and hotels in the city.”
• “The museum’s brochure explained the history and significance of the artwork on display.”

 A book that provides information and advice about a place, like maps, attractions, and restaurants.

• “The guidebook helped us navigate the city and find the best places to eat.”
• “She used a guidebook to plan her trip to Japan and learn about the culture.”

Hospitality

Friendly and welcoming behavior towards guests or visitors, making them feel comfortable and valued.

• “The hotel staff showed great hospitality, helping us with our bags and recommending local attractions.”
• “The family’s hospitality made us feel at home during our visit.”

Sightseeing

Visiting famous or interesting places, like landmarks, museums, or historical sites.

• “We spent the day sightseeing in Rome, visiting the Colosseum and Vatican City.”
• “The city offers a lot of sightseeing opportunities, from art museums to historic neighborhoods.”

In conclusion, traveling and tourism have a vast vocabulary that helps us navigate and enjoy our experiences. From attractions and landmarks to resorts and guidebooks, understanding these terms enhances our adventures and allows us to appreciate the beauty and culture of the places we visit. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or embarking on your first trip, knowing these words will make your journey more enjoyable and memorable. Happy travels!”

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90 English Tourism Vocabulary Words and Phrases

English is the most common language used in the international tourism industry. If you work in tourism or hope to find a job in the industry, you need to know the right words and phrases to communicate with tourists from all over the world.

From quick interactions to department-specific scenarios, this guide contains useful tourism vocabulary to help you with your job.

Interacting with Customers

Greeting customers, asking customers questions , responding to questions, checking for understanding, common scenarios in tourism english, giving recommendations, giving directions , making friendly small talk, jobs in hospitality and tourism, jobs at hotels and resorts, bar and restaurant staff, jobs at travel and tourism companies, more tourism vocabulary in english, how to learn english tourism vocabulary, and one more thing....

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You always want to welcome customers or guests with a friendly, professional greeting :

• Good morning (before 12 p.m.)
• Good afternoon (between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.)
• Good evening (after 5 p.m.)
• Welcome to… [company name] . My name is… [your name] .

Be sure to always use a respectful term to refer to your customers:

• Miss — Young women (under age 30)
• Ma’am — Mature women (over age 30)
• Sir — Men of all ages

For example, using these terms you can now greet customers in a very respectful way:

• Good morning, miss .
• Good afternoon, sir .

If you are working at a hotel, restaurant or tour agency, you can greet a customer and then ask them this question:

Do you have a reservation with us?

To answer the phone, you only need one simple phrase:

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Hello, you’ve reached [company name]. This is [your name]. How may I help you?

If you are working with customers in a hotel, before they go to their rooms you can say one of these phrases:

• We hope you enjoy your stay!
• Please let us know if you have any questions or comments during your stay.

You will want to make sure your customers are safe and happy while they are with you. You can do this by asking friendly and polite questions, such as:

• How are you doing this morning? (or afternoon/evening)
• Have you been having a good time?
• Is there anything else we can do to make your experience more enjoyable?

Customers will have many questions, and sometimes you will not know the answer. You may need to ask a coworker or supervisor. When this happens, you can use the following phrases:

• I will get that information for you right away.
• That’s a great question! I will check with my supervisor and let you know.

As a guide, host or receptionist, you will need to double-check for understanding. These phrases are simple and quick ways to make sure you have understood the guest or customer:

• I heard you ask (about flights) . Is that correct?
• So, you said (you wanted to visit the ruins) , right?
• Okay, I understand that (your flight leaves at 3 PM) . Is that correct?

To ask for clarification

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Your guest may use vocabulary that you are unfamiliar with. Likewise, they might have an accent that is difficult for you to understand. Here are some polite ways to ask them to repeat or clarify what they said:

• I’m sorry, I didn’t quite understand that. Can you say that again?
• Pardon my English, but I didn’t understand that. Can you say that again?
• I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Can you describe what you mean?

To invite your guests to ask questions

You can make all of your guests feel welcome by encouraging them to ask questions:

• Does anyone have any questions?
• Yes, sir? / Yes, ma’am? Do you have a question?
• Please feel free to raise your hand any time if you have a question.
• So, any questions?

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When working in tourism, you might need to give directions to tourists, share recommendations for a good restaurant or attraction or make friendly conversation.

In these scenarios, you will play the part of the “guide,” but it could be any job where you interact with tourists. Practice these dialogues so you feel confident using these words and phrases in your interactions.

• For (authentic cuisine, family activities, etc.), I recommend…
• My favorite place is…
• Personally, I suggest…

Tourist: Excuse me, do you know a good place for ice cream?

Guide: Oh, yes. For really good ice cream, I recommend Maria’s. It’s located about six blocks from here, and it’s my favorite place. Personally, I suggest the chocolate cherry flavor. I think your family will like it.

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Tourist: Great, thanks!

If you work in tourism, you will need to give directions to visitors. Here are some key phrases you might use to explain how to get somewhere: 

• Go straight
• Stop at the…
• Continue until…
• Take the subway (or bus, train, etc.)
• Follow the signs for…
• At the traffic light
• At the next street (or light, block, etc.)
• In five blocks
• Near the hotel (or beach, station, etc.)
• On the main plaza

See this post for more words and phrases for giving directions: 

Asking for and giving directions in English is a helpful skill, and this guide will show you the important vocabulary you need to know, with audio pronunciation included!…

• FluentU builds you up, so you can build sentences on your own
• Start with multiple-choice questions and advance through sentence building to producing your own output
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Tourist: Can you tell me how to get to the theater?

Guide: Sure! The theater is near the train station. You need to go straight down this street for one block. At the next street, turn left. Continue until you see a sign for the theater, in about five blocks. If you’re lost, you can follow the signs for the train station. Does that make sense?

Tourist: Yes, thank you!

Here’s a helpful video to practice basic phrases for giving directions:

Here are some phrases that you can use when you want to make friendly conversation with a guest or visitor:

• So, are you enjoying your time in (Paris) so far?
• Tell me, what is your favorite part of the city so far?
• What do you think of the (architecture, food, beach, festival, etc.) ?

This vocabulary will help you a lot when you are working in the tourism industry or searching for jobs. 

• Bellhop / baggage handler — the person who will open the front door for guests and carry their bags to their rooms
• Concierge / receptionist — the person at the front desk who welcomes the guests, gives out room keys, helps guests make reservations and takes payments for reservations
• Maid / housekeeper — the person who cleans the hotel rooms ( see English vocabulary for housekeeping here ) 
• Janitor — the person responsible for cleaning everything outside of hotel rooms, such as the lobby and other common areas 
• Groundskeeper — the person who takes care of all the plants outside the hotel
• Maintenance worker — the person who fixes anything that stops working in the hotel 
• Manager / supervisor — the person who makes sure everything goes well at the hotel, hires employees, teaches new employees how to do their jobs and makes sure that guests are happy
• Event planner — the person who makes sure the hotel is ready for big events such as business conventions (meetings) or weddings 

Here are a couple of vocabulary guides for working in hotels:

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• Covering all the tricky edge cases, eg.: phrases, idioms, collocations, and separable verbs
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Practicing English for receptionists can help you greet and assist hotel guests with ease. By studying the right phrases, you can prepare yourself to handle common…

Knowing hotel vocabulary in English is essential if you want to work in the hospitality industry. Check out our list of 100+ vocabulary words and phrases on everything…

These jobs might exist at a hotel if it has a bar and/or restaurant. 

• Bartender — the person who makes and serves drinks at the bar 
• Host / hostess — the person who stands at the entrance to the restaurant and welcomes guests, brings them to a table and takes reservations on the phone and in person
• Server / waiter / waitress — the person who serves customers who are eating at the restaurant (“waiter” refers to a male, “waitress” refers to a female and “server” can refer to any gender)
• Busboy / busser — the person who makes sure that tables are clean and ready for customers
• Chef / cook — the person who prepares food at the restaurant

If you work or want to work in a bar or restaurant, check out this vocabulary guide next:

Click here to learn English for restaurant staff! Here, we have information about six essential restaurant positions, the common phrases used by each one and study…

There are entire companies that exist just to help travelers book their trips. If you work for one of these companies, you will either work in an office or outside the office helping travelers enjoy their time in your city or country.

• Secretary / administrative assistant — someone who takes care of the whole office by organizing paperwork, making and receiving phone calls, organizing the office schedule and taking reservations for tours and trips
• Travel agent — someone who helps people find the most affordable flights, hotels, etc. and helps them buy tickets and make reservations before they travel
• Tour guide — someone who goes out with tourists and takes them on adventures to explore towns, cities, farms, mountains, jungles and more
• Taxi driver / private driver — someone who drives tourists in a taxi or private car between different places, and sometimes on a tour around the area
• Shuttle driver — someone who drives a large vehicle (usually a small bus or large van) to transport groups of people between places, such as from the hotel to some popular tourist destinations or between the hotel and the airport
• Airline agent — someone who works at the desk of an airline (a company that owns airplanes and provides transportation services with them)
• Flight attendant — someone who takes care of passengers on airplanes by serving food and drinks and giving safety instructions ( see English vocabulary for flight attendants here )
• Cruise attendant — someone who takes care of people on boats and ships by doing the same things as flight attendants, providing services like food and drinks and giving safety instructions
• Translator — someone who translates between different languages in writing, such as for tourism guides or flyers 
• Interpreter — someone who translates between two languages by listening and speaking, often to help tourists and visitors understand and speak with local people
• Recreational guide — someone who goes with tourists to do activities like yoga, surfing, cycling, running, hiking and climbing mountains

Here is a list of common tourism-related English words. You might be asked questions with these words or you might need to use them yourself. Make sure you’re familiar with them and can use them in full sentences.

• Tourist – someone who travels to different places for enjoyment or to see new things
• Attractions — places of interest that are often visited by tourists, such as museums or amusement parks
• Landmark – a special or famous place that people can easily recognize, often used for giving directions
• Destination – a place to which people travel for leisure, business or other purposes
• Guide – a person who helps tourists by showing them around and giving them information about a place
• Guidebook – a book that provides information for travelers about a particular destination, including attractions, hotels and restaurants
• Souvenir – a small item that people buy to remember a place they visited, like a keychain or a postcard
• Itinerary – a plan or schedule that shows the activities or places someone will visit during their trip
• Accommodation – a place where travelers can stay overnight, such as a hotel, hostel or campground 
• Transportation – the way people travel from one place to another, such as by car, bus, train or airplane
• Passport – a document issued by a government that proves a person’s identity and nationality, allowing them to travel internationally
• Visa – a stamp or document given by a country’s government that allows someone to enter or stay in that country for a certain period of time, usually for tourism, work, or study
• Business district — also called the financial district, this is the center of the city where many offices, banks and companies are located
• Entertainment district — a part of a city where there are lots of restaurants, bars, theaters and other fun places
• Dining district — an area within a city with a lot of restaurants 
• Custom — a traditional way of doing something that is common in a particular culture or society
• Highlight — the most interesting or exciting part of something, often the main attraction 
• Scenery — the natural features of an area, such as mountains, rivers or forests, that people find beautiful to look at
• Surroundings — the area or environment around a particular place, including nearby buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods
• Depart — to leave from a place, especially when traveling
• Arrive — to reach or get to a place or destination, especially when traveling
• Recommend — to suggest or advise someone to do something because you think they will enjoy it
• Read the “English for International Tourism” textbooks. They are available in low-intermediate ,  intermediate  and  high-intermediate levels. As long as you have a foundation in English, this series is perfect for learning how to communicate with coworkers and tourists in different tourism-related scenarios. Here are some more English for Tourism books we recommend.  
• Take an English for Tourism course. You can find some great courses on Udemy, such as this English for Business and Tourism course aimed at low-intermediate to intermediate students. Or take lessons with a tutor who specializes in tourism on Preply .
• Complete tourism English courses on Memrise. Focus on Memrise English courses for tourism. These lessons feature English vocabulary words and phrases that anyone in the tourism industry would use in their daily activities. Try spending at least 30 minutes a day using Memrise to brush up on your tourism vocabulary—you’ll notice a difference!
• Follow travel vloggers on YouTube. Look for channels or specific videos about the place where you will be working. Engage in discussions in the comments as well! Not only will that make using YouTube more fun , but it will also require you to learn and use new words during your chats back and forth with others.
• Participate in discussions on travel forums. Travel forums allow you to use your new tourism vocabulary with native speakers and practice written English . On TripAdvisor , you can talk with English speakers about traveling, hotels, restaurants, transportation and more. The /r/travel subreddit is a great place to talk about everything related to tourism. 
• Give yourself daily homework. A great place to start is  the tourism section of ESL Conversation Questions . You’ll find a variety of tourism-related topics that you can discuss with your friends and coworkers. If you’re a hospitality professional, check out Oxford University Press’ free online workbook series, English for Careers . 

Bookmark this page so you can come back and view this tourism vocabulary whenever you have some free time.

Soon you will be able to communicate with any tourist who crosses your path!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Travel Glossary: 100+ Terms, Acronyms & Definitions You Need To Know

This travel glossary contains more than 100 of the most common terms and acronyms you are likely to hear in the travel industry.

The travel niche has its own terms, abbreviations, and definitions.

