travellers

Travellers are people who move from place to place, for varying durations and purposes. The term covers a wide spectrum, from short business trips and leisure holidays to long-term exploration, wage work, or itinerant lifestyles. In everyday language, travellers are simply those who travel; in some contexts, it also denotes specific culturally distinct groups, such as Irish Travellers or Scottish Travellers, who maintain traditional itinerant practices alongside settled life.

Motivations for travel include recreation, study, work, family visits, or religious pilgrimage. Travel styles range from backpackers and gap-year travellers to digital nomads who work remotely while on the move, and from seasonal workers to long-haul migrant communities.

Historically, travel grew with the development of transportation networks—roads, rail, ships, and airplanes—and with the rise of mass tourism in the 19th and 20th centuries. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw further change driven by online planning, affordable air travel, and global connectivity, which broadened access but also increased environmental and social impacts.

Economic and cultural effects of travel include opportunities for exchange and tourism revenue, as well as pressures on local infrastructure, culture, and the environment. Ethical considerations include respect for local communities, heritage preservation, and the rights and traditions of nomadic travellers.

Safety and logistics matter for travellers: health precautions, travel insurance, visas, and risk awareness.