local traveller definition

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Local Travel

Yes, a Service member or civilian employee may be reimbursed for local travel when conducting official business in the area of the PDS or TDY location. See the JTR, Section 0206 for more information.

Reimbursement for commercial travel may be authorized or approved for taxi fares and transportation-related tips; the hire and operation of a rental car, including necessary parking fees; or local public transportation when tickets or cash fares are not provided.

For local travel, mileage is based on the number of miles driven, as determined by the odometer.

Yes, travel expenses may be reimbursable if the travel expenses to the alternate work site exceed the ordinary commuting expenses to the traveler’s workplace at the PDS. When a traveler must travel between the residence or PDS and an alternate work site, an authorizing official may authorize or approve the use of a POV, and the traveler receives mileage for the distance that exceeds the commuting distance. See the JTR, par. 0206 for more information.

The local area is not a set radius or a maximum number of miles. See the JTR, Section 0206 for information on the authority to establish the local area. The authority who sets the local commuting area of the PDS or TDY must not establish an arbitrary distance that is based on radius. See 59 Comp. Gen. 397 (1980) [gao.gov]. For the Washington DC area, see DoD Instruction 4515.14, Washington Local Commuting Area [PDF, 5 pages] .

The local area is within the permanent or temporary duty station’s limits and the metropolitan area around that station.
The local area is within the local commuting area of the duty station, which is determined by the authorizing official or prescribed by local Service or Defense Agency directives.
The local area includes separate cities, towns, or installations adjacent to or close to each other, where the commuting public travels daily during normal business hours.

Local accommodation

How do you define ‘local travel’.

This week has seen the launch of LocalTravelMovement.com . It’s aim is to bring together supporters of local travel and it will act as a platform for the debate that is already going on around the web. I was involved in some of the early discussions and it got me thinking about trying to define ‘local travel’.

Some months ago, I received an email from PR rep for a hotel in Buenos Aires. I can’t remember the exact wording but it was along the lines of – “I’ve seen your blog and I have the perfect ‘going local’ hotel for you”.

“Uh oh, here we go,” I couldn’t help thinking. Did this mean ‘local travel’ was now a buzz phrase? Were all hotels going to be jumping on bandwagon, just like every hotel that recycles now calls itself an eco lodge?

Continue reading this article on the Going Local blog

4 Responses to “How do you define ‘local travel’?”

Interesting post Vicky, and thank you for letting us share it here! I hope via this movement we can all help define “Local Travel” a bit more.

Sadly the term “eco” is now a bad word, just like “organic” began to be 10 years ago. As the Exec Dir of a Panamanian NGO that promotes sustainable tourism, we are working to develop and implement highly in-depth, internationally recognized standards by which our hotels will be evaluated before stamping them with “certified eco.” Perhaps this way we can avoid the false marketing problem of the “local-eco-organic-mega lodge.” “Lodge” – ha ha – that’s another good one!

Perhaps, a local traveller can be best described as someone who travels with the purpose of meeting locals and a genuine interest to get to know them. Defining local travel by the type of accommodation is to shallow, in my opinion. After all, you are always staying somewhere – locally. Apart from that, even in couchsurfing networks guests (especially if they travel in pairs or groups) tend to stick together and don’t necessarily learn from the local community. Leaving alone the fact that many – if not the majority – of couchsurfing members actually are no locals at all but people drawn to the place they live in for purposes of study or work. In Barcelona, for example, the most active couchsurfers use to be from Argentina and other South American countries.

@Florian That is a very valid point indeed. I’m in Kuala Lumpur at the moment, and as a Couchsurfer I find it difficult to find native Malaysian locals to hang out with.

On the other hand, I think people from abroad who have lived in a place for a long time are also “local”. But in a place with a strong divide between expat and local as in Kuala Lumpur, it’s frustrating.

Thank you Wordpress , Wordle (logo) and Woothemes (theme)!