As it can get complicated to understand them all, we created this complete travel glossary. 

You can either click on:

• A letter 
• Ctrl + f to use the search function

Note that we are still working on this glossary and we’ll update it frequently.

Abbreviation for American Airlines.

A Broken Backpack

A travel blog about long-term travel, adventure travel, budget travel, and more. You’re currently reading abrokenbackpack.com. At first, our blog was targeting backpackers and long-term travelers. Over the years, we have expanded our content with more travel tips for everyone.

Abbreviation for Air Canada.

Usually, an option that can come with an extra cost. Examples: optional luggage, optional meal.

Abbreviation for Air France.

Abbreviation for Air India.

Airalo is an online eSIM store that allows you to purchase eSIMs (digital SIM cards) in 190+ countries and regions around the world at affordable prices. Learn more about eSIM cards for travel .

An organization that provides air transportation.

A set of buildings, facilities and runways that are made for take-off, landing, and plane maintenance.

Airport codes

A combination of 3 letters is used to identify a specific airport. Examples: YUL identifies the airport in Montreal city.

Airport tax

Costs that an airline has to pay for departure and arrival in airports. These can vary from one airport to another and are usually included in a flight ticket price.

Practice in which you can order individual items from a menu instead of a set meal.

All-inclusive

A vacation that includes all the essentials (usually accommodation, food, and drinks). We commonly refer to an all-inclusive holiday or an all-inclusive resort.

An association or union between countries or airlines. Examples: Star alliance is an airline association regrouping several major airlines that collaborate to offer more flight connections and smooth stopovers.

Abbreviation for Aeromexico Cargo.

Abbreviation for Alaska Airlines.

Abbreviation for Royal Air Maroc.

Availability

The number of hotel rooms, or seats remaining.

Abbreviation for Finnair.

Abbreviation for Alitalia.

A bag that you use to carry things on your back. Usually large enough to carry all your things when you travel. Synonyms include “packsack” or “rucksack”.

A traveler or hiker who carries their belongings in a backpack.

Backpacking

A travel style that includes travels or hikes with a large backpack. Commonly, backpacking is a way to travel on a budget. The traveler may hike and camp outside for multiple days, or stay in hostels during their travels.

The basic cost of an airline ticket. Usually, this fare doesn’t include extra fees, taxes, or surcharges.

A bed and breakfast (often shortened to B&B) is a small hotel that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast.

Black Friday

A Friday at the end of November when you’ll find crazy travel deals on airfares, hotels, Amazon, etc. You can stay up to date with Black Friday deals here .

Step in which passengers are getting into the airplane. Usually, the airport staff calls passengers divided into different zones to board the plane.

Boarding pass

A paper ticket or a mobile ticket issues after check-in that allows you to board the plane.

Booking.com

An accommodation travel booking website with worldwide coverage comparing hotels, hostels, apartments and car rentals. You can book your hotels easily on Booking.com .

Booking number

Also known as a reservation number – a unique code including letters and numbers that confirm your reservation.

Bucket list

A travel expression used to define a set of destinations to visit or things to do in a country.

A bus travel booking website with worldwide coverage comparing bus route fares. You can purchase bus tickets on Busbud .

Business-class

A section that is usually between the first class and the economy class. The business class provides more amenities and services than the economy class. You can find a business class on planes or trains.

A cabin in a plane is the space inside the plane where passengers sit. A cabin in a ship is a room where a passenger sleeps.

Van that was designed for sleeping and road-tripping. Some campers prefer to sleep inside a van than in a tent. Also known as a camper van.

An activity that involves sleeping in a tent.

A captain in a plane is the pilot.

Carry-on baggage

A piece of luggage that you can bring along on the plane cabin. Usually, you’ll put this luggage in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you.

Checked luggage

A bigger piece of luggage that you don’t have access to during the flight. Usually, you’ll drop off your luggage at the airline counter before you go through security and customs.

A confirmation of your presence on a flight, train, or bus. Usually, you can check-in online or directly at the airport, bus station, or train station. Once the check-in is completed, you’ll get a boarding pass which can be issued electronically or on paper.

It can also be used in hotels. In this situation, the client goes to the hotel reception, presents identification documents, and receives a key to their hotel room.

A client leaves a hotel by bringing back the key on time at the hotel reception and paying for any remaining fees.

It’s a synonym of a bus.

A hotel staff member who helps guests organize transportation, reservations, or any special requests.

Connecting flight

A flight that includes a stopover and as a result, the passenger must change aircraft.

Culture is a shared system of symbols and meanings that allow people to communicate and interact with one another. It includes the customs, traditions, and values that are passed down from generation to generation.

Custom Tour

A custom tour is a personalized experience that is tailored to your specific needs. A custom tour can be created for any location, and can be customized to include any number of activities or attractions.

Cyber Monday

A Monday at the end of November or early December when you’ll find crazy travel deals on airfares, hotels, Amazon, etc. You can stay up to date with Cyber Monday deals here .

Direct flight

A flight that goes from an origin to a destination without stops, or connections.

A deck is a floor on a ship. Some cruise ships can have multiple decks.

Destination

The final stop on a travel itinerary. 

Type of rooms where you’ll find several beds or bunk beds. Usually popular in hostels because of their cheap rates.

Double room

A hotel room that had two double beds and that can accommodate between 2 and 4 people.

Exemption from import taxes. For example, in an airport, there’s a duty-free shop area where you won’t need to pay import taxes on products.

Early check-in

Early check-in is when you check in to your hotel before the check-in time.

Economy class

A section of the plane, bus, or train, with basic services and lower fares.

Electronic boarding pass

A virtual boarding pass that is usually on a mobile phone.

Another word for expatriate. A person who lives in a different country temporarily or permanently.

First class

The class with the most services – usually comes with more space, better meals, and premium services.

A fjord is a long and narrow inlet of the sea, usually flanked by steep cliffs.

Frequent flyer program

An airline loyalty program that allows you to collect points and transform them into vouchers or rewards.

G-Adventure

Adventure travel company that organizes small-group tours, expeditions and safaris around the world.

Area and door where passengers board their flight from or deplane at their arrival.

An establishment that provides accommodations to travelers.

Holafly is a website that allows you to purchase eSIM for your travels. You can read our complete Holafly review to learn more about it.

A budget accommodation offering shared dorms and private rooms. Very popular amongst budget travelers, backpackers and young travelers.

A popular airport where many airlines organize connecting flights to smaller destinations.

Immigration

An area where a traveler must present travel documents like their passport or visa in order to enter the country.

A plan, or route designed for a trip, usually in chronological order.

A feeling of tiredness felt by a person after flying across different time zones.

King-size bed

The biggest bed size there is.

A period of time between transportation connections, or stopover.

One part of a journey. For example, one flight out of a 3-flight route.

A small house or a part inside a large house where travelers sleep. Usually, it’s a synonym for guest houses or hotels.

The hotel is located next to the main roads and that is made for road trippers.

A vehicle that is designed for mobile living accommodation. For example, RVs, campervans, campers.

A traveler or passenger that doesn’t show up for a flight, hotel, or reservation without canceling the booking.

Point of departure.

Overbooking

A popular practice in which airlines sell more seats that they have available to compensate for no-shows. Unfortunately, this practice can create problems if all the passengers show up.

A document issued by a government that includes information about the identity, nationality, and visa of a traveler.

A word used as a synonym for passenger, mostly used in the travel and the tourism industry.

When staying in a hotel, a traveler can request a quiet room. Usually, this room is isolated or is in a quieter area.

Reservation

Action taken to book a flight, activity, or hotel room.

An area designed for massage, hot springs, steam baths, or saunas.

A building or area inside an airport. For example, an airport can be divided into multiple terminals so that passengers can know where their departure or arrival gate is located.

Moving to a better class of service, or accommodation.

A stamp or a sticker in a passport allowing you to enter a country for a specific amount of time.

Documents you can use to exchange for goods, accommodation, or services. Usually, the payments for these good, and services has already been made.

Synonym of travel in the French language.

A list of potential travelers that are not confirmed yet.

A software designed for digital nomads and online entrepreneurs who have a business in Estonia.

An expression used amongst young people that means You Only Live Once.

An establishment that displays, studies, and rescues wild animals.

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IELTS Vocabulary – Tourism

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• IELTS Vocab

Considering that tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world, questions about tourism are common on the IELTS examination. You may be asked about trips you have taken or the wider impact of different types of tourism. Therefore, it is essential that you know and understands a range of words and phrases used to discuss tourism and related issues. This page contains commonly used IELTS vocabulary that will help make your answers more advanced and natural sounding. There are some exercises for you to practice using the words with some real IELTS questions.

Table of Contents

• General Tourism Vocabulary
• General Tourism Vocabulary Activity
• Tourism Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations
• Tourism Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations Activity

1. General Tourism Vocabulary

• Accommodation – The places where tourists/visitors stay. For example, hotels, hostels etc…
• Acculturation – The process of incorporating the values of other cultures. For example, a destination may adapt to the culture of visitors.
• Backpacking – To travel, often to more than one destination, with your belongings in a backpack
• Camping – A holiday spent in a tent or camper van
• Cruise – A sea-based trip taking a pre-planned route that involves visiting several ports
• Ecotourism – Tourism that does not cause damage to the natural environment
• Excursion – A short trip usually taken whilst on holiday
• Footfall – The number of people who enter an area/shop
• Heritage – Objects and characteristics that are valued because of their cultural or historical significance
• Homeland – The country you were born/brought up in
• Infrastructure – The basic organisational structures in a place such as roads, transport systems, power supply, water etc…
• Itinerary – A detailed plan of a route or journey. It usually includes times, dates, prices etc…
• Luggage – The collective name for the suitcases/bags that you take on a trip
• Luxurious – Of high quality
• Mass tourism – Tourism on a large scale, often with standardised packages
• Overseas – In a different country
• Picturesque – Something that has an attractive or pretty appearance
• Resorts – Places or destinations that are popular with tourists
• Safari – A type of holiday/trip to observe or hunt animals. Most common in Africa.
• Seasonal – Only occurring at certain times of the year
• Sightseeing – The act of visiting different attractions or sights
• Skiing holiday – A holiday where the primary purpose is to ski or engage in winter sports
• Souvenir – Something you keep as a reminder of a place
• To book – To reserve a flight or accommodation
• To stroll – To walk, often slowly, with no particular destination in mind
• Touristy – Places that are adapted or designed specifically for tourists, or places that have lots of tourists
• Traditional/Quaint – Old-fashioned and attractive

2. General Tourism Vocabulary Activity

Ielts vocabulary – tourism-1, 3. tourism idioms, phrasal verbs, and collocations.

Possessing the ability to use idioms, phrasal verbs and collocations correctly when discussing tourism will enable you to gain a higher score when you come to take the IELTS exam. Here are some useful words and phrases that you can use to make your answers sound more natural and advanced.

• A sense of adventure – A desire to explore and engage in adventurous activities
• A thirst for adventure – A desire to do something adventurous
• All-inclusive – A trip where all food, drink, and accommodation are provided
• Around the world – A large proportion of the world. Many destinations/continents.
• Booked-up – Fully sold out or full
• Bucket list – The places you want to visit and things you want to do in your lifetime
• Check-in – Arrive and register at an airport or hotel
• City break – A short 2- or 3-day trip to a city destination
• Day trip – A trip that only lasts for one day
• Get around – To move from place to place
• Get away – To go on holiday/vacation/ (n) The holiday/vacation itself
• Guided tour – Part of a trip where tourists are taken from place to place and given information by a guide
• Head for/towards – To go in a certain direction or the direction of a specific place
• Itchy feet – The desire to travel
• Long haul/Short-haul destination – A destination far away from your home/ close to your home
• Long haul/Short-haul flight- A flight that takes 6 + hours / A flight that takes -3 hours
• Low-cost-airline – An airline that offers cheap with a minimal level of on-board service
• On a shoestring – With a low amount of money
• Out of season – The part of the year when it is not very busy
• Package holiday – A holiday where the flight and accommodation, and often food, are included
• Peak season – The busiest time of the year. For example, school holidays and Christmas
• The road less travelled – The places where not many people have been
• Travelling light – To go on a trip with little bags or luggage

4. Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations Activity

Ielts vocabulary – tourism-2.

For more practice, Visit COVID 19 vocabulary .

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One thought on “IELTS Vocabulary – Tourism”

The exercise help me a lot, I´ll try to keep in touch. Thanks Encarna

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Do you have a glossary of travel, tourism & hospitality terms?

Every industry has its own jargon and lingo. tourism is no different. here's a great list of tourism terms that you should know..

The list has been compiled by the world-class team of strategists, consultants, educators and established tourism experts at the nonprofit Tourism Academy . Our team offers relationship powered professional development, trade marketing, tourism development and consulting solutions. 

Glossary of Tourism Terms

adventure travel:  a type of niche tourism, involving exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk (real or perceived), and which may require special skills and physical exertion 

affinity group : a group of people linked by a common interest or purpose. See also pre- formed group. 

agent : one who acts or has the power to act as the representative of another. A person whose job it is to arrange travel for end clients (individuals, groups, corporations), confirming travel components and simplifying the planning process for customers, providing consultation services and travel packages. 

