We travel for different reasons and purposes. Traveling is an activity that encompasses a lot of things that it’s even harder now to box it in just one kind. The constant debate and comparison between a “tourist” and “traveler” had always been interesting but my personal take on this, which has been echoed by several people who have been on the road for long, it is a waste of time setting these two apart because one is conjoined with the other.
I may not have been to many places or may still lack experience when it comes to traveling but I have picked up bits and pieces here and there that had me thinking about this passion of mine. When you are at an airport, you’ll see different kinds of people with different destinations. And for those who are going to the same place, each has different journeys as well.
Sometimes you travel just to unwind or to take a vacation and time off from the regular thing you do. Other times, it is because traveling is needed, whether for work or for learning or for something else. As I have come to interact with other travelers, I found out that there is now an increasing number of people who travel for a longer period of time, often staying in a place or on the road for an extended interval.
Let me share with you my discoveries and learnings, not necessarily factual, but more of my own observations about the varying types of traveling depending on one’s purpose and activities. This is not to create labels but to provide an understanding of the kinds of traveling people take and to know that there are varying needs for these types of travels.
Family & Friendly Visits
This is the most basic traveling that I have done. Our country, the Philippines, is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. Our culture, especially in the provinces, is known for close-knit families. During Christmastime, parties and reunions take place and there are people who travel to their hometowns just to reconnect with their roots. And with many Filipinos now living in various parts of the globe, reunions during special occasions, anniversaries, alumni homecomings, and festivals are customary.
My early travels, during my childhood years, were primarily composed of having a vacation for weeks or months with relatives every time we have our school break. I usually stayed with relatives living near the sea and I remember watching fishermen arrive with their catch every sunrise and collecting shells along the beach during sunsets.
This kind of travel would often involve bringing of goods from one place to another, such as food or souvenir items, as gifts to the people you visit or their gifts to you.
Backpacking
As I have begun working, I have met friends who share my passion for traveling. We love to explore and tour cities and towns, whether urban settings or the countryside. We often set a trip or two each year within the Philippines and abroad. Traveling within our country is mostly composed of going to the beach, snorkelling and island hopping while traveling abroad are filled with visiting famous landmarks and trying the local food.
We try to keep a low budget when we travel so we take advantage of low-fare airlines and promo fares, we stay in hostels or backpacker’s inns, we go around cities by local commute, and we eat in local eateries. It’s fun because we get to see how locals go about in their own place and experience those, too.
Since this travel would require a traveler mostly on the road and can move about easily, clothes to be used must be convenient and comfortable and the items brought must be packed lightly and compact.
Business Travel
My first trip abroad was to attend a seminar in Thailand. And for the first time, I have also crossed continents and have visited the United States because I had to attend a seminar in San Francisco, California, and moderate a particular session. Because of work, I have traveled to Indonesia and made Jakarta my home for seven months while granting me the opportunity to visit Bekasi, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo and Surabaya.
Since business traveling would require attending social functions, suits and dresses that are apt for the occasion should be packed. Oftentimes, gadgets used for work, along with papers and notebooks are also brought for the trip.
MICE
This stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions. Whether you are a presenter, moderator, or participant, you have to be prepared to bring things needed for this purpose. Oftentimes, there are kits given out, which will add to your luggage. Attending such would sometimes require you to be cooped inside the hotel or venue and will only provide you with an opportunity to explore the place after sessions are done. Unless you extend for a few more days to tour the place on your own, then business travel becomes pleasurable. The good thing though is that business travel often billet you to posh accommodations where the setting of the MICE or business activities is held.
Familiarization Trip
This is one kind of travel I experienced when I became adept at blogging. I have attended some familiarization trips where the organizer pampers you to give you the best experience they can offer. A fixed itinerary is prepared and some activities would require you to dress properly, whether for cocktails or a formal gathering. A fam trip is often given to the media or target market and the traveling party is expected to promote the trip through whatever means they have.
