Travel and tourism is a diverse industry and there are many different types of travel. The type of travel determines how businesses operate, the types of customer they attract and the types of destination involved. This article explains the main types of travel, with examples of each.
The different types of travel
Separating the different types of travel into clear segments or categories isn’t always an easy task.
Some types of travel may span more than one category- for example a person can go on a short break that is also corporate travel.
And others may be somewhat subjective- what is a short break? Is it two days? Is it four days? This is not clear-cut.
However, whilst accurately segregating types of travel into distinct categories may not be an easy task, it can be useful to have general classifications.
Categorising holidays into different types of travel helps us to better understand and assess the market segment in question. It also enables better tourism management and planning.
So what are the different types of travel? According to UN Tourism, before the COVID-19 pandemic just over half of all international tourist arrivals were for leisure, recreation and holidays; around a quarter were for visiting friends and relatives, health, religion and other personal reasons; and around one in ten were for business and professional purposes. Each of these types of travel is explained below.
Video: The different types of travel
Leisure travel
Leisure travel generally refers to travel that is undertaken for the purpose of pleasure, enjoyment, relaxation or special interests.
Leisure travel is an important component of tourism, and makes up a significant part of the tourism industry.
There are different ways that someone can undertake leisure travel, as outlined below.
Short breaks
Short breaks have become increasingly popular since the advent of the low cost airline.
Cheaper fares and regular flights have meant that people have been able to jet off for a weekend break that may not have previously been possible. In fact, research has shown that many people choose to take two or three short breaks each year rather than a single, more traditional summer holiday- a trend that has continued since the pandemic.
Short breaks are especially popular in areas that are well-connected. In Europe, for instance, it is easy to go on a short break from London to Paris. However, if you lived in Australia, the vast distances between destinations may mean that short breaks are less feasible.
City breaks
City breaks are a popular type of travel.
Cities have lots to offer such as entertainment options (eating out, shows, events etc), as well as a range of tourist attractions and business tourism opportunities.
Cities are usually well connected by transport, making them easily reachable for tourists.
Countryside breaks
Rural tourism grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people sought fresh air and open spaces away from crowds, and countryside breaks remain popular today.
There are many things to do on a countryside break, from hiking the Mendips, to adventure sports such as rock climbing in places like Cheddar Gorge.
Stag and hen parties
It is a tradition for brides and grooms-to-be to celebrate their forthcoming marriage with a stag party or hen party. Whilst this might last for just a few hours, many people are now choosing to travel to a place outside of their home for a short break.
There are many destinations that are popular for stag or hen parties. These are usually destinations which have a substantial nightlife scene.
In Europe, many people go on a stag or hen party to Riga, Barcelona, Manchester, London, Lisbon, Benidorm, Krakow, Liverpool, Amsterdam… to name but a few.
Holidays
There are different types of holidays that constitute leisure tourism.
Throughout the history of tourism, package holidays have been a popular type of travel. Packages are put together by tour operators and are then sold by different types of travel agent. This makes travel easier for the consumer, and many travellers still value the expertise of a travel agent- including the growing number of independent, home-based travel agents.
Many people also choose to undertake independent travel. Whether tourists choose to create a dynamic package or travel on the fly, this is a popular method of leisure travel.
Cruise tourism has also grown considerably, with a record 34.6 million ocean cruise passengers in 2024, according to CLIA. Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes and are popular with a wide variety of tourist types. Cruising is a form of enclave tourism.
Special events
Many people who travel for leisure are doing so to spectate or be involved in a major sporting event.
There are a large number of events that make up an important part of the sports tourism industry. Some examples include the annual Wimbledon Tennis tournament, the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the FIFA World Cup, which was hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
There are also other major events that people may choose to travel for. This could be, for example, the Chelsea Flower Show in London, the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico, Songkran in Thailand or the Glastonbury music festival.
Corporate travel
One of the most important (but often forgotten) types of travel is corporate travel. According to the Global Business Travel Association, global business travel spending was forecast to reach a record US$1.57 trillion in 2025.
Corporate travel, also referred to as business tourism, is any travel that is associated with or related to a person’s job or work.
Corporate travel may or may not involve staying away from home overnight.
Common types of corporate travel include:
MICE tourism
MICE stands for- meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions. These are four important areas of the corporate travel market.
Many people travel to attend meetings. The growth of the shut-in economy and video-calling software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams reduced travel for routine meetings, but face-to-face meetings remain important for building relationships and closing deals.