American Bus Association (ABA) : A trade organization consisting of member bus lines throughout the country. www.buses.org 

American National Standards Institute (ANSI): A private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. www.ansi.org

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA):  The oldest and largest travel agent organization in the world with travel agents being the primary members. Other companies providing travel industry products and services can be associate members. www.astanet.com 

Application Programming Interface  ( API) : a code that allows two software programs to communicate with each other. 

attrition : Shortfall of sleeping room block pick-up or food-and-beverage projections from numbers agreed to in a contract. Penalties for attrition may be outlined in a contract’s attrition clause. 

Average Daily Rate (ADR) : a statistical unit that represents the average rental income per paid occupied room in a given time period. 

back of house : a business term that refers to parts of a business operation that customers do not see. This may refer to mechanical rooms, accounting offices, kitchens, and those persons who are engaged in those areas. 

block : a group of rooms, tickets, seats or space reserved for a specific customer - usually for a set period of time. Room blocks are commonly reserved for conventions, meetings or groups in general. Room blocks may also be allocated to high volume buyers (wholesale, receptive, tour) who intend to sell them as tour components on an ongoing basis. A room block is usually under a firm agreement and is for a set period of time. 

Brand USA : A public/private partnership to promote inbound tourism to the United States and communicate US entry/exit policies. Also known as the Corporation for Travel Promotion. www.thebrandusa.com 

bulk pricing : the practice of offering exceptionally low, typically non-commissionable rates to high volume buyers who purchase a specified number of units to resell at a mark up. 

campaign : A specific, defined series of activities used in marketing a new or changed product or service, or in using new marketing channels and methods. 

Certified Tour Professional (CTP) : A designation administered by the National Tour Foundation and conferred upon tour professionals who complete prescribed evaluation requirements. 

certificate:  an official document attesting to a fact such as a level of achievement in a course of study or training.

certification: the action or process of providing someone or something with an official document attesting to a status or level of achievement. See also: American National Standards Institute

certified: officially recognized as possessing certain qualifications or meeting certain standards. 

Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) : A designation conferred upon travel professionals who have completed a travel management program offered by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents. 

Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) : A designation conferred upon convention and meeting management professionals who have completed an application and written exam offered by the Events Industry Council. 

channel manager : a system or platform that coordinates the distribution of product details, inventory and pricing in real time across multiple sales “channels” 

charter : to hire for exclusive use any aircraft, motorcoach, cruise ship or other vehicle 

class of service : a parameter used to differentiate the types of accommodation offered by travel suppliers, often denoted by fare code on air tickets. Classes may reflect differences in space, comfort, amenities and cabin service. Ex: First Class, Business Class, Coach Class or please hold this chicken until we land. 

commercial rate : A special rate given by a hotel or rental car, motor coach, bus or passenger transport company to an organization based on either the volume of business done or the type of accommodation or rental car. Also referred to as a corporate rate. 

commission : The varying amount paid by suppliers to travel agents for the sale of travel products and services. 

commissioned tours : A tour available for sale through retail and wholesale travel agencies, which provides for a payment of an agreed upon sales commission either to the retail or wholesale seller.

complementary : goods or services that add to the value of another good or service. Ex: peanut butter complements jelly

complimentary (comp) : Service, space or item given at no charge.

complimentary (comp) ratio : The number of rooms, tickets, meals or service items provided at no cost based on the number of occupied rooms.

• The industry standard is one complimentary room per 20-50 rooms occupied per day. 
• The industry standard for ticketed attractions and restaurants is one complimentary admission/meal per 10-20 paid. 

complimentary registration : Waiver of registration fees. 

concierge : a hotel employee whose job is to assist guests by arranging tours, local transportation, making reservations for theater or restaurants, etc. 

Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) : A nonprofit organization supported by bed taxes, government budget allocations, private memberships or a combination of these. A CVB promotes tourism, encourages groups to hold meetings and trade shows in its city, and assists groups before and during meetings. 

consolidator : a person or company which forms groups to travel using group rates on to increase sales, earn override commissions or reduce the possibility of tour cancellations. 

consortium : a loosely knit group of independently owned and managed companies such as travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, or other suppliers, with a joint marketing distribution process 

convention and visitors bureau (CVB) : a nonprofit local organizations charged with representing (and promoting) a specific destination. CVBs are funded by transient room taxes, government budget allocations, private membership dues, sponsorship sales and program participation fees, or a combination of these mechanisms.  See also: destination marketing organization 

co-op marketing: outreach activities that help multiple suppliers reach the target audience by sharing costs, resources and tactics. 

course: a series of lessons or modules to teach the skills and knowledge for a particular job or activity. 

destination : a place where travelers might visit. This may be any neighborhood, city, region or country that can be marketing as a single entity for tourists. 

destination management company (DMC) : Company or professional individual engaged in organizing tours, meetings of all types and their related activities. Also referred to as a ground operator. 

destination marketing organization (DMO) : A nonprofit marketing organization for a city, state, province, region or area whose primary purpose is the promotion of the destination.  See also: convention & visitors bureau 

direct spend : the value of goods and services purchased by tourists (e.g., attraction ticket, hotel room rate and meals) 

double double : refers to a room containing two separate double beds, capable of sleeping up to four guests comfortably, sometimes referred to as a “quad” 

double occupancy rate : the price per person for a room that will be shared between two people 

dynamic pricing : the practice of varying the price for a product or service to reflect changing market conditions, in particular the charging of a higher price during times of greater demand. This is the opposite of static pricing. 

educational travel : a type of niche tourism, built around learning objectives, often to the benefit of students and/or those who share a common interest, hobby or profession 

emerging market : A group of customers who do not provide as much business as the target markets, but show interest in the destination. 

escort : a person employed or contracted by a seller of packaged travel product who accompanies tour participants from point to point often acting as a the tour operator liaison and onsite problem solver. 

escorted tour : a packaged, pre-planned itinerary that includes the services of a tour manager or tour escort who accompanies participants for the full duration of the tour 

escrow : a legal concept and financial instrument whereby assets are held by a third party on behalf of two other parties that are in the process of completing a transaction. In many places, agents and tour operators are required by law to maintain customer deposits and pre-payments in escrow until the time of service. 

excursion : a trip made for leisure, education or physical purposes. It is often an adjunct to a longer journey, cruise or visit to a place. 

familiarization tour (FAM) : A program designed to acquaint participants with specific destinations or services. Offered in groups and on an individual basis. 

folio : an itemized record of guest charges and credits, often referred to as a guest bill or statement. 

frequent independent travel (FIT) : A custom-designed, pre-paid travel package with many individualized arrangements. An FIT operator specializes in preparing FITs documents at the request of retail travel agents. FITs usually receive travel vouchers to present to onsite services as verification or pre-payment. Also known as foreign individual/independent travel or frequent individual travel. 

front office : a business term that refers to a company’s departments that come in direct contact with customers. 

gateway : a city, airport, port or area where visitors arrive. International gateway refers to places where foreign visitors may first enter a country. 

ground operator : a company or individual providing local accommodations, transfers, ticketing and related services.  See also: receptive operator 

group booking : Reservation for a block of rooms for a single group. 

group tour : A prearranged, prepaid travel program for a group usually including transportation, accommodations, attraction admissions and meals. Also referred to as a package tour. 

guaranteed departure : a tour that will definitely operate on the day it is scheduled and will not be cancelled. 

Horizontal Market : audiences for products or services that are not easily distinguished by consumer characteristics. Examples of horizontal markets include those for computer security, legal or accounting services. 

Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI):  A trade association for hotel sales, marketing and revenue management professionals. 

hotel classifications : Classification of a hotel by its amenities, facilities, service and cost. Qualifications and terms may vary by country. 

• limited service or economy  is generally a reasonably priced, generally providing a bed, telephone, TV, shower and free parking. They often do not have room service or a restaurant. 
• full service  may refer to a property of any price category that offers some meeting space and features a restaurant onsite 
• moderate  medium-priced property with services and amenities such as a restaurant and possibly conference rooms. 
• upper moderate  is a property that offers special services such as a first-rate restaurant, banquet and conference rooms, valet service, room service, cable TV, and a host of other amenities. 
• luxury or deluxe  is a top-grade hotel or resort offering the highest service and the maximum variety of amenities. All rooms have a private bath, and all the usual public rooms and services are provided. 
• boutique  is loosely used to describe properties that have typically between 10 and 100 rooms and often contain luxury facilities in unique or intimate settings with full service accommodations. 

hub and spoke : a style of tour that has guests staying in a single location with excursions to nearby destinations 

incentive tour : travel experience offered to stimulate employee productivity or as a reward for sales agents 

incidentals : items not included in the package price 

inclusive : referring to a package or product price that includes all of the varying components, taxes and gratuities for a flat rate. An inclusive tour may include transportation, lodging, transfers, etc. for a set price. An inclusive meal might include food, drink, tax and gratuity. 

independent tour : a style of travel packaging that allows visitors to move about without the accompaniment of a tour manager or escort 

indirect spend : the value of all goods and services used to produce tourism output. (e.g., toiletries for hotel guests, ingredients for meals and plastic used in souvenirs) 

International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) : A trade association of inbound receptive tour operators and suppliers from the US. Formerly RSAA Receptive Services Association of America. 

incentive travel : A travel reward given by companies to employees to stimulate productivity. Also known as an incentive trip. 

inclusive tour : A specific package in which all components of the package are part of the price. Generally, an inclusive package includes transportation, lodging, meals, gratuities and taxes, and some form of sightseeing or rental car. The terms and conditions of a tour contract should specify exactly what is covered. Also referred to as an all-expense tour and an all-inclusive tour. 

inclusive rate : The rate charged to an operator that includes all service, tax, gratuities and additional fees. 

IPW : A computerized scheduled appointment show for international tour operators always held in the United States and sponsored by U.S. Travel Association. Formerly known as Pow Wow. 

itinerary : a schedule of travel components put together by an agent or operator. 

leg : a portion of a journey between two scheduled stops.

lesson: an amount of teaching given at one time; a period of learning or teaching.  

market segment : a group of consumers or buyer types that share one or more common characteristics, lumped together for sales or marketing purposes. 

markup : the difference between the cost of a good or service and its selling price. 

meet and greet : Pre-purchased service for meeting and greeting a client upon arrival in a city, usually at the airport, and assisting the client with entrance formalities, baggage and transportation. 

microlearning : a tool for training, teaching and development that delivers content in small, very specific bursts. 

module: each of a set of standardized parts or independent units that can be used to construct a more complex structure such as an item of furniture or a building. multiple lessons may be combined to create a module.  

motor coach : A large, comfortable, well-powered bus that can transport groups and their luggage over long distances. Motor coaches are normally able to accommodate 46 to 54 passengers. 

motor coach tour operator : A company that creates tours in which group members are transported via motor coach to their destination, itinerary activities and back. 

mystery tour : a short journey, usually in a bus, that people make for pleasure without knowing where they are going. 

NAJ : Producers of the RTO (receptive tour operator) summit and similar small trade show formats with a regional focus. Also referred to as North American Journeys 

net rate : A wholesale rate for groups (usually 10-15 people) which an operator may add a mark up. 

NTA (formerly National Tour Association) : A trade association of North American motor coach tour operators. www.ntaonline.com 

occupancy : the percentage of available rooms in use during a given period. 

online travel agent (OTA) : a travel website that specialized in the sale of travel products to consumers 

outbound operator (or outbound tour) : A company or tour that takes groups from a given city or country to another city or country. 

Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA) : A trade association of motorcoach operators based in and around Ontario province. 

package : Travel arrangements with two or more components offered for one price, inclusive of all taxes. Also refers to a single-fee booth package offered by show management. 

packager : An individual or organization that coordinates and promotes the development of a package tour and establishes operating procedures and guidelines for that tour. 

performance tour operator : A tour operator company that focuses on planning trips for groups that must perform while traveling like school bands, choral groups, etc. 

plus plus : a term used to describe a product price that does not include taxes, gratuities and/or service charges. Ex: The meal is $15 plus tax and gratuity OR $15++. 

pre- and post-trip tours : Optional extension or side trip package offered before or after a meeting, gathering or convention. 

pre-formed group : a group that contacts the tour operator to plan travel exclusively for the group members. 

rack rate : the normal rate of a product or service, before any discounts, commissions or net price arrangements 

receptive operator : A tour operator who provides local services, transfers, sightseeing, guides, etc. Many large receptive operators develop packages and sell them through wholesale tour operators in foreign countries. Also referred to as a ground operator, an inbound tour operator, a land operator, an RTO and a receiving agent. 

retail tour : A tour put together by a tour operator and sold to individuals.

request for proposal (RFP) : A document that stipulates what services the organization wants from an outside contractor and requests a bid to perform such services.

retailer : one who sells directly to the consumer.  See also: travel agent 

return on investment (ROI) : Net profit divided by net worth. A financial ratio indicating the degree of profitability. 

revenue per available room (RevPAR) : A measure used by hotels that divides revenue for a given time period by the number of available rooms for the same time period. 

sales mission : Intense selling effort in a particular locality; calling upon qualify leads. Usually performed by a group of people who may or may not all be in a sales capacity but have an interest in meeting with the same buyers. 

