Cultural and International Tourism for Life's Enrichment - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 226

curriculum. Language study institutes flourish all over the world. They can be private or associated with
universities. Some examples of the latter are the University of Geneva, Switzerland; the University of
Grenoble, France; and the University of California at Berkeley in the United States. Study abroad programs
for college students provide excellent opportunities to learn a different language. Such programs are
becoming a more common part of the university experience in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere.
Many universities have cooperating agreements that allow students to attend universities in another
country for the same cost as their university, including the transfer of scholarship funds and

university credits. Elderhostel learning opportunities for senior citizens provide another example of travel-
studyprogramsinwhichaforeignlanguagecanbepursued.
Most travelers like to learn at least some of the language to use while they are in a foreign country.
Usually this is in the form of expressions related to ordering food in a restaurant or in talking with hotel
or other tourism employees. Classes in language could be included in an entertainment or activities
program within a tourist area.

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Science

The of a country constitute an interest to visitors, particularly those in technical

industries, education, or scienti c research. Organizations responsible for tourist promotion can serve
the scienti c community by offering facilities for the exchange of scienti c information, organization
of scienti c seminars, visits to scienti c installations, and other activities that provide access to
scienti c information by visitors.
The most popular scienti c appeals include museums of science and industry, planetariums, and
visits to unusual scienti c installations such as atomic power plants and space exploration centers.
Zoos and aquariums are also popular. An outstanding example is the Kennedy Space Center in
northeastern Florida. This installation attracts substantial numbers of visitors each year and provides
educational and scienti c knowledge for even the most unsophisticated visitor. Another is the
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The European Nuclear Research
Centre (EFRN) in Geneva, Switzerland with its world-class atomic particle accelerator is also becoming
of major international interest.

scienti c activities

Government

Systems of vary throughout the world. Persons interested in political science and

government find visits to centers of government, such as capitals, particularly valuable and highly
motivating. Whenever a person visits another area, he or she is made aware of the type of government
system in effect and notes the differences between this and the home country.
Persons interested in politics and the ways in which other countries and areas solve their political
problems represent another part of the market. Lawmakers often visit another state or country to
observe the procedures developed to solve social or economic problems.
A visit to Washington, D.C. can show visitors the lawmaking process in the House of Representatives
and in the Senate. Hearings on various proposed regulations or statutes are often open to visitors. As the
center of the government of the United States, this city provides educational opportunities in many
areas to both American and foreign travelers. Today many buildings in Washington, D.C. and other
government centers require advance clearance to visit, as security has been greatly increased.

government

Religion

Another major motivation for travel through all of recorded history is the .As

noted in Chapter 2, pilgrimages are one of the oldest reasons for travel. Many inns and taverns were

religious pilgrimage