What is the Difference between Tourist and Traveler?

Thousands of people protested “overtourism” throughout summer in Barcelona. Over 140 organizations, including neighborhood associations, ecologists and activists, marched under the slogans of “Enough! Let’s put limits on tourism” and “Tourists go home!”. Locals are protesting over the lack of affordable housing, which they blame on short-term rentals, and overcrowding caused by the cruise industry. The city announced that all short-term rentals will be banned in Barcelona by 2029.

It is possible to talk about an increasing tension between locals and tourism, not only in Barcelona but across the world. But why? This blog post evaluates the difference between the concepts of a tourist and a traveler. Enjoy reading!

Who is a Tourist, who is a Traveler?

The concept of a tourist keeps losing popularity all around the world. On the other hand, travelers gain prestige. These two concepts involve a discussion that has been going on in the travel sector for a long time. Although these terms sometimes replace each other although they have distinctive features.

Briefly, the prominent difference between a tourist and a traveler is the difference in mindset. Tourists and travelers are characterized by how they approach the concept of “leaving home and opening up to the world”. There are key differences in their ways of thinking about traveling.

Truth be told, in recent years, people have been preferring to be defined as travelers rather than being labeled as tourists.

So why is that?

Prominent Differences between a Tourist and a Traveler

• Tourists travel “to get away” from life. They want to be served and entertained. Tourists do not want to work for the experiences they would have at the destinations. They are not interested in how these experiences arise, local people or the environment; they do not think much about their impacts, they just consume and leave.

• Travelers, on the other hand, would like to adapt to the destinations, to be there. They travel to discover and learn. Travelers prefer to work and to be involved in life for this purpose. They talk to local people to learn where they can find the best food or a unique cultural experience. They are interested in the world around them rather than trying to get away from the world. They tend to be more considered about how their existence and the activities they participate in impact the places they visit.

• Tourists seek the most comfortable ways of traveling. They demand comfort zones to visit new locations. In a cruise, for example, comfort comes first, and they would not want any unexpected event to happen. Tourists tend to seek familiar experiences such as eating at fast food restaurants instead of trying out local cuisines or buying coffee from chain coffee shops instead of local coffee shops down the street.

• Travelers know that unforgettable and powerful experiences happen outside of their comfort zones. They try to learn and speak the local language. They prefer to get out of the main tourist routes. They try local food and communicate with the local people.

7 Critical Differences between a Traveler and a Tourist:

1- A TOURIST attracts attention; a TRAVELER adapts to the environment.
Selfie sticks, blocking the road while looking at the map, clothes that are not in harmony with the culture and the climate... Tourists tend to attract attention with certain behaviors which do not go well with the social environment. A traveler, on the other hand, do their best to mix in with the local people, they cloth in harmony with the social environment and try to adapt to the social norms of the place.

2- A TOURIST would prefer familiar food; a TRAVELER tries out local cuisines.
A tourist sticks to familiar foods and prefers popular food chains. A traveler, on the other hand, knows that food has a connection with the culture. They try local foods to taste the cultural cuisine of a country, they prefer to get outside of their comfort zones.

3- A TOURIST only travels; a TRAVELER communicates with the local people.
A tourist stays in their own comfort zone and is contended with seeing the popular places only. They do not spend effort to go out and meet people other than the ones they are traveling with. A traveler, on the other hand, tries to meet local people. They try to talk to people, learn about the hidden, less known places in the city or discover unique stories that cannot be found in travel books. Travelers know that local people is the best source to discover a new place.

4- TOURISTS dress to be comfortable, TRAVELERS dress to adapt.
Tourists take “comfortable” clothes with them while traveling. They do not care if these are not trendy or respectful to the norms of the destination (religious, cultural, etc.). Travelers prefer clothes in harmony with the local people beyond style and comfort when packing their bags. Travelers make sure that they bring functional and appropriate clothes with them and include clothes appropriate to the cultural norms.

5- TOURISTS remain loyal to their mother tongues, TRAVELERS try to learn the local language.
Tourists only talk in their mother tongues and do not make an effort to learn the local language. Travelers, on the other hand, try to learn at least a few key words to use on their travels abroad. They know that simple words like “please”, “thank you” and “hello” make great difference.

6- TOURISTS buy the first souvenir they find, TRAVELERS bide their time.
Tourists can easily be drawn to the attraction of local souvenir shops. They think that these products are original and settle for these. While travelers make an effort to search for local treasures and jewels. They research to find the most authentic items they can bring back with them.

7- TOURISTS rely on their maps, TRAVELERS rely on their instincts.
Tourists mostly rely on their maps to know how to get from one popular place to another. Therefore, they miss out on the chance to discover and get lost in a place. Travelers, on the other hand, find what to discover instinctively, they do not fear getting lost and going on an adventure.

Who Benefits from Tourists?

We can say that travels have been, for years, presented as commodities, products to consume. Every one of us is ingrained with the idea of taking a vacation and rapidly consuming the destination instead of enjoying an experience. However, there is a big difference in meaning between enjoying an experience and taking a touristic vacation!

For example, tourists benefit from cruise agencies, group tours and all-inclusive hotels. This is a ‘hygienic’ travel method. Moreover, tourists can provide benefit to the exploitative local businesses which demand money in return for riding caged elephants at some destinations. In other words, we can say that tourists prioritize their personal experiences regardless of social and environmental damage. Thus, tourists can harm locals and the environment rather than offering a benefit for them. Travelers have knowledge about sustainable tourism while tourists see traveling as a way of consumption.

​Check out our blog post for further details on sustainable tourism.

Are You a Tourist or a Traveler?

As a result, the differences between tourists and travelers lie in their traveling manners and mindsets. Tourists usually seek comfort and familiarity and live a transient experience at the places they visit. Travelers, on the other hand, aim to deeply connect with the culture and people of the places they visit and become a part of the local life. Travelers take the culture and societies they visit seriously. For travelers, both local and foreign people - new people - are important. Travelers want to discover, and they especially prefer to do that in a sustainable manner. One of the key differences between a traveler and a tourist is education, not individual education but travel education!

So, would you prefer to be a tourist or a traveler? Do you seek comfort as a tourist, or do you want to go on a journey of discovery and learning as a traveler? Travel can be experienced in many different ways depending on individual choices and perspectives; however, choosing to be a traveler provides a more meaningful, sustainable and powerful experience. Being aware of the traces we leave at the places we visit and respecting local cultures while discovering the world would provide more positive benefits in the long run both for us and the hosts of the places we visit.