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1.32.1.1.1 Background
1.32.1.1.2 Authorities
1.32.1.1.3.1 Approving Officials
1.32.1.1.3.2 Employees
1.32.1.1.3.3 CFO and Deputy CFO
1.32.1.1.3.4 Senior Associate CFO Financial Management
1.32.1.1.3.5 Travel Management Office
1.32.1.1.3.6 Travel Policy and Review
1.32.1.1.3.7 Travel Services
1.32.1.1.3.8 Travel Operations
1.32.1.1.4.1 Program Reports
1.32.1.1.4.2 Program Effectiveness
1.32.1.1.5 Program Controls
1.32.1.1.6 Terms/Definitions
1.32.1.1.7 Acronyms
1.32.1.1.8 Related Resources
1.32.1.2 General Rules
1.32.1.3 Travel Guidance for Year End
1.32.1.4 Travel During Periods Covered by Continuing Resolution Authority
1.32.1.5 Training Travel
1.32.1.6 Invitational Travel
1.32.1.7.1 Government-Owned Vehicle (GOV)
1.32.1.7.2 Public Transportation
1.32.1.7.3 Taxis, TNCs, Innovative Mobility Technology Companies, Shuttle Services or Other Courtesy Transportation
1.32.1.7.4 Rental Car
1.32.1.7.5.1 Mileage Reimbursement
1.32.1.7.5.2 50-mile Offset Rule
1.32.1.7.5.3 Six Day Rule
1.32.1.7.6 Parking Fees and Rented Parking Space
1.32.1.7.7 Limousine and Executive Car Service
1.32.1.8 Per Diem Expenses for Local Travel
1.32.1.9 Miscellaneous Expenses
1.32.1.10 Public Transportation Subsidy Program (PTSP)
1.32.1.11 Taxable Travel Reimbursement
1.32.1.12 Local Long-Term Taxable Travel
1.32.1.13 Filing Authorization for Long-Term Taxable Travel Form
1.32.1.14 Extended Temporary Duty Travel Tax Reimbursement Allowance
1.32.1.15.1 Arranging for Transportation
1.32.1.15.2 Fees
1.32.1.15.3 Paying Travel Expenses Using the Government Travel Card
1.32.1.15.4 Claiming Reimbursement
1.32.1.16 Death of Employee While in Travel Status
1.32.1.17 Travel Forms
1.32.1.18 Delegation Orders (DO)

Part 1. Organization, Finance, and Management

Chapter 32. servicewide travel policies and procedures, section 1. irs local travel guide, 1.32.1 irs local travel guide, manual transmittal.

March 22, 2023

(1) This transmits revised IRM 1.32.1, Servicewide Travel Policies and Procedures, IRS Local Travel Guide.

Material Changes

(1) 1.32.1.1(5), Program Scope and Objectives - Primary Stakeholders - added employees who perform or approve official local travel.

(2) 1.32.1.1.3.1 (1)(p), Approving Officials - added Ensuring that travelers submit a local travel voucher every 30 days or if an infrequent traveler with minimal expenses that do not require immediate reimbursement, employees may file a quarterly voucher; and ensuring claimed travel expenses are correct.

(3) 1.32.1.1.3.2 (1)(k), Employees - added Ensuring that travelers submit a local travel voucher every 30 days or if an infrequent traveler with minimal expenses that do not require immediate reimbursement, employees may file a quarterly voucher; and ensuring claimed travel expenses are correct.

(4) 1.32.1.1.3.6(f), Travel Policy and Review - changed travelers to employees.

(5) 1.32.1.1.4 2(a), Program Effectiveness - General Review Items - updated based on updated definition of local travel.

(6) 1.32.1.1.4.2(1), Program Effectiveness - Referrals to Labor/Employee Relations and Negotiations (LERN) - added for clarification - Employees’ audit errors with 1) two or more repeated violations of IRS travel policy, or 2) potential fraudulent transactions, will be put into the Alerts system and referred to Labor/Employee Relations and Negotiations for further determination of disciplinary action.

(7) 1.32.1.1.6 (s), Terms/Definitions - local travel - updated based on FTR definition of city-to-city travel - Travel within a 50-mile radius of the employees officially assigned duty station which is completed within one day and does not require any air, rail or lodging expenses.