Seasons  (from a buyer/operator perspective): 

• looking The time of year when tour operators are looking at for new activities & vendors to include in future trips. Also known as product or catalog development season. 
• selling The time of year when tour operators are focused on reaching out to their customers, promoting future trips and selling packaged travel programs. 
• booking The time of year when tour operators are booking and confirming tour components they plan to utilize. 
• travel The time of year when the majority of the tour operators’ customers are traveling. 

Seasons  (from a supplier perspective): 

• off-season The time of year when tourist traffic, and often rates, are at their lowest because of decreased demand. Also referred to as low season, off-peak or value season. 
• peak season The time of year when demand and price is at a premium. Also known as high season. 
• shoulder season The season between peak season and off-season when demand is average and the travel product will not produce the highest price but does not need a deep discount to generate traffic.

series : describing a piece of business or scheduled itinerary that takes place on a regular frequency 

site inspection : Personal, careful survey of property, facility or area.

Skål  is a professional, fraternal organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. 

SMERF : Meetings acronym for a category of meeting market segments including social, military, educational, religious and fraternal type groups. These organizations often are looking for value when selecting a meeting destination. 

supplier : The actual provider of a travel product such as the hotel, attraction, restaurant, airline or car rental agency; not the travel agent or tour operator selling the product. 

STAR (STR) Report : a tool used to measure hotel performance against competitive aggregates and within local markets. Data is collected and distributed by strglobal 

static pricing : the practice of maintaining the same price for a product or service at all times regardless of changing market conditions, trends and demand. This is the opposite of dynamic pricing. 

Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA) : a trade association representing tour operator companies that specialize in student travel. www.syta.com 

tariff : a schedule of rates for a good or services provided by a supplier 

tiered pricing : A pricing structure that offers a variety of price points for different customer types. For more or suggested rates by buyer type. 

tour operator : A person or company that negotiates discount rates, packages travel products, prints brochures, and markets these travel products through travel agents or to the general public. 

tour vouchers : Documents issued by tour operators to be exchanged for accommodations, meals, sightseeing, admission tickets and other services. Also referred to as coupons and tour orders. 

tourism : travel for business or pleasure; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. Tourism may be international, or within the traveler’s country. 

tourism ambassador: an individual possessing the knowledge, skill and training to represent a destination, assist tourists and create better visitor experiences. 

Tourism Cares : A charitable organization that focuses on helping preserve the travel experience for future travelers. www.tourismcares.org 

trade association : Group of persons employed in a particular trade.

trade publication : A magazine or newsletter that targets a specific industry. 

trade show : Exhibit of products and services that is targeted to a specific clientele and not open to the public. 

travel agent (or travel agency) : Person or firm qualified to advise and arrange for travel needs such as hotel rooms, meals, transportation, tours and other travel elements. Represents all travel suppliers worldwide. Also referred to as a retailer. 

Travel Alliance Partners (TAP) : A member-owned organization of tour operators that work together to develop unique itineraries within their respective regions, cross-promote products offered by other members and leverage their collective buying power. www.tapintotravel.com 

travel receipt : purchase of travel and tourism related goods and services by visitors. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation and other items incidental to travel. 

United Motor Coach Association (UMA) : North America's largest association for operators of motorcoach companies providing charter, tour and regular route services. www.uma.org 

United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) : A nationwide organization of tour operators offering protection for travelers purchasing member travel products by way of a multi-million-dollar bond. www.ustoa.com 

Upsell : sales technique where a seller induces the customer to purchase more expensive items, upgrades or other add-ons in an attempt to make a more profitable sale 

U.S. Travel Association : The national, nonprofit association representing all components of the U.S. travel industry. (formerly known as TIA - Travel Industry Association of America) www.ustravel.org 

Vertical Market : used to identify areas where vendors offer goods & services specific to a group of customers with specialized needs. Examples may include customers identified by their areas of origin, age range(s) or interest types. 

Visa : a conditional authorization granted by a country to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain within, or to leave that country. 

voluntourism : the act or practice of doing volunteer or charitable work as needed in the communities where one is vacationing 

voucher : documents or digital codes issued to consumers by tour operators that may be exchanged for tour components 

walk-through : Review of meeting details, or inspection of function room or trade show floor prior to event. 

webinar : Short for web-based seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the web. A key feature of the webinar is its interactive elements – the ability to give, receive and discuss information. Contrast with webcast in which the data transmission is one way and does not allow interaction between the presenter and the audience. 

wholesaler : A company that creates and markets inclusive tours and FITs for sale through travel agents. Often used interchangeably with “tour operator,” but several distinctions should be drawn: a wholesaler presumably sells nothing at retail, a tour operator does both; a wholesaler does not always create his or her own products, a tour operator virtually always does; and a wholesaler is less inclined than a tour operator to perform local services. 

World Tourism Organization (WTO) : An organization created to promote and develop tourism in the interest of the economic, social and cultural progress of all nations. www.world-tourism.org

About the Author

Stephen Ekstrom is the Chief Strategist at The Tourism Academy | tourismacademy.org, featured speaker at numerous tourism industry conferences, travel writer and host of the Business Class podcast.

Short English Travel Vocabulary

• Post author: Harry
• Post last modified: 06/07/2021
• Post category: English Vocabulary
• Reading time: 9 mins read

Learn important English travel vocabulary words and phrases that will help you feel comfortable on your next adventure.

English for travelling. Travel phrasal verbs.

Share and help other students to improve English vocabulary

Summer is a great time to travel. If you are planning to travel abroad this summer, our short English travel vocabulary can come in handy.

Scroll down to watch a video lesson on Travel Phrasal Verbs .

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First things first, let’s find out what is the difference between travel, trip, journey and tourism. 

is usually used as a verb.

We had been travelling all day and were exhausted.

We can also use TRAVEL as a noun, but only with a general meaning of moving from place to place .

Foreign travel is very popular with students.

is a noun. It is used when you talk about going from one particular place to another. It may be long or short.

The journey from New York to Los Angeles took several days.

I have a short journey to work each day.

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is used if you talk about the whole visit – the journey there and back, the place you stayed and so on.

I’m going on a business trip next month. Did you have a good trip?

We had a very successful trip although the journey back was terrible.

is the industry of business providing accommodation, transport and other services.

Example: Tourism developed in Central America more slowly than in the nearby regions of the Caribbean and southern Mexico.

useful vocabulary words and phrases related to travel

Most of the times we BOOK our train or plane tickets in advance. We pay for a seat, a couchette, or berth in advance.

BERTH – bed in a boat

COUCHETTE – bed on a train.

For example, there are couchette coaches in Nightjet train which travels across Europe.

COMPARTMENT – a room on a train

FARE – money paid for a journey

I personally like to TRAVEL LIGHT – to travel with a very small amount of luggage

I always travel light. I only take hand luggage.

LUGGAGE –  baggage (suitcases, bags, etc)

A RESERVATION  is when you have paid for something in advance. You can have a reservation for a hotel room, a flight, a train and so on.

💂‍♂️  Sorry, Sir. This hotel is full. 🤴 This is ridiculous. I have a reservation.

In a hotel, you may be offered a SINGLE ROOM (for one person)

or a DOUBLE ROOM (with a bed for two people).

I’m on my own, so a single room will be fine.

My husband is meeting me later so I’d like a double room, please.

If the room is EN-SUITE it means that there is a private bathroom and toilet that other guest cannot use.

The rooms at the Palace Hotel are all en-suite so you can relax in your own bath.

If your hotel reservation is FULL BOARD it means that all your meals will be included. If it is HALF BOARD it includes your evening meal and breakfast, but not lunch.

Peter had all his meals included in the cost of the hotel. It was full board.

Some hotels offer a COMPLIMENTARY (free, costing nothing) breakfast in the morning or free drinks and snacks in the lobby.

Our guests receive welcome drinks and a complimentary fruit basket on arrival. 

SUPPLEMENTARY – costing extra money

Breakfast is supplementary and costs £15.

Travel Phrasal Verbs - Video Lesson

English travel phrasal verbs (video lesson).

When you arrive at the hotel you must CHECK IN and when you leave you CHECK OUT .

On the day of your arrival at the hotel, please check in by 18.00.

On the day of your departure, please check out by 10.00.

You also check in when you are getting a flight at an airport. After that, you may wait in the DEPARTURE LOUNGE , where only people who are getting on flights are allowed.

Our flight was delayed so we had to wait in the departure lounge for a few hours.

A STOPOVER is when you are flying to one place but have a short break in your journey in another place.

The flight to Sydney isn’t direct, there is a stopover in Singapore.

A BACKPACK is a big bag that you carry on your back.

TO BACKPACK means to travel for quite a long time, and very cheaply.

If we don’t have much money perhaps we could backpack around Europe for a couple of months.

More Information

For more information on English Expressions, English phrasal verbs and English Grammar, check out the following links:

English vocabulary related to driving

English adjectives to describe places

Free materials for intermediate and advanced English are always available at learning English with the BBC .

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Travel Vocabulary in English with Travel Stories

Apr 27, 2016 | Advanced Vocabulary

I know you love to travel as much as do. So today I want to share some of my favorite advanced travel vocabulary in English so you can tell your own travel stories more easily. 

I have 3 different travel stories for you today. In each, I’ve highlighted useful vocabulary and groups of words that often go together or collocations.

Here’s what I want you to do:

• Read the stories.
• Note the highlighted vocabulary and groups of words – can you identify the meaning from the context? (If you need help, you can use the definitions I’ve provided to help you.)
• Write your own travel story using some of the new vocabulary and expressions. You can write about a past travel experience, a business trip, a future vacation or any other travel opportunity. Then share your story in the comments.

The goal is for you to use the same keywords in your own sentences.

This is the best way for you to truly learn and remember new vocabulary. And this means the next time you talk or write about travel, you’ll have all these words available to you in your mind!

Advanced Travel Vocabulary in English with Real-Life Stories

Sharon’s travel story: a staycation on a tight budget.

When I was younger, I had a real  sense of adventure . I loved backpacking, camping in the woods, sleeping in tents and spending the evening next to the campfire. As a child, I remember trying to build a fire  from scratch  by rubbing two sticks together. I think my entire family laughed while I worked at it for an hour. Unfortunately, I never succeeded.

But I do have such good memories of camping and hiking with my family. Every summer my parents would  pack up  the kids and the dog into the car, pack all our  outdoor gear  on the roof of the car and fill coolers full of food.

My mom would pack all the usual stuff:  trail mix , fruit, marshmallows to  roast over the fire , stuff to make sandwiches, etc. We’d take a road trip to the mountains in Colorado, find our spot to  set up camp  and pitch our tents near the river. I loved listening to the sound of the river at night!

I haven’t camped for years! Neither David nor I can take that much time off of work. It makes me a little sad that Sophie, our daughter, won’t have those same memories.

But last year we did do something a little fun, a little different: we had a  staycation . The two of us could only get 4 days off of work and we were  on a tight budget . We hadn’t enjoyed everything the city has to offer for ages so we decided to just pretend to be on vacation here at home. We visited the museums, went to the theater, we even took a day trip to the coast a few hours away for a day of sun, sand, and surf.

We have some wonderful photos (and memories) of our picnic dinner watching the sunset on the beach.

sense of adventure

The desire to explore and to take advantage of adventurous opportunities.

outdoor gear

Generally used to describe items or equipment needed for outdoor recreation: tents, skis, bicycles, snowboards, etc.

set up camp

To prepare and position everything in a campsite.

from scratch

To make (or create) from the beginning with the basic ingredients.

A snack mix with a combination with dried fruit, grains, and/or nuts.

The combination of stay-at-home and vacation. A vacation where you stay at home and enjoy local sites.

pack up (the kids/the car)

To prepare one’s belongings; to gather one’s things together and prepare to depart. With “the kids” this refers to prepare the kids and their belongings for departure.

roast over the fire

To cook over the fire.

on a (tight) budget

To be on a budget means to not have a lot of extra money. A “tight” budget means very little extra money.

Lara’s Travel Story: Anything All-Inclusive

Ugh! I hate planning vacations. I mean, I do love traveling but I don’t want to think about it. All those little details – I  can’t be bothered !

I prefer those  all-inclusive  kinds of vacations for a  little R&R . You know, those places where  all you do is show up  and that’s it.

You have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Activities, the beach, the pools, dancing. Sure, they usually cost a little more but if I don’t have to plan everything then it’s worth it. The only thing is you have to be careful of those  hidden extras ! I’ve definitely been surprised by the final bill a few times.

My fiancé and I are talking about an all-inclusive cruise for our honeymoon. It sounds amazing but I’ve never been on a ship for that long.

can't be bothered

Don’t want to waste time doing something.

all you do is show up

Show up = to arrive for an appointment or gathering. “All you have to do is …” means that there is nothing else expected of you.

An exaggerated way to say, “a lot of.”

all-inclusive

(Almost) all activities and food are included in the total cost.

hidden extras

Expenses that are not included (or unexpected) in the final cost.

The services or perks that a hotel provides with the reserved room.

a little R&R

A little r est and r elaxation.

island-hopping

To visit one island after another.

To pack too much.

Jean-Luc’s Travel Story: Exotic Adventure

I’m always dreaming of my next  far-off, exotic destination . I’ll go anywhere as long as it’s adventurous.

