Although English is considered to be a common language among tourism researchers of different language backgrounds, there seems to be some confusion in the use of English terms in tourism research. This paper will take a close look at the definitions of three primary terms, which were found in introductory tourism textbooks or academic papers: visitor, tourist, and traveler. The authors suggest that the common definitions of these primary terms be analyzed and discussed in order for scholars to further their ideas and findings in the development of the study of tourism.