(8) 1.32.1.1.6 (u), Terms/Definitions - Official Station - updated for clarification with definition from FTR -An area defined by the agency that includes the location where the employee regularly performs his or her duties or an invitational traveler's home or regular place of business (see § 301-1.2 ). The area may be a mileage radius around a particular point, a geographic boundary, or any other definite domain, provided no part of the area is more than 50 miles from where the employee regularly performs his or her duties or from an invitational traveler's home or regular place of business. If the employee's work involves recurring travel or varies on a recurring basis, the location where the work activities of the employee's position of record are based is considered the regular place of work.

(9) 1.32.11.1.6(2)(v), Terms/Definitions - added definition - Official Assigned Duty Station/Post of Duty (POD) - the specific building address of record the employee is permanently assigned.

(10) 1.32.1.1.6 (z), Terms/Definitions - Residence - reworded for clarification - The home in which an employee lives in the vicinity of the official assigned duty station, and where an employee commutes to and from the official assigned duty station daily or when required to report to the official assigned duty station.

(11) 1.32.1.2 (2), General Rules - updated based on definition of local travel - This IRM covers travel on official business, which is performed within a 50-mile radius of the employee’s official assigned duty station that is performed within one day and does not require any air, rail or lodging expenses.

(12) 1.32.1.2 (3), General Rules - added - The employee must apply the 50-mile offset and six day rule when applicable.

(13) 1.32.1.2 (4), General Rules - added - The employee must use the proper line of accounting to identify local long-term taxable travel.

(14) 1.32.1.7(2), Transportation Expenses - updated for clarification - Employees performing local travel may claim transportation expenses for:

Public transportation like buses, streetcar, trolley or other public transportation

Taxis, TNCs, shuttle services and other local transit systems

Rental cars, plus fuel

POV mileage, minus any applicable offset or rule per IRM 1.32.1.7.5, Privately Owned Vehicle (POV)

Rented parking spaces

(15) 1.32.1.7.2, Public Transportation - section added for clarification - Employees should use public transportation such as bus, streetcar or subway when available and practical.

(16) IRM 1.32.1.7.3(5), Taxis, TNCs, Innovative Mobility Technology Companies, Shuttle Services or Other Courtesy Transportation - added - Employees are not authorized the use of luxury or executive type vehicle services offered by Uber or Lyft (e.g., Uber Black, Uber Premier, Lyft Lux, etc.).

(17) 1.32.1.7.4(1), Rental Car - added for official government travel only for clarification.

(18) 1.32.1.7.5(2)(a), Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) - reworded (a) for clarification -Limit reimbursement to the constructive cost of the authorized method of transportation, which is the sum of the reasonable transportation expenses the employee would have incurred when traveling by the authorized method of transportation versus POV mileage

(19) 1.32.1.7.5(2)(b), Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) - removed (b) not needed for one day travel.

(20) 1.32.1.7.5 (3), Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) - removed requirement to deduct normal commute and in excess of normal commute.

(21) 1.32.1.7.5.2, 50-mile Offset Rule - added back in from July 10, 2019, IRM 1.32.1 with more detailed information for clarification.

(22) 1.32.1.7.5.3, Six Day Rule - added back in from July 10, 2019, IRM 1.32.1.7.5.3, Six Day Rule, with more detailed information for clarification.

(23) 1.32.1.7.6 (3), Parking Fees and Rented Parking Space - added Employees must provide a receipt for any parking expenses in excess of $25.

(24) 1.32.1.11 (1), Taxable Travel Reimbursement - added (a) Daily travel between employee’s residence and a non-temporary work location (other than the officially assigned duty station).

(25) 1.32.1.11, Taxable Travel Reimbursement - added (3) & (4).

(26) 1.32.1.12, Local Long-Term Taxable Travel - added section.

(27) 1.32.1.14, Extended Temporary Duty Travel Tax Reimbursement Allowance - added section.

(28) 1.32.1.15.4 ( ), Claiming Reimbursement - added If you are an infrequent traveler and have minimal expenses that do not require immediate reimbursement you may file a voucher on a quarterly basis.

