IUOTO - INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL STATISTICS

PAGE 1 NOTES

DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATION OF TERMS
Introduction

In this publication the application of the terms "visitor", "tourist",
 "excursionist", etc., has been carried out in accordance with the
definitions of these terms as recommended by the United Nations Conference
on International Travel and Tourism, Rome 1963. The historical background
and details of these definitions are presented below.

The broad classification of statistics supplied by the countries and
territories included has thus been carried out by IUOTO on a uniform
basis; however, between individual country statistics, there may exist
minor differences of coverage which result from the application of
slightly different definitions by those countries. However, in general,
tourist arrivals, as given in this publication, may be compared from country
 to country, due allowance being made for comparisons of accommodation
and frontier tourist arrivals.
A short note on the definitions employed by individual countries will
be found at the head of each country table.
Historical note concerning travel statistics
(a) The Committee of Statistical Experts of the League of Nations,
1937

In an Appendix to the Report of the Committee of Statistical Experts
of the League of Nations, which was submitted to the Council on 22 January
1937, the Committee recommended the following definitions of a tourist:

lo secure the compatibility of international tourist statistics, the
term "tourist" shall, in principle, be interpreted to mean any person
travelling for a period of twenty-four hours or more in a country
other than that in which he usually resides. The Committee decided
that the following were to be regarded as tourists:
Persons travelling for pleasure, for domestic reasons, for
health, etc.
Persons travelling to meetings, or in a representative capacity
 of any kind (scientific, administrative, diplomatic,
religious, athletic, etc.).
Persons travelling for business purposes.

liv)

Persons arriving in the course of a sea cruise, even when they
stay less than twenty-four hours. The latter should be reckoned
 as a separate group, disregarding if necessary their
usual place of residence.

The following were not to be regarded as tourists:

(1)

Persons arriving, with or without a contract, to take up an
dccupation or engage in any business activity in the country.

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27 - 1973