der
Tourismus
🌍 What does “der Tourismus” mean?
Der Tourismus refers to the activity of people traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business or other purposes for not more than one consecutive year.
It encompasses two main aspects:
- The activity of travelling: Being on the move for pleasure, recreation, education, or business reasons.
- The economic sector: The entirety of businesses and services that enable travel and depend on it (e.g., hotels, tour operators, airlines, restaurants, attractions).
It is a masculine noun and is always used with the article “der”.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ismus → mostly masculine.
-us/-uss/-uß → mostly masculine.
Including -ismus nouns (100% masculine, e.g. der Tourismus)
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Declension of Tourismus
“Der Tourismus” is a masculine noun. It is mostly used in the singular as it is a collective term. A plural form (“die Tourismen”) formally exists but is extremely rare and only used in very specific technical contexts (e.g., different types of tourism). Usually, one refers to “Formen des Tourismus” (forms of tourism) or similar paraphrases.
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Tourismus |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Tourismus |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Tourismus |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Tourismus |
Example Sentences
- Nominative: Der Tourismus ist ein wichtiger Wirtschaftsfaktor für die Region.
(Tourism is an important economic factor for the region.) - Genitive: Die Auswirkungen des Tourismus auf die Umwelt werden diskutiert.
(The effects of tourism on the environment are being discussed.) - Dative: Viele Arbeitsplätze hängen dem Tourismus an.
(Many jobs depend on tourism. - Note: More common is 'hängen vom Tourismus ab') - Accusative: Wir müssen den Tourismus nachhaltiger gestalten.
(We need to make tourism more sustainable.)
💡 How “Tourismus” is used
“Tourismus” is a frequently used word in various contexts:
- Economy: Discussion about revenue, jobs, industry development (e.g., Tourismusbranche - tourism industry, Tourismusstatistik - tourism statistics).
- Geography/Sociology: Examining the impacts on places, cultures, and the environment (e.g., Massentourismus - mass tourism, sanfter Tourismus - sustainable/soft tourism).
- Politics: Measures to promote or regulate tourism (e.g., Tourismuspolitik - tourism policy, Tourismusministerium - ministry of tourism).
- Everyday Language: Describing travel activities, often in contrast to local life (e.g., “Hier ist im Sommer viel Tourismus.” - There's a lot of tourism here in the summer.).
Related terms include, for example, Reisen (traveling - more general), Urlaub (vacation/holiday - specifically recreational travel), or Fremdenverkehr (an older term, often used synonymously, literally 'foreigners' traffic').
🧠 Mnemonics for “der Tourismus”
Article Mnemonic: Think of “der Tourist”. A tourist is (usually thought of as) male, and der Tourismus is the phenomenon he engages in. Both use “der”!
Meaning Mnemonic: “Tourismus” sounds like “making a tour”. You make a tour for fun or exploration – exactly the essence of tourism.
↔️ Synonyms & (No Direct) Antonyms
Synonyms
- Fremdenverkehr: An older term, often used synonymously, but sometimes perceived as less comprehensive.
- Reiseverkehr: Refers more strongly to the movement and transport of travelers.
- Reisewesen: A comprehensive term for all aspects of travel.
Antonyms
There isn't a direct antonym for “Tourismus”. Opposites can be formed depending on the context:
Similar but Different Terms
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Skelette keinen Urlaub?
Sie haben keinen „Körper“, um irgendwo hinzugehen!
Translation: Why don't skeletons take vacations?
They have no body (nobody) to go anywhere! (A bit of a pun mixing 'Körper' - body and 'nobody') 😉
✍️ Poem about Tourism
Von fern und nah, ein steter Strom,
Der Tourismus, wie ein Phantom.
Mal bringt er Freude, mal bringt er Last,
Verändert Orte oft in Hast.
Er schafft die Arbeit, füllt die Kass',
Doch fordert Rücksicht, Maß für Maß.
Entdecken, staunen, ferne Zonen,
Soll Mensch und Umwelt stets verschonen.
Translation:
From far and near, a constant stream,
Tourism, like a phantom dream.
Sometimes brings joy, sometimes brings burden,
Changing places often in a hurry.
It creates the jobs, fills the cash tills,
But demands respect, measure for measure still.
Discovering, marvelling, distant zones,
Should always spare both man and nature's homes.
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich bringe Menschen weit von hier,
Zu Bergen, Stränden, fremdem Getier.
Ich bin ein Geschäft, ein großer Zweig,
Und mach' die Welt zum Zeitvertreib.
Manchmal bin ich sanft, manchmal zu viel,
Doch stets verfolge ich mein Ziel:
Erholung, Abenteuer, neue Sicht -
Was bin ich wohl? Vergiss es nicht!
Translation:
I take people far from here,
To mountains, beaches, creatures strange and dear.
I am a business, a major branch,
And make the world a pastime, taking a chance.
Sometimes I'm gentle, sometimes too much,
But always pursue my goal as such:
Recreation, adventure, a new view -
What am I? Don't forget the clue!
Solution: Der Tourismus (Tourism)
🧩 Other Information
- Word Origin: The word „Tourismus“ comes from the French word tourisme, which in turn derives from tour (tour, round trip). It became established in the 19th century.
- Compound Words: „Tourismus“ is part of many compound nouns, e.g.:
- Tourismusbranche (tourism industry)
- Tourismusverband (tourism association)
- Tourismusmanager (tourism manager)
- Tourismusförderung (tourism promotion)
- Massentourismus (mass tourism)
- Nachhaltiger Tourismus (sustainable tourism)
- Ökotourismus (ecotourism)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Tourismus?
The word "Tourismus" is masculine, so the correct article is der. It refers to the activity of traveling for pleasure or business, as well as the associated economic sector.