Last year I  chartered a boat  with a friend to sail around the Greek Islands. In the afternoons, we’d  pull into ports , dive into the water, enjoy dinner on the beach and then  head back  to the boat for the night. On really warm nights we actually sleep right on the deck  under the stars .

What’s next? I don’t know. Maybe Colombia, Peru, or Chile? I’ve never been to South America and I love the idea of spending time in the Andes Mountains. Hiking in the  middle of nowhere , you know what I mean?

Those kinds of places give you such a better  perspective on life . It’s easy to forget we’re all just a tiny piece of this earth.

Or maybe Thailand? That’s another of my  bucket list  destinations.

far-off destination

A destination remote (in time or space).

To return to a place.

perspective on life

A particular attitude toward or belief about something; a point of view.

charter a boat

The reservation of a plane, boat, or bus for private use.

under the stars

To be outside with no covering.

bucket list

The achievements or experiences a person hopes to have or accomplish in their life.

pull into port

The place where a vehicle or driver stops into. In this case, a boat stops in a port.

middle of nowhere

A remote place far from any city, town, or village.

Now I’d love to hear your travel story!

Practice and build your vocabulary by sharing your own travel story in the comments below!

Using the vocabulary from the stories above, describe your favorite travel experience or tell me about a trip you’d like to take in the future.

Don’t forget to read and comment on stories from other Confident English readers. You might learn something new or have an interesting question to ask.

Happy travels!

~ Annemarie

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Thank you for this lesson ,Annemarie ,

Very useful to me and as complete as possible

There is a typo. The last line should be a bucket list for not of.

Good eyes, Harsha, and thank you. We’ve corrected the sentence.

Dear Annemarie, Am new to this site and blog .AM very thank ful to you for sharing all these good phrases and vocabularies which helped a lot . looking forward for great lessons .Your videos are so good which helped me alot to get the correct pronunciation and also i have seen you are reading all the comments and giving a positive feedback which is so appreciated am looking forward for your comment. I have read and seen lot of english leaning sites but they usually wont reply to the comments . thanks Neetha

I’m very happy to hear you’re enjoying the Speak Confident English website and the lessons we have here. We definitely work hard to create lessons that will truly help you advance your English skills. And yes, my team and I definitely read all the comments and respond. 🙂

Hi Annamarie,

Thanks so much for this lesson. I have an advanced student and new vocabulary is always helpful.

I live in Chile, so if you need any tips or recommendations, plesase let me know, I would be happy to help you out if you are still planning to visit South America,

Awesome! I’m so glad this lesson was helpful to use with your student. And I’d LOVE to visit Chile one day. I’ll definitely ask you for recommendations if I get the opportunity. 🙂

Wow, Your have shared here such an amazing and best post which is useful for all of us. I like it and wanna say that your travel story is really fantastic and know I want to bookbus for visiting NY after reading your post.

Hi Ammy, thanks so much. I’m glad to know enjoyed and felt inspired by the lesson.

Dear Annemarie I’ve been to Iceland two years ago and I had a wonderful vacation! As Sharon, I had a real sense of adventure so I convinced my best friend to come with me, we packed up our backpacks and then we departed. We chartered a car and we traveled all over the country for 11 days. We saw amazing landscapes, waterfalls, geyser, volcanos, glaciers, and we did whale watching. We had nothing but our backpack, our tent and a burning desire to explore. Iceland is a great place. I look forward to come back there and have one more …  Read more »

Sounds like an amazing opportunity and adventure, Davide! Thanks for sharing. I’ve always wanted to visit Iceland. I really liked your use of “a burning desire to explore.” What a great expression!

Hi Annamarie, my last trip was in the city of Madrid. A wonderful city. At the time I was always without money because of I was unemployed but in the same time I craved traveling. So my sense of adventure took me to packed up my stuff buying an airline one-way ticket for Madrid. After few days in Madrid I found a job just in the week ends. I didn’t waste my time because there’s no time like present and every day I walked through the parks , visited museums and, I always looked around the city, the square, I …  Read more »

Hello Annemarie I’m from Thailand. I just learned your lesson. It was very useful. I have to say that I really like your blog, especially this topic because I love traveling. So today I have my travel story to share with you. Last month, I went to Phuket, which is an island in Thailand. I’ve already been there two or three times actually but I couldn’t get enough of it. Somebody even calls me an “island queen” and yes I truly am. I got a chance to do some diving and island hopping with one-meter-high waves. And of course, I …  Read more »

Dear Annemarie , I love these adventaures and I love going and having a trips with my friends and my family,Ande mountains I love pack packing that is my adore and I did it before with my family in sinai we climbed the mountains of sinia I loved it because the sunset seen was wonderful and we took exactly 6 hours with the tour guide and we had a rest so I wish to make a trip like me in sinia with your family or you friends Egypt is wondeful Thank you

Dear Annemarie , I really enjoyed reading Sharon’s Travel Story” A Staycation on a Tight Budget ” , it has little details which helped me in imagining the story , I felt every line in the story and how enjoyable was the trip . In addition I’ve learned many expressions like : – sense of adventure – outdoor gear – set up camp – from scratch – trail mix – stay cation – pack up – roast over the fire – on a tight budget Waiting for more ….. 🙂

Hello Rana,

Thank you for your comments. I’m so glad to know that you enjoyed this lesson and found some useful vocabulary. I hope you have the opportunity to use that vocabulary soon.

Hi Ms Annemarie! I loved this story about travel it have lots of adventures, i also loved your interesting language, and i`ve learned more vocabulary from you. I wish you more success on your project.

Hello Renad,

Thank you. I’m happy you enjoyed this lesson and I hope you’ll have the opportunity to use the vocabulary you learned. Learning + immediately practicing is the best way to improve your vocabulary knowledge.

Dear Annemarie thanks for this beautiful stories , it’s very useful and i have loved them so much. the most beautiful one is the “Jean-Luc’s Travel Story: Exotic Adventure” it’s really simple , understandable, meaningful and exciting . the most expression i had loved it in this story is “under the stars”. i hope you can do more than this , by the way you can make this stories like in an audio track or on a cd , it will be more helpful and skillful to the students who are get bored from reading stories. great job hope to …  Read more »

Hello Arwa,

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson and learned some useful vocabulary.

Hi Annemarie , I really enjoyed getting to read your story about jean ,also i liked your language so much it was so helpful , although i love reading adventurous stories. I wish you every success on your projects, I will continue following and sharing them on social networks. yours, ahmed

Thank you for the kind comments, Ahmed. I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson.

Dear Ms Annemarie, I’ve read your story “Lara’s Travel Story: Anything All-Inclusive”. And I learned so much new vocabulary expressions such as; – can’t be bothered -all you do is show up -a ton of -all-inclusive -hidden extras -amenities -a little R&R -island-hopping -over pack I liked the idea of it, it is creative and simple. And I’m waiting for another one, and looking forward to reading your next stories. Every good story you get here in this website and upload it gives you a push froward to reach your goal, so I advice you to complete uploading stories alike …  Read more »

Thank for sharing your thoughts, Bishoy. I appreciate them and I’m glad you learned so much useful vocabulary.

Dear Annemarie My name is Abdullah, i am a student in the 8th grade. I am from Egypt. It’s the first time to read stories with this exciting an I would be so glade to read more for your stories. At first, my teacher in the school told us to read it as a homework and Summarizes, but now I would to read more from you. best wishes , abdullah

Hello Abdullah,

Wonderful. I’m glad this lesson was interesting for you and I hope you’ll continue to find useful lessons on this website.

Hi , I like this type of stories , I’ve learned new vocabulary and new phrases . This type of stories make me excited to continue reading and choosing another one.

Hello Ahmed,

I’m so glad you enjoyed this lesson and that it makes you want to continue reading. Thank you.

I’m really very thankful to you because travel stories helped me so much in teaching my students new vocabulary about journeys . Hope to find more and more in future lessons

Hello Antar,

Thank you for the comment. I’m very happy to know this has been helpful to you in your classroom and with your students.

Hi Annemarie , Thanks a lot for sharing this post on travel stories. Actually my English not well but I can understand at all, I really like that it help me improve my English as well. Thanks again 🙂

Thanks for your comment, Sakuta. I’m happy that you enjoyed this lesson and have learned some new vocabulary!

Hi Annemarie, First of all, thank you very much for sharing this post on travel stories. I have been following your weekly posts since a couple of weeks, I like this post a lot, it is always exciting listening and talking of travel stories. Sharon’s staycation story resonates well with me as I like going out with family even if it is not such a significant or a popular place to go visit. The feel of going out together and experience the joy of spending time with family outside is worth experiencing and treasure the memories. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go …  Read more »

Hello Hari,

Thank you so much for your comments. I’m thrilled to have you following my Confident English lessons.

Very impressive vocabulary with your sentence, “Sharon’s staycation story resonates well with me…” Nicely said.

This was very well written and you did a great job using vocabulary from the lesson.

Hey AnneMarie to be honest the traveling now is the most important thing in my life, I sounds good when i travel abroad and discouvir a new places, traditions, cultures, countries. I love that !! when I’m thinking of my next trip I be happy for searching for a cheap fly and think in all little details (hotels, food , bus from airoprot to the city centre then to hotel, mesuems, things to do in that city) so for the me the word of cant be bothered doesnt exist in this kind of things. and i dont like all inclusive …  Read more »

Hello Alami,

Thank you for sharing about your travel preferences. Your love of travel is like many of us here. 🙂 As you described, I think planning a vacation can be fun, almost as fun as the vacation.

Do you have a favorite country or place that you like to visit? Best, Annemarie

Mahmoud on May 06.05.2016 Hi Annmarie As this is my first challenge I hope that you like it and that it’s good. On Last May and during a party I won a two hotel full board nights pouch for two in Aqaba_Jordan. Me and my wife were very existed and started to plan for when,how and what kind of activities we can do in Aqaba while staying there, off course budget wise it was affordable due to the pouch, First of all we picked the right weekend to do so, and then I rented a car. Meanwhile, using the net …  Read more »

Hello Mahmoud,

Welcome and thank you for sharing your story!

How wonderful to win an all-inclusive two-day trip to Aqaba! It sounds wonderful. And Petra! I have always wanted to visit Petra! And was this the first time you or your wife scuba dived? How was it?

A few small corrections: “… I won a [full-board two-night hotel stay …]” “My wife and [I] were very [excited] …”

It sounds like the perfect two-day quick trip to get away! Thanks again for sharing. ~ annemarie

Hello Annemarie! Fortunately, I have some free time to accomplish the task and to tell about my vacations. A new trip always means that I will open something new. I always have a sense of adventure when taking some journey, so I always look forward to my holidays and therefore to travelling. It doesn’t matter what kind of holidays I’m going to take, the main thing is what emotions I will have. It may be a camping where I can spend wonderful time roasting meat over the fire, singing campfire songs, eating some trail mix and chatting with my friends …  Read more »

Hello Alexandra – I loved this! You used so many of the key words and expressions! Fantastic work. And I really like the expression: “… if I’m squeezed like a lemon …” I assume that means to feel really stressed, is that correct? What a perfect description for feeling stressed and needing a break! One question, when you say “the main thing is what emotions I will have” do you mean emotions or experiences? When I see emotions, I think of happy, sad, angry, frustrated, joyful, etc. If that is what you mean, that is okay but I wanted to …  Read more »

Thanks a lot for your comments, Annemarie! I appreciate them greatly!!! Frankly speaking I’ve thought that the expression “to be squeezed like a lemon” (that really means “to be very tired and stressed” as you have said) really exists in English, because I leart it at university, but now I doubt… Do native speakers use it in their speech? As for the phrase “the main thing is what emotions I will have”, I’ve meant here that I always get some positive emotions after having travelled, because travelling enriches me, gives the opportunity to meet new people, to get to know …  Read more »

Hello Alexandra,

You are so welcome.

As for “to be squeezed like a lemon” it is possible that it is an idiomatic expression. Idioms can be regional, so it is possible that it is used in another country or a specific region. For me it was new, but I understood what you meant. It was easy to understand from the context. I’ll have to do some research to see if I can find where they use it. 🙂

Best, Annemarie

Thank you, Annemarie!

Hello Annemarie! I miss our challenge and such short stories :)) I will tell you about my nearest travel just in a few days – from Saint-Petersburg to Helsinki by bus. If my budget not so tight, I would prefer the train because it is faster and more comfortable, but I am going to spend two nights in a bus… awesome! It is a business trip just for one day and I will have a lot of free time in the city. So, I hope weather will be well and I have pleasure of the walking and sitting near the …  Read more »

Hello Yulia, I miss our daily challenges too!! It makes me excited for the June challenge. And how fun to go to Helsinki for work! It sounds like you have some good plans for your free time there – the idea of coffee and a sandwich by the sea sounds perfect. A few things: “If my budget [wasn’t] so tight …” — we need to have a verb. ” …spend two nights [on] a bus.” Prepositions are so tricky. We can say “in a car” or “in a truck” but for larger vehicles we say “on a bus,” “on a …  Read more »

Hello Annemarie! I missed your reply on my travel story. Thank you very much for your comments and correction of my text. As you already know, my trip was success and also I had extra practice in English. And weather was really amazing! The local people jocked that we have a chance to get very unusual gift from Helsinki – a sunburn!