Incentive travel is travel which is given as a reward for good performance at work. It is designed to act as a motivator for staff; encouraging them to work harder, achieve better results and ultimately make more money for the business.
Conferences and exhibitions are an important tool for sharing ideas and networking. Many moved online during the pandemic, but in-person events have since returned strongly, often with a hybrid option, as networking via a computer screen does not yield the same benefits as a face-to-face conversation. See this article on MICE tourism for more.
Training
Training courses are, and will continue to be, essential to successful tourism operations management. Staff need to be trained for the position that they will/are working in and will need to be regularly upskilled.
Staff may also wish to undertake extra training for promotions or to keep up to date with industry developments.
Training courses can take place in the workplace, but they can also take place in other destinations, meaning that they facilitate a form of corporate travel.
Short-term work contracts
Corporate travel can also consist of temporary work contracts. This is when a person is required to work in a location outside of their home environment for a specified period of time.
Whilst the time-frame is not clearly defined, if somebody relocates for work, they are then classified as an expatriate rather than a business tourist.
Work contracts such as these can be based within the employee’s home country or they can be based overseas.
Specialist travel
Specialist travel, often referred to as special interest tourism, is a form of niche tourism. It groups together an indefinite number of types of tourism that are specialist in nature.
Specialist tourism is often linked to a personal hobby, sport or interest. It may also be a type of travel that meets a specific need of a particular tourist or group of tourists.
Types of specialist travel
There are more than 150 different types of specialist tourism, as outlined in this types of tourism glossary.
Some of the most common types of tourism include adventure tourism, health tourism, educational tourism, heritage and cultural tourism, gap year travel, conservation, sustainable tourism, responsible tourism and honeymoon tourism.
Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR)
Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) is one of the biggest market segments in travel and tourism and is one of the most important types of travel.
People travel all around the world to visit their friends and relatives. This is an important form of domestic tourism as well as inbound tourism and outbound tourism.
Sometimes VFR will involve an overnight stay, and other times it will not. Travellers may choose to stay with their friends or relatives in their home or they may book accommodation of their own.
VFR: Migrants and expats
VFR is an especially prominent type of travel in areas with high migration or expatriation. For example, there are thousands of tourists who travel from the UK to India and Poland each year to visit family and friends. This is because there are a high number of Indian and Polish migrants in the UK.
Day trips
Another important type of travel is day trips. Whilst according to some definitions of tourism, one may not technically be classified as a tourist unless they stay away from home overnight, they are nonetheless a valuable contribution to the tourism economy.
Types of day trips
Most people who undertake a day trip will be visiting friends and relatives or in search of leisure or business.
Many people will choose to take a day trip to visit a tourist attraction, to go shopping, to attend an event, to visit the countryside or to take part in various activities.
A day trip can take place close to home or it can form part of a holiday- for example, an excursion taken from a hotel while on holiday.
To conclude: Types of travel
As you can see, there are many different types of travel, which can broadly be categorised as: leisure travel, corporate travel, specialist travel, visiting friends and relatives and day trips. All of these types of travel provide important contributions to the wider tourism industry and segmentation in this way allows us to assess and organise the industry according to the types of travel that are under scrutiny.
Types of travel: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about the different types of travel.
What are the main types of travel?
The main types of travel are leisure travel (such as short breaks, city breaks, holidays and events), corporate or business travel (including MICE, training and work contracts), specialist or special interest travel, visiting friends and relatives (VFR) and day trips.
What is the most common reason for travel?
Leisure is the most common reason for international travel. According to UN Tourism, before the pandemic just over half of international tourist arrivals were for leisure and holidays, around a quarter for visiting friends and relatives, health and religion, and around one in ten for business.
What is VFR travel?
VFR stands for visiting friends and relatives. It is one of the largest segments of the tourism industry and is especially important in countries with large migrant or expatriate populations.
What is the difference between leisure travel and business travel?
Leisure travel is undertaken for pleasure, relaxation or special interests, whereas business (corporate) travel is undertaken for work, such as attending meetings, conferences, exhibitions or training.
Is a day trip a type of tourism?
Day trips are not always counted as tourism, because some definitions require an overnight stay. However, day visitors (often called excursionists) make a valuable contribution to the tourism economy, spending money on attractions, food, shopping and transport.
Further reading
- The 3 Major Types Of Airlines + How They Work
- 50 types of transport from around the world
- 21 Types of Tourists Around The World
- 20 Popular Types of Hotels Around The World
- Types of travel agents
- MICE tourism explained
- 150 types of tourism! The ultimate tourism glossary