Medical Tourism
I went on one familiarization trip geared towards medical tourism. It opened my eyes to travelers who go to another place for medical purposes. One often does this because there are medical procedures that are cheaper in a particular country compared to where the traveler comes from. Those who do this also takes advantage of a vacation to recover faster. However, travelers who go for medical tourism must be prepared to bring the necessary items for the procedure, especially medications that the traveler must take while on the trip.
Volunteer Travel
I have come to know of this kind of traveling when I was in the non-profit sector. Others call this voluntourism, but it has elicited a negative connotation to the development sector. Some have coined this volunteer vacations. For those in school, they call this their gap year. Whatever it is called, traveling to volunteer is something that people see as worthwhile because there is a purpose and it effects change and impacts the local community. When I went to Vietnam and Cambodia, I found out that many travel and tour agencies offer this as an activity to tourists. Even in business traveling, volunteerism is often included as a corporate social responsibility activity for companies and organizations.
Those who volunteer travel does not bring much and they are prepared not to experience comfort nor convenience. They bring clothes that are appropriate when they “sweat it out.” Volunteering in a particular place, whether it is done in days, weeks, months or years, requires sacrifice but the returns are often fulfilling and priceless.
Academic Travel
There are those who travel to study and this is often done in a year or two. Others take a short course which can run in days or weeks or a few months. I have experienced academic travel because my group and I had to do research in a local community and we had to gather data and observe the locals for a number of days. I also met a Polish girl and her friend on a train from Beijing bound for Shanghai because she was in China to study.
A person who travels for studies will have to bring materials that are being used for learning. He or she sometimes live in a dormitory, along with fellow travelers, such as exchange students.
Religious Travel
One goes to another place through a pilgrimage. The whole journey is a prayer and a spiritual exercise to delve deeper into oneself and one’s faith. It is a process of spiritual communion with the divine. Others do this type of traveling to attend to a religious activity. My sister and I traveled from our province to Manila when Pope Francis visited it recently. During holy week, my friends and I visit a holy place to pray and reflect. There are some who go to a remote place as a spiritual retreat.
When you do religious travel, be sure to bring decent clothing and to experience the simplicities of life. An inspirational book or a holy literature is also a help when you bring one.
Sports Travel
There are travelers who visit a place to play or to watch a big sporting event. With sports events happening all year round globally, sports travel is something that others do on a regular basis. I have once met a golfer who travel around the world just to play golf. Similarly, when I had to oversee organizing a golf tournament in our locality, there were several players who traveled from different parts of our country just for this event. When I was in Indonesia, surfers with their huge surfboards were seen in the airport in throngs as they were bound for Bali and other parts of the country.
Those who travel to participate in a game would have to bring the necessary equipment, tools, uniforms and other essentials. They would be very particular when it comes to the proper handling of their things.
Eco-travel
There are a quite number of people who visit a particular place to commune with nature, study the natural habitat of that locality, and help preserve the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Some who backpack and/or take a vacation inject some form of eco-travel as there are many ecotourism activities that are being offered to travelers. Often, eco-travel is also being made in conjunction with volunteer travel.
Others travel for an entirely different agenda and purpose. There are some who mix many of the activities above. Terms such as fashion tourism, farm tourism, and many others are also cropping up as time goes by. You might want to add to this list. I’d be happy to learn more and hear from you. If you have something to share, please feel free to add them to the comments section below.
Wow, I would also love to have a business trip such as yours wherein you get to travel while working. Do you shoulder the expenses or your company pays it for you?
During business trips, the company usually shoulder the expenses (airfare, accommodation during the duration of the conference, conference fees) and we are billeted in the hotel where the meeting/conference takes place. When you extend after the business trip, you’re basically on your own and you have to pay for the extra nights if you opt to stay in the same hotel. Incentives are also business trips wherein your company sends a group or team or the entire workforce (if it is small) to other places for outing or team building.
This is very informative and interesting. Though I already know some of the ones listed here, I was surprised there were more travel types like the medical tourism and the many others. This post actually gave me (and I’m sure other readers) hopes in getting a chance to travel to different places without the need of winning a lottery.