A sunburn in Helsinki! That is the first time I’ve ever heard about that! 🙂

I’m so glad it was a successful trip, Yulia. It really made me happy to hear about your experience! ~ annemarie

Everybody loves traveling and I’m not an exception! There is no point in choosing the best way of traveling, all of them are good to get new impressions, to relax and to reload your mind. As a rule it’s me who arranges family vacation from scratch. The choice of vacation depends on a budjet, on a season and its length. Especially I love short holidays for 3-4 days because they are so dynamic, full of events; it’s really a great short break in a busy life. We usually stay at small private hotels without many amenities but with picturesque views …  Read more »

This sounds like the perfect long weekend, Olga! Especially now that spring is starting, I’m dreaming of an easy 3-4 day trip on the countryside. Do you enjoy the planning for vacations or is it stressful for you?

Perfect use of: from scratch, without many amenities, not any hidden extras.

A few changes for articles: “…it’s me who arranges [the] family vacation” “…on [the] season and its length.” “… [a] friendly atmosphere.”

I hope you get to go on a vacation like this soon! 🙂 ~ Annemarie

Hello, I am Rafif Last summer I travelled to Turkey with my family ; my husband and my four daughters, my father and mother, my sisters and brother and their own families . We were 21 persons which means different ages, different needs and expectations about vactions, and I can’t be bothered by all those details. For that I have chosen All_inclusive kind of vactions. Our choice settled on Kartepe (green park ) for a littlr R&R. They also offer breakfast, dinner and afternoon snack time and a lot of amenities like Turkish bath, ( sauna and Jacuzzi), paint ball …  Read more »

Hello Rafif – great travel story! And wow, 21 people! I can imagine that packing was a problem and I love that you watched a Mr. Bean video to help. Great use of: I [couldn’t] be bothered, I [chose an] all-inclusive kind of vacation, all we [had to do was] show up, hidden extras and several more. Two corrections: There were 21 of us (instead of We were 21 persons). The final bill was acceptable [,it wasn’t that much] or [, it wasn’t that big.] I really enjoyed this and you did a great job using some of the more …  Read more »

Thank you Anne marie for your comment and the correction

I love traveling, I do believe that traveling gives you a better perspective on life, it changes you. When you come back home you are a bit different! You have tons of new ideas, stories to tell! I think it is a good way to reboot all your system and we all need a little R and R after all! I remember when a child we would go to the seaside like every year. Our parents would pack up a car and all our belongings and our trip would begin. You know Ukraine is the biggest country in Europe, so …  Read more »

Excellent!!!! You described your memories in that way I felt I was there!!! It’s wonderful that you love traveling and can go anywhere easily without a doubt! I think you are really interesting person to have among friends!

Thank you so much! You are adorable!:) It is always fun to travel with a great company!:)

What wonderful details, Maria! I can imagine getting up early and into the car to start a 10-hour road trip! And I love your 3 must-haves (don’t forget the ‘s’ on ‘haves’ since it’s 3). Like you, I love the idea of the seaside, the sunset, and grilling over the fire! Great use of: sense of adventure, perspective on life, a little R&R, tons of, on a tight budget and several more! A couple things: I remember when [I was] a child or I remember [as] a child, stroll [on] the beach Thanks so much for sharing this! I enjoyed …  Read more »

Thank you! I do have a quick question (this is your phrase, I know:)): stroll on – is it always with “on”? Or it depends? Could you help me with this one, please? I like this word and want to use it correctly! Thank you!

Great question. Actually, it isn’t the verb (stroll) that is important. It is the noun that follows: on the beach. We can use any verb with this: jog on the beach, run on the beach, stroll on the beach, etc. Other examples: along the river, around the city. So you could say: stroll along the river, stroll around the city.

Frankly speaking, I love travelling a lot. I love spending my free time or vacation with my family and my friends! By the way, I can have a great vacation even if I’m on a tight budget. The alternative variant is to have a staycation. My city is so amazing and beautiful! There are a lot of places of interest here. I also like to go out of the city, to go to the country, for example. Love that feeling when you pack up the kids, friends, dogs into the car, pack all outdoor gear. And It goes without saying …  Read more »

And here we go – well marinated meat is a must-have thing!;)

We have something in common- we both love shashlik))

Tatyana, you’ve done such a great job creating your own story and sharing your memories! Great use of: on a tight budget, staycation, pack up the kids, outdoor gear, all-inclusive. I was quite impressed with your use of prepositions and articles. There are just a couple missing: [the] outdoor gear, [an] all-inclusive. Really impressive! And I agree with you completely, with some inspiration and desire, any vacation can be magical! Thank you so much for sharing your story! ~ Annemarie

Dear Rachel, I am Tanja Kuzmanoska from Macedonia. I follow your posts and videos, but I resonate with this post the most, it came just in time. I love traveling, I have traveled places and been on interesting vacations. Recently I started a blog on traveling , the first post I wrote was in Macedonian, but few days ago I translated it in English. It is written in a different style, rather a blend of travel guide and prosaic, emotional text. I would love if you read it and give me a feedback. I send you the link below. Thank …  Read more »

Thank you for your comment. How exciting that you have started a blog on traveling! I’d be happy to read it.

I do have a quick question – I wasn’t sure who Rachel was?

Thanks again for the comment. I’ll be sure to email you with any feedback on your English travel story! ~ Annemarie

Hi again Annemarie, I am so sorry I have mistaken your name for Rachel, I hope you will forgive me! Regards, Tanja

🙂 Hi Tanja, No problem. It happens. I just wasn’t sure who you meant. I’ll look forward to reading your blog later today! ~ Annemarie

Dear Tanja,

I really enjoyed getting to read your story about your hometown or where your ancestors are from. You have a gift with words. I could really get a feeling for the area. How interesting that there are only two families there now!!

Thank you for sharing your site. I hope you will continue to write! ~ Annemarie

Dear Annemarie

Thank you so much for your time to read my story, your comments mean a lot to me. I am happy that you enjoyed reading it, and I appreciate your support very much. I will certainly continue to share my stories in words and photos and you are welcome to visit my site 🙂

I wish you every success on your projects, I will continue following and sharing them on social networks!

Many thanks and all the best, Tanja

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To Travel is To Live: A Comprehensive Guide Through English Vocabulary for Tourism

Teaching English as a foreign language is an international concept peculiar to many countries worldwide. And the good news is that you can use it in any tourist destination, from the United States to Australia or Japan. Knowing at least basic words and phrases is essential to feel confident when communicating with English speakers. Today’s article will accompany you through the most important stops on your trip abroad. So buckle up as we are ready to start our journey!

English for Tourism: General Vocabulary and Phrases

Today, over  13% of the world’s population speaks English. Therefore, numerous phrases and expressions can be useful for locals and tourists. But before diving into more specific vocabulary, let’s learn some general  terms for your travel adventures . Here are some of them:

• Tourist – a person who travels for pleasure.
• Attractions – places of interest visited by tourists, including landmarks, museums, theme parks, etc.
• Guide – someone who provides information and assistance to tourists during their journeys.
• Souvenir – a memento or  keepsake people buy to remember their trip.
• Itinerary – a planned route or schedule for activities .
• Accommodation – a place where people stay overnight, including hotels, hostels, or vacation rentals.
• Landmark – a well-known and easily recognizable feature or monument significant to a specific location. 
• Guidebook – a book that provides information, recommendations, and maps for tourists.
• Transportation – the ways of getting from one place to another, including buses, trains, or taxis.
• Passport – an official government document that identifies a person and allows them to travel. 
• Visa – an endorsement or a stamp in a passport that grants permission for entry into a specific country.
• Currency – the particular type of money used in a country or region. 

These are just a few examples of English tourist vocabulary. However, many more terms and phrases can become useful depending on the context or specific travel destinations. Let’s learn the most common ones by entering every stage of a typical trip abroad. 

Air Travel and Transportation

Every journey starts with choosing the destination. And after finding out where you want to go, you immediately book the tickets and enter your adventures. Then, you arrive at the airport and investigate how to transport to your accommodation. Every step of this journey is accompanied by different words and new English phrases.

• Booking and tickets.

Can I ask you to help me book a ticket from London to Paris, please?

What is the departure time for the next flight to New York?

Can I choose my seat, or is it assigned automatically?

May I see your boarding pass again, please?

• Modes of transportation. 

Is there direct transport from Venice to Florence?

Where is the nearest bus station?

Could you help me, please? I need to call a  taxi .

I’m looking for a car for a week trip. Where can I rent it?

• Public transport. 

Which bus should I take to reach the city center?

What time does the next train to Edinburgh depart?

How much is the fare for a subway ride?

Is this the right subway line for the museum?

Checking in the Hotel

We all want to relax and lay down after a long flight or ride. And the best place to do so when traveling abroad is the hotel. But before entering your room, you need to communicate with the person at the reception desk. After saying “hello,” use some of the following phrases.

• Providing information.

I have a reservation for /the number of nights/ from /the check-in date/ to /the check-out/ date.

I booked a /room type/ for my stay.

I requested a non-smoking room. 

I have a special request.

• Identification and payment.

Here is my passport for identification.

Could you please provide me with the registration form to fill out?

What is the total cost of my stay?

Could I pay with cash/credit card?

• Clarifying policies and services.

What time is the check-in/check-out?

Is breakfast included in my reservation?

What are the hotel’s facilities and services available for guests?

Could someone please help me with my luggage?

Ordering Food and Exploring Restaurants

Finally, when you’ve relaxed a little, it is time to find something to eat. One option is to order food from the hotel’s restaurant. But you can also use your knowledge after years of English learning for foreigners and look for some exciting restaurants. To make the process smoother, memorize some of these phrases.

• Asking for recommendations. 

What can you recommend from the menu?

Could you suggest any popular dishes?

Are there any vegetarian/vegan options available?

Do you have any local or seasonal dishes?

• Placing an order. 

I would like to order the /dish name/, please.

Can I have this /menu item/ with /specific customization/?

May I request /a specific dietary requirement/ for my meal?

Could you bring me a glass of sparkling water, please?

• Special requests or modifications.

Does this dish contain any /specific allergen/?

Could I have the dressing/sauce on the side, please?

Can you make it a little less spicy?

Is it possible to substitute the /ingredient/ with an /alternative ingredient/?

English for International Tourism: Communicating with Locals

When you have covered your basic travel needs, it is time to explore the local attractions and landmarks. And, of course, it would be impossible without communicating with locals, so let’s find out how to do it in different circumstances. The best way is to memorize some of these English for tourist guides phrases.

Asking for Directions and Getting Recommendations

It is usually difficult for tourists to find the destination without asking any questions (unless you are a topographical genius). In that case, local strangers come to the rescue. They can also help you with unique places to visit and other helpful recommendations. But before asking them, remember that English for international tourism person is different than for native speakers. Hence, keep in mind some of these phrases. 

•  Asking for directions.

Excuse me, can you tell me the shortest way to the /destination/?

I’m a bit lost. Could you please help me reach this place?

Which way is the nearest landmark?

I’m trying to find the /street name/. Could you please give me directions?

• Getting recommendations.

I’m looking for a good restaurant nearby. What can you recommend?

What are some popular attractions or places to visit in this area?

Do you know any nice cafés or coffee shops nearby?

Could you suggest a local dish that I must try?

• Seeking specific places or services.

Is there a pharmacy/bank/hospital near here?

Where can I find a grocery store/souvenir shop?

I’m interested in exploring the art scene. Are there any galleries in this area?

Are there any hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path places nearby?

Language for Shopping (and Bargaining)

We can’t speak for you, but one of our favorite things, after teaching English as a foreign language, is visiting local markets and small family shops when traveling abroad. These are the best places to communicate with people, practice speaking, learn more about the culture, and, of course, buy some nice souvenirs. If you like these things as much as we do, don’t forget to learn some of these phrases.

• Inquiring about the products.

Could you tell me more about this item?

What are the features/specifications of this product?

Is this item available in a different size/color?

Is there a warranty/guarantee for this item?

• Asking for the price.

How much does this cost?

What is the price of this item?

Could you give me a discount on this product?

Is there any discount available for this?

• Bargaining and negotiating.

Is there any room for negotiation on the price?

Could you offer a lower price for this item?

I’m interested in buying multiple items. Can we work out a deal?

Would you consider a discount if I purchase this along with /another item/?

Nail English Speaking with Promova

At Promova, we believe that  learning a language  is the key to immersing yourself in the cultures you encounter while traveling. And we are here to empower you with different essential skills that will transform your tourism experience. With all the options available, you can definitely find the perfect solution for yourself.

Our team of professional tutors offers both one-on-one and group lessons tailored to your specific needs. They always ensure that you progress at your own pace while receiving personalized guidance. And the best thing is that we invite you to examine our free trial lesson. You can explore our teaching methods before making your final decision. Another amazing option is our  online language courses that bring the classroom to your screen. 

But we know that learning a language is not just about the lessons – it’s about practicing and engaging with others. That’s why we offer you to join our free  Conversation Club . Thereyou can meet fellow English learners, share experiences, and enhance your speaking skills in a supportive environment. Join Promova today and let your adventures truly come alive with the power of language proficiency.

