Tourism has been a major social phenomenon of societies all over the world. It is driven by the natural urge of every human being for new experiences, and the desire to be both educated and entertained. The motivations for tourism also include religious and business interests; the spread of education has fostered a desire to know more about different parts of the globe. Tourism growth has the potential to deliver economic benefits to remote, rural or underdeveloped areas within countries, yet it appears that major proportions of these benefits accrue to firms located in the major gateway cities, with proportionately small benefits accruing to host regions outside these gateways. Over the decades, tourism has experienced continued growth and deepening diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. Tourism has become a thriving global industry with the power to shape developing countries in both positive and negative ways. No doubt it has become the fourth largest industry in the global economy.
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