Traveling can be affordable with the rise of promo flights and proliferation of hostels. You can start with nearby countries. 🙂
I love traveling! I was inspired with the numerous traveler that I meet every day. And starting today I am building my network to be able to work and travel. That would be a dream come true.
Meeting lots of travelers is really helpful. Friends on the road are valuable. You’ll be able to achieve that dream of traveling to places. 🙂
Thank you for this very comprehensive article about the different types of travel. I am more of the tourist type, but I do go on conventions too. I did go to Singapore once just to watch a concert and came home that same night. Hehe.
Wow! That must be an adventure!
I would totally love to go backpacking if only my skin wasn’t so high-maintenance! Huhu! All awesome travel concepts 😀
Thank you! You can also try other activities that will not expose you to sun and harsh elements. You can visit museums, heritage buildings, etc.
I used to travel quite frequently for my work and it was quite informative and good experience to meet people from different nationality and learning from the them.
That is what I like about business travel – I get to meet various people and exchange ideas with them.
Learnt something new today ! It’s eye opening to travel , even more so to know the culture and the places!
It’s good to know that my article has provided new insights. 🙂 Thank you!
There are some who cannot be on the road, so they do some armchair traveling. Others do heritage traveling while others travel to shop.
True. I agree on this.
It’s interesting, how you broke down the various reasons why we travel. I’ve done all – except volunteer travel. Must get that going. Truly, my fave has to be the family & friends vacation type travel. It’s all about creating memories, doing something special with loved ones, especially the kids, as they learn so much on their travel… I suppose that’s why I’ve started Kidsonboard – to encourage more families to take to the roads! 🙂
I like your site Kidsonboard. I was smiling as I was reading your post about whale watching as I was also reminiscing my own experience. Volunteer travel can also be done by kids, such as interacting with kids in the local community and teaching them a thing or two. I have met families who come to the Philippines to volunteer together and they are amazing.
Whoa! I never gave a thought about all these different forms of travel. I love to travel and want to explore the world. I wish in whatever form possible, I can achieve it 🙂
There are many more forms of travel. I guess as time goes by, travel also evolves as society and people have become different priorities and wants.
My family used to travel a lot when my siblings and I were younger. Backpacking is something I would love to experience, too.
Family travel can be fun, too! As long as you share similar interests. There are families who have diverse interests they end up arguing during travels.
Honestly speaking, I never know there is so many travel types. But I would love to try backpacking.
It’s fun to do. I get to meet fellow backpackers in hostels and you form an immediate bond with them. 🙂
I’ve tried so many kinds of travel from family trips, trips with friends, solo travel, sports travel for a race and a lot of business trip. Each has its own unique advantage but we do learn a lot from this trips.
Yes, definitely. And it’s fun to try different activities for every travel.
This is something interesting. I am not a travel buff but nevertheless good thing to know more about those travel types.
Traveling to diff places makes me realized how beautiful and simple life is esp in the suburb area. And I realized I can only go there for vacation and relaxation
Life is indeed simple and beautiful in the province. I have come home last year and havve enjoyed the quality of life here. 🙂 But I still want to travel to beaches and mountains as well as to big cities.
Interesting that you categorize travels into various types. I have done most of it (does it hint that I’m getting old? 🙁 ), except sports, medical and Eco.
Not necessarily old. 🙂 It’s just that you are more exposed. 🙂
I think you nailed down all the different types of traveling. I used to backpack to when I was younger but I wish I had more money and budget-traveled more.
Budget traveling is amazing in a sense that you get to visit more places than when you do luxury traveling.
I would love to try eco-travel, get closer to the nature and appreciate them.
Yes, it’s a relaxing and refreshing experience. 🙂
The different types of travel, I’ve only experienced academic travel and familiarization travel. This is a good list, although I won’t do every single one, but it will be good to have a tick-off list.
You can also do your own list by doing varied activities for your every travel. 🙂
Some love to travel to different places and some people have the guts to travel with unsimilar purpose/s. Different travels have different purpose too.
That’s true. When I’m in a plane and when I look around my fellow passengers bound for the same destination yet the energy and emotions are varied and I know that each has a different reason, I feel in awe by the diversity. 🙂