To sum up, language is the ultimate key that opens doors to rich cultural experiences and amazing travel adventures. Whether you’re going on a solo expedition or joining a group of fellow wanderers, even basic tourism vocabulary can bridge the gaps and improve your communications. We believe this article will help you in your next journey. By the way, what is your favorite travel destination? Tell us in the comments!

Is it necessary to learn English for successful tourism?

While it’s not an absolute requirement, learning English can significantly improve your travel experience. Since it is a common language, it can help you communicate with locals, navigate unfamiliar environments, and access a broader range of services and information. You will easily interact with people from different countries, making your adventures more enjoyable and rewarding.

What are the best resources for studying English tourism vocabulary?

Since most travel words and phrases are very straightforward, you can start by expanding your general vocabulary. You can do it by practicing with professional tutors or reading books. For more specific terms, you can watch TV shows or movies dedicated to the travel topic, like Rick Steven’s Europe or  Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives . 

What should I do if I don’t understand a native speaker?

Language barriers can sometimes pose challenges during your travels. If you can’t understand a native person, relax and don’t panic. Just kindly ask your interlocutor to repeat their line or, maybe, speak slowly. Don’t forget to mention that English is not your mother tongue – most locals will understand your situation and use more simple phrases and words.

Can my English fluency level negatively affect my travel experiences?

Although a lower level of English fluency may present certain challenges, it should not necessarily negatively impact your travel experiences. Traveling is about embracing new cultures, connecting with people, and exploring the world. Even with limited English skills, you can still navigate your way, interact with locals, and enjoy your adventures.

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[IELTS Vocabulary] Travel and tourism

• March 7, 2024
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This vocabulary list is for reference only. Your Lexical Resource scores are calculated based on the overall level of vocabulary used in your writing and speaking answers. To improve your Lexical Resource scores, it is necessary that you improve your overall level of vocabulary.

However, skillfully incorporating these words in your writing and speaking answers together with a good vocabulary level will increase the chance of enhanced Lexical Recourse scores.

Vocabulary list

1. cultural exchange through tourism, 2. ecotourism and its benefits, 3. the impact of tourism on local communities, idioms for speaking.

These are idioms and phrases that use topic-related figures of speech. They can also be used in different contexts.

[IELTS Vocabulary] Transportation

[ielts vocabulary] crime and punishment, [ielts vocabulary] education, [ielts vocabulary] family and relationships, [ielts vocabulary] work and employment.

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IELTS Topics: Travel and Tourism

Posted by David S. Wills | Oct 12, 2020 | IELTS Tips | 0

One of the common IELTS topics that appears in the exam is that of travel and tourism. In today’s lesson, I will help you learn about this topic so that you can do well in your next test.

First we will look at a little vocabulary about travel and tourism , then we will explore some IELTS speaking and writing questions to give you an idea of what to expect.

Vocabulary about Travel and Tourism for IELTS

When you prepare for IELTS, you never need to know any specialist vocabulary, so for questions about travel and tourism you may find that you can give a brilliant answer with just simple language, as long as it is used with grammatical accuracy. Knowing the difference between “I went to London” and “I was going to London” is very important, for example.

Of course, there are other things to know. It helps to know modes of transport and related vocabulary. [You can learn about transport here .] Another interesting aspect is knowing things you might encounter while travelling, such as accommodation.

I made this PPT about travel accommodation many years ago, but I have just uploaded it today. 🙃 I hope you find it useful.

You should also know the necessary language to talk about types of travel or reasons for taking a trip. Sometimes, new words enter the language, such as “staycation,” which is a very recent portmanteau .

You might also find this list of synonyms for “trip” quite useful:

Travel and Tourism Questions [IELTS Speaking]

The topic of travel and tourism is really common in IELTS speaking. It could easily occur in any of the three parts of this test, so you should be prepared to answer a wide range of questions. [You can find some examples here .]

These questions will be pretty general and simple. It is entirely possible that the same basic question could be asked in a number of different ways.

Perhaps the most common question would be “do you like travelling?” This is very similar to “have you done much travelling?” Of course, the focus has changed slightly but the overall meaning is similar: it’s about you and travel .

I’ll give two sample answers to these questions so that you can understand better:

Q: Do you like travelling?

A: Yeah, I absolutely love travelling. I have visited many countries over the past few years, but of course this all stopped recently because of the virus.

Q: Have you done much travelling?

A: I have done quite a lot of travelling in my life. Altogether, I’ve visited about 50 countries and I try to spend a few weeks each year seeing new places.

Note: It is unlikely that these questions would be asked together because they are very similar. Also, I pretty much answered the second one in the middle of the first answer. I just included them to show how a “do you like travelling” IELTS answer example.

Vaguely Related: Space Travel

I definitely consider space to be a separate topic from travel, but there is some small degree of overlap here. For example, there is a reported IELTS speaking question that goes something like this:

• Do you want to travel in outer space?
• Would you want to travel in outer space?

You might also see this incorrectly reported as “do you want to travel in the outer space?” but this is not correct. We cannot say “the” before “outer space.” It is not a single, definite place. [Read about definite articles here .]

There are numerous possibilities for IELTS cue cards about travel. Here are two of them:

• Describe a place you have visited.
• Describe a place you would like to visit.

Of course, these would require basically the same sort of vocabulary to answer them, but the key difference would be the grammar. In the first instance, you are talking about the past, but in the second you are talking about a possible future.

Here is another one:

• Describe a memorable holiday.

This is pretty similar to the first cue card above, but the word “memorable” must guide our approach. You can see my answer in this video:

In part three of the IELTS speaking test, the questions will become more difficult. These will include abstract topics like age, gender, ethics, and so on. You might encounter questions like this:

Q: Do you think men and women enjoy different types of holiday?

A: I suppose that in general they probably do have different preferences, but of course we should acknowledge the fact that everyone is different and so there are women who enjoy stereotypically male holidays and men that enjoy stereotypically female ones. To give an example, it could be argued that men prefer more active, robust holidays that involve uncertainty, adventure, and even danger. However, I know some women who love this type of thing and so it is not really smart to make assumptions about people.

Q: Do you think that travelling abroad always changes people’s perspective on life?

A: No, not at all. While it certainly is possible that travelling can change people’s perspectives, it is by no means guaranteed. In fact, when you travel to places like Thailand, you see that most tourists have no understanding of the local culture and just hold on to their own original views. The experience may change some people, but I think most people live in a little bubble when they go abroad, and this prevents them from really learning anything.

Notes: I described the sort of travel that men like in interesting terms: “men prefer more active, robust holidays that involve uncertainty, adventure, and even danger.” This is good, descriptive language!

Travel and Tourism Essays for IELTS Writing

Now we shall move on from speaking and instead look at the IELTS writing test. In this section, I will show you some questions about travel and tourism, then show you my sample band 9 answer.

Here is a question that features data about people travelling. I thought that this travel and tourism essay was really interesting, so I have included it here alongside my sample answer.

The line graph displays the numbers of tourists that visited an unnamed Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017. The tourists are divided into two groups – those staying on cruise ships and those staying on the island itself – and these had a loosely inverse correlation. The total number of visitors, however, rose more or less continuously throughout the eight-year period.

In the first year recorded, which was 2010, there were about twice as many tourists staying on the island as those staying on cruise ships. A year later, the number staying on cruise ships doubled to a half million, but this dropped back to around a quarter million in 2012. When the figures for tourists on cruise ships dropped, the number staying on the island rose quickly and over the coming few years, as this sudden increased levelled off, the number of people who stayed on board their ship continued to grow again.

Between 2012 and 2017, there were more and more visitors staying on cruise ships. From just a quarter million, this rose to two million, while the figures for those on the island levelled off at just one and a half million and then dropped slightly in the penultimate year, before finishing at one and a half. This meant that, for the final two years, more tourists stayed on cruise ships than on the island.

Notes on the Answer

In the introduction, I said “an unnamed Caribbean island.” It can sometimes be difficult to introduce something whose name you don’t know, and this is a really convenient way to do it. I strongly recommend you say “an unnamed ___” when this situation arises.

I have also used very few numbers in this essay. Instead of writing 250,000 or 2,000,000, I have said things like “a quarter million” and “two million.” This is much easier. [You can read more about IELTS and numbers here .]

Here is another travel and tourism essay question:

In future, more people will choose to go on holidays in their own country and not travel abroad on holiday.

Do you agree or disagree?

Sample Band 9 Answer

In recent years, people have coined the word “staycation” to describe the phenomenon of taking a holiday closer to home. This essay will argue that such holidays will become more common in the future.

First of all, it may seem as though international travel will become increasingly common, but in fact it is quite clear that it is an unsustainable trend. The carbon cost of flying to another country is enormous, and so many people have begun to ask whether it is ethical to continue doing this. Beyond just the personal level, it is clear that pretty soon governments will have to impose restrictions to limit the number of flights; otherwise, the world will suffer immensely from the burden of so many journeys.

In many parts of the world, people are probably ready to embrace this situation. Humans have had a terrible impact upon the world and many feel that it is time to undo the damage done. This involves some measure of personal sacrifice, which in this case could be forgoing the sort of international trips that used to be quite common. However, this is not all bad. Although foreign countries and exotic locations are exciting, there are treasures almost everywhere. Countries like the UK have poor weather, which is why so many people travel to warmer climates, but the natural beauty of the landscape and the extraordinary historical and cultural sites present myriad options for curious travellers. There will likely be a resurgence of interest in such trips.

In conclusion, it is quite possible that in the future people will realise how much damage humans have done to the world. Many of them may endeavour to make the sort of sacrifices necessary to counteract this ecological destruction, and one small step is embracing local travel.

Notes on the Essay

First of all, you can see that I incorporated the word “staycation” right at the beginning. When you use modern language like this, please don’t just jam it carelessly into your essay. Often, it is very informal, so you can only use it when properly introduced. In this case, I clearly explained its meaning and commented upon it from a sociological perspective.

Here is some more travel and tourism vocabulary from my essay:

• unsustainable trend
• carbon cost
• impose restrictions
• international trips
• exotic locations
• warmer climates
• myriad options
• ecological destruction

You can see that a lot of my language related to the environment, and of course that is often tied to the topic of travel and tourism because of the negative impacts these have on our planet.

I hope that you enjoyed my IELTS essays on travel and tourism, as well as the sample speaking answers I provided. Please remember that your own answers should be unique to you . Don’t try to copy others too much. Your vocabulary will depend upon your life experiences and the places you would or wouldn’t like to visit.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

‘Undiscovered gem’ country wants to rival Morocco — but tourists aren’t yet convinced

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You may not have considered holidaying in Algeria, but the North African country is hoping you won’t write it off just yet.

Just 3.3 million foreign tourists visited Algeria in 2023, an estimated 1.2 million of whom were Algerians from the disapora seeing their families.

Meanwhile, tourist-friendly Morocco welcomed 14.5 million – despite the fact it’s a smaller and less wealthy nation.

Algeria’s government is now looking to rival its neighbour, setting targets to increase numbers fourfold and attract 12 million tourists by 2030.

Saliha Nacerbay, general director of the National Tourism Office, said: ‘To achieve this, we, as the tourism and traditional industry sector, are seeking to encourage investments, provide facilities to investors, and build tourist and hotel facilities.’

Around 2,000 such projects have been approved, and restoration or expansion plans are also underway for 249 around the country.

But although it’s been described as an ‘undiscovered gem’ due to its gorgeous landscapes and rich culture, many travellers are still wary of Algeria – and for pretty good reason.

As well as safety concerns, issues like an inflexible visa system and poor transport links have been flagged by analysts, with French tourist Patrick Lebeau commenting: ‘Obviously, there is a lot of tourism potential, but much work still needs to be done to attract us.’

So what do you need to be aware of before taking a trip to Algeria, and why is it worth a spot on your list of up-and-coming destinations to try?

Why to visit Algeria

There’s a lot to love about Algeria, from a wealth of historicalsites to stunning beaches, mountains and Saharan desert.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to natural beauty: sleep on sand dunes under the stars by night and sandboard by day, ride camels with Tuareg nomads, swim in the azure Mediterranean sea, or marvel at the Ghoufi Canyon, which is one of Algeria’s most stunning natural wonders.

It makes sense to start your trip in Algiers, exploring wonders like the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the capital’s Kasbah citadel, as well as the Roman archieological site of Tipaza and the beautiful gardens in the nearby town of Blida.

Elsewhere, Constantine offers sights like the Emir Abdelkader Mosque and the Palace of Ahmed Bey, the Tassili N’Ajjer National Park is home to stunning rock formations and ancient rock art, and Oran features a wealth of beach spots and cultural events.

As Africa’s largest country, you aren’t short of things to see, and a flight from the UK only takes around three hours, so you don’t have to travel too far to do so.

Travel writer Richard Collett called Algeria ‘intoxicating’, and echoed the words Albert Camus wrote upon visiting Tipaza: ‘I understand here what we call glory: the right to love without measure.’

High praise indeed.

Things to consider before visiting Algeria

Despite its many wonders and the effort being taken to make it more agreeable among tourists, there are still some barriers to travel in Algeria .

The FCDO currently advises against travel within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Tunisia , as there is a high risk of terrorism or kidnap of British nationals in these areas.

You also need to apply for a Visa at the Algerian consulate in the UK before you can enter the country, although certain tour operators will handle this for you as part of a travel package.

There are a number of other benefits to visiting Algeria with a reputable company’s guidance: they can ensure you’re provided with security escorts where necessary and help keep you safe in busy spots like the Algiers Kasbah.

According to the government website, ‘driving can be erratic’ so pedestrians should ‘take particular care when crossing roads on foot, even where there is a signal allowing you to do so.’  

You should also be aware and respectful of the fact that Algeria is a largely Muslim country, which means dressing and acting in accordance with local customs and not being under the influence of alcohol in public places (which is illegal). 

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It’s certainly not a standard sun holiday, but if you abide by the rules and take necessary precautions, it could end up being the trip of a lifetime.

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Hong kong tourism board.

Continue to enjoy a Hong Kong Night Bus Tour at a special price!

Starting from this February, visitors can enjoy a night tour of Hong Kong on an open-top bus at a discounted rate! Explore famous landmarks and attractions on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon through three designated routes as you take in the city’s enchanting night scenery. Visitors can simply purchase tickets at designated ticketing points and embark on their night adventure according to the schedule!

Big Bus Hong Kong Island Night Tour

Beginning at Central Pier, this tour takes you on a journey to discover the fusion of rich traditional Chinese culture and Hong Kong’s history. On a ride aboard an open-top bus, you will shuttle through famous landmarks, such as the Central Market that bears witness to different eras of Central; the Man Mo Temple, one of Hong Kong’s oldest temples; and Lee Tung Street in Wan Chai, which has transformed from a hub of the printing industry to a tree-lined pedestrian shopping and dining street. Immerse yourself in history while enjoying the vibrant cityscape where Eastern and Western influences converge on Hong Kong Island.

...see more

*Daily: 6:30 and 8:30pm

Terms and Conditions apply.

# Where to Purchase

• Big Bus Tours Kiosk (Central) Address: Ground Floor, Central Ferry Pier 7, Central, Hong Kong Island Opening hours: 9am to 8:30pm daily
• Big Bus Tours Mobile Cart (Avenue of Stars) Address: MC06 PTN of Avenue of Stars (near the statue of Hong Kong Film Awards), Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Opening hours: 2pm to 8:30pm daily
• Big Bus Tours Information Centre (Tsim Sha Tsui) Address: Unit KP-38, 1st Floor, Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier Opening hours: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm daily
• Hong Kong Tourism Board Kowloon Visitor Centre Address: Star Ferry Concourse, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Opening hour: 8am to 8pm daily
• Central Star Ferry Pier, Man Kwong Street, Central
• Mid-Levels Escalator, 128 Queen’s Road Central (outside HSBC), Central
• Man Mo Temple, Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan
• Tai Kwun, The Centrium, Arbuthnot Road, Central
• SOGO, Causeway Bay, 513 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
• The Park Lane, Hong Kong – A Pullman Hotel , Causeway Bay

View Route Map>>

Hotline: +852 2723 2108 WhatsApp: +852 6956 5922 Live Chat: Available on Big Bus Apps (English Only)

Big Bus Kowloon Night Tour

This tour takes you on a journey to experience the vibrant energy of West Kowloon. It begins at K11 MUSEA, a cultural shopping and art museum, where you can admire the enchanting Victoria Harbour. From there, you will proceed through the bustling Nathan Road, passing by the lively Temple Street Night Market that exudes the nostalgic charm of old Hong Kong. Then, you will enter the green West Kowloon Cultural District. The tour concludes by passing through the bustling Canton Road, lined with famous shops, and ending at the iconic Star Ferry Pier.

*Daily: 8:30pm

• K11 MUSEA, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (Terminus)
• Argyle Street, Mongkok
• Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

Rickshaw Bus H2K Night Tour

This tour takes you on a journey through Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. You will board an open-top double-decker bus designed to resemble a traditional rickshaw, and visit over 10 tourist attractions while taking in the city’s colourful night views. The tour begins at Central Pier, where you will travel along both sides of Victoria Harbour. Along the way, you will pass by several designated historical sites and Grade 1 historic buildings, such as 1881 Heritage, one of the oldest existing government buildings; the iconic Court of Final Appeal, which has stood in Central for over a century; and the West Kowloon District, where old and new blend seamlessly. You will also experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Temple Street Night Market, showcasing the charm of old Hong Kong, as well as the latest artistic and cultural green space, the West Kowloon Cultural District.

*Daily: 7, 8, 8:30 and 9pm

• Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus Terminus Address: Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus Service Counter (Between Central Star Ferry Pier 6 and 7, Central, Hong Kong Island) Opening hours: Monday to Friday (1:30pm to 9pm); Saturday and Sunday (10:30am to 9pm)
• Central Star Ferry Pier 6, Central, Hong Kong Island
• Central Harbourfront, Lung Wo Road
• Wan Chai Pier, Wan Chai
• Wan Chai Promenade, Wan Chai
• Cross Harbour Tunnel Bus Interchange (Kowloon bound)
• Woosung Street & Temple Street, Jordan Road
• Sky 100, Nga Cheung Road near International Commerce Centre
• West Kowloon Cultural District Museum Drive
• Cameron Road & Nathan Road
• Star Ferry, Tsim Sha Tsui
• East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, Salisbury Road (opposite Avenue of Stars)
• Cross Harbour Tunnel Bus Interchange (Hong Kong Island bound)
• Elizabeth House, Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
• Statue Square, Connaught Road, Central

Hotline: +852 2136 8888 Email: [email protected]

*The above schedules are subject to change. It is recommended to confirm the departure times with the ticketing staff before purchasing your tickets. # The offer can only be purchased at Big Bus Tours Kiosk (Central) , Big Bus Tours Mobile Cart (Avenue of Stars) , Big Bus Tours Information Centre (Tsim Sha Tsui), Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus Terminus (Central) , or Hong Kong Tourism Board Kowloon Visitor Centre .

About Hong Kong Night Bus Tour

Who are eligible.

• Bona fide visitors staying in Hong Kong for 90 days or less can join the tours at a special price. Tour operators have the right to inspect the identification documents of passengers to verify their identities as Bona fide visitors.
• The bus ride is about 60 to 75 minutes, subject to traffic conditions.
• Tickets can only be purchased at the terminals of the tour bus operators.
• All tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable.
• All tickets are date specific and must be used on the designated day.
• Visitors can only purchase tickets on the day and/or for the following day.
• Lost or damaged tickets will not be re-issued.
• After finishing the route, passengers are required to get off the bus at the terminus.
• Free Wi-Fi service is available on the bus.
• Children under 3 may travel free of charge. All children must be accompanied by a fare paying adult.
• Each customer is allowed to bring only one handbag that does not take up a seat, does not cause disturbance to neighbouring seats, and does not block the aisle.
• Customers can access the operational information through the Big Bus App and via live chat (English only). Additionally, customers can contact Big Bus via WhatsApp at +852 6956 5922.
• If you decide to hop off the bus before the end of the route, you will be required to purchase a new ticket for the night bus tour.

• Children under the age of 4, if accompanied by an adult and not occupying a seat, may travel free of charge. Not more than two children shall be carried free of charge by any one adult.
• Each passenger is only allowed to carry on board a package or packages of a total weight not exceeding 5 kg and total volume not exceeding 0.1m 3 , which shall not contain any dangerous or offensive substance.
• Customers can get the bus info from the Citybus mobile app or the notice at the Central Piers Terminal.

• If passengers wish to go on the bus tour again in the same evening, they will have to queue up again (Applicable for Rickshaw Bus H2K Night Tour only)

Terms & Conditions of the ‘Hong Kong Night Bus Tour’ Promotion

• The ‘Hong Kong Night Bus Tour’ Promotion (“Campaign”) of Hong Kong Tourism Board (“HKTB”) runs from 1 February 2024 to 30 June 2024 (both dates inclusive) (the “Campaign Period”) unless otherwise stated. Designated night bus tours will be provided by the participating tour operators under the Campaign (“Participating Parties”) during the Campaign Period (“Offer”).
• The Campaign is hosted by HKTB and governed by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“Hong Kong”).
• The Offer is available to visitors staying in Hong Kong for 90 days or less on a first-come, first-served basis only, subject to availability.
• The Campaign is open to eligible visitors travelling to Hong Kong who purchase the Offer at the designated tour bus terminals. Participating Parties reserve the right to check the travel documents of the visitors before they use the Offers.
• All Offers are non-refundable and non-changeable.
• All Offers are available while stocks last. No prior notice will be given if the Offers are all consumed / no longer available.
• Unless otherwise stated, the Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offers, discounted / special price items, fixed price items, coupons / gift vouchers / cash vouchers, bonus point programmes, or internal offers of respective Participating Parties.
• The Offers cannot be exchanged for cash, cannot be resold, and are not transferrable.
• HKTB shall not be responsible for any consequential responsibilities and expenses arising from the loss or misappropriation of the Offers.
• Any internet charges, transportation arrangements, taxes, insurance or other expenses incurred by users participating in the Campaign shall be borne by the visitors themselves.
• All images and information provided under the Campaign are for reference only. Please check with the relevant Participating Parties for details of the Offers. Participating Parties shall be solely responsible for providing the Offers to the eligible participants. HKTB is not the supplier of any such Offers. HKTB does not make any representations, warranties or take responsibility in connection with the Offers provided by the Participating Parties under the Campaign and shall not be liable in relation thereto.
• HKTB is not responsible for the quality and supply of any Offers provided by the Participating Parties. All Offers under the Campaign are provided by the Participating Parties. Under no circumstances HKTB shall in any way be liable to any person (whether by way of indemnity or contribution or otherwise) for any claim whatsoever directly or indirectly arising from or in connection with the Offers whether for property damage, personal injury or death or of any other nature whether or not the same is caused by the act, omission or negligence of HKTB. Without prejudice to the foregoing and to the maximum extent permitted by law, any claim or potential claim a user may have against HKTB in connection with the Campaign shall be deemed to be fully waived by the user under the Campaign.
• HKTB will not be responsible for any disputes, complaints or claims arising from or resulting from the transactions between the users and the relevant Participating Parties. The users shall directly resolve any disputes, complaints or claims regarding the Offers with the respective Participating Parties.
• During the Campaign Period, in case of any violation of these terms and conditions, illegal acts, fraud or abuse, HKTB and the Participating Parties shall have the right to disqualify the relevant user(s) from using or collecting the Offers without prior notice, and shall have the right to cancel any transactions involving the infractions and recover losses from the relevant users.
• If the Campaign cannot be carried out or interrupted due to orders from government authorities or agencies, serious cyberattacks, system failures, or other circumstances beyond the control of the HKTB or any of the Participating Parties, such circumstances will be regarded as force majeure. HKTB and the relevant Participating Parties shall not be liable for any damages, losses or disputes caused by force majeure.
• Details and validity periods of the Offers are subject to the terms and conditions of the Campaign and Participating Parties. HKTB and the Participating Parties reserve the right to change, suspend or cancel the Campaign or amend its terms and conditions at their discretion without prior notice. HKTB and the Participating Parties shall not be liable for any change, suspension or cancellation. In case of any dispute, HKTB reserves the right of final decision on all matters and disputes, and the decision shall be binding on all parties concerned.
• In the interest of fairness, all employees of HKTB, the Participating Parties and the suppliers which are responsible for the design, monitoring, operation and execution of the Campaign are not eligible to participate in the Campaign.
• For more information about the Campaign and Offers, please contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board (visitor hotline: +852 2508 1234; email: [email protected] ).
• These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong and each user submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Hong Kong.
• In the event of any inconsistency or discrepancy between the English and Chinese versions of these terms and conditions, the English version shall prevail.

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• I want to go to Japan. Do I need a visa?
• I want to invite a foreign national to Japan. What procedures are necessary?
• What should I do to get a Certificate of Eligibility?
• The Certificate of Eligibility will not arrive by the time I apply for a visa. Can I still apply for a visa with its copy?
• As a “guarantor”, to what extent do I need to be responsible?

Newly introduced visas

• Special highly skilled professional (J-Skip)
• Designated activities (Future creation individual, Spouse or Child of future creation individual) (J-Find)
• Designated activities (Digital Nomad, Spouse or Child of Digital Nomad)

Review on restrictions on new entry of foreign nationals into Japan

• Application for Visa for foreign nationals eligible for Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel
• Border measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Statistics for the Number of Visas

• Number of Visas Issued in 2021(May 31,2022)

Relaxation of Visa Requirements

• Visa Waiver Measure for Nationals of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Possession of Ordinary Passports(September 30, 2023)
• Signing of the Japan-Israel Working Holiday Agreement (April 28, 2023)
• Visa Waiver Measure for Nationals of the State of Qatar based on Ordinary Passport Registration System (April 2, 2023)
• Visa Waiver Measure for Nationals of the United Arab Emirates in Possession of Ordinary Passports (November 1, 2022)
• Japan’s Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (April 3, 2020)
• Japan's Visa Policy in Accordance with Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons (February 2009)

6. Inquiries about Visas Application

Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC) MOFA Visa Information

Yotsuya Tower 13F, 1-6-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0004 Navi-Dial: 0570-011000 (For some IP phones and calls from overseas, please call +81-3-5369-6577) Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00

Related Links

• Websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missions