(29) 1.32.1.15.4 (10), Claiming Reimbursement - added Parking receipt in excess of $25.

(30) This revision includes changes throughout the document for the following:

Updated the CFO office names and responsibilities

Per Executive Order 13988, references to him, her and his were updated

Removed references specific to city-to-city travel and not applicable to local travel

Added minor editorial changes such as grammatical, spelling and minor changes for clarification purposes

Updated links throughout the IRM

Corrected references throughout the IRM

Effect on Other Documents

Effective date.

Teresa R. Hunter Chief Financial Officer

Program Scope and Objectives

Purpose: This IRM provides guidance for all IRS employees on official local travel.

Audience: All business units

Policy Owner: CFO, Financial Management

Program Owner: The CFO, Financial Management, Travel Management office develops and maintains this IRM

Primary Stakeholders: The primary stakeholders are IRS employees who perform or approve official local travel.

Program Goal: To ensure that IRS employees exercise integrity and comply with the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and IRS travel policy.

The FTR does not address local travel and instead delegates that responsibility to each federal agency.

This IRM authorizes the IRS to reimburse employees for local travel expenses incurred when performing official business.

This IRM outlines the IRS’s local policies and procedures including case-related, training, emergency and invitational travel. It also provides procedures for preparing and approving authorizations and claiming reimbursement for local travel expenses.

This IRM implements policies to ensure that local travel expenses are authorized in accordance with travel policy. IRS cannot reimburse an employee for expenses that are not consistent with this IRM which may have been a result of inaccurate information.

City-to-city and relocation travel policy is not covered in this IRM. City-to-city travel is covered in IRM 1.32.11, IRS City-to-City Travel Guide, and relocation travel is covered in IRM 1.32.12, IRS Relocation Travel Guide.

Authorities

31 U.S. Code Section 901, Establishment of agency Chief Financial Officers

Revenue Ruling 99-7

5 U.S. Code, Chapter 41, Training

Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998

Responsibilities

This section provides responsibilities for:

Approving officials

CFO and Deputy CFO

Senior associate cfo financial management.

Travel Management

Travel Policy and Review

Travel services, travel operations, approving officials.

Approving officials are responsible for:

Completing mandatory travel policy training every two years.

Providing employees with access and the opportunity to review the material in this guide and any other travel regulations prior to traveling.

Answering questions an employee may have about the content of this guide or related travel matters.

Providing employees who are expected to travel with information on how to apply for a government travel card.

Planning travel to ensure that employees' time and travel funds are used in the most efficient and economical manner.

Directing employees' attention to possible travel savings.

Planning travel so employees do not incur personal expenses for properly authorized travel.

Reviewing and approving travel authorizations and vouchers to ensure expenses and accounting information are correct.

Approving travel authorizations at least four days prior to the actual travel dates.

Ensuring travel expenses are authorized under travel policy. IRS cannot reimburse an employee for expenses that are not consistent with this IRM which may have been a result of inaccurate information.

Ensuring required receipts and supporting documentation are scanned or faxed into ETS or attached to the manual vouchers.

Reconciling receipts and supporting documentation against the expenses claimed on the voucher before approving.

Maintaining copies of approved travel authorizations and supporting documentation for manual vouchers in compliance with General Records Schedule (GRS) 1.1, item 010 Financial Transaction Records Related to Procuring Goods and Services, Paying Bills, Collecting Debts, and Accounting.

Reviewing advances to ensure that they are appropriate for expected travel requirements.

Ensuring that employees who are either transferring or separating have repaid outstanding travel advances.

Ensuring that travelers submit a local travel voucher every 30 days or if an infrequent traveler with minimal expenses that do not require immediate reimbursement, employees may file a quarterly voucher; and ensuring claimed travel expenses are correct.

Approving or returning a travel voucher within seven calendar days of submission (to ensure payment within 30 calendar days of submission).

Ensuring that advances are liquidated on the vouchers.

Ensuring reporting instructions are attached if purpose code "T" is used.

Delegation Order 1-30, Authorization and Approval of Official Travel within the United States, identifies the appropriate IRS officials with the delegated authority to authorize and approve travel. This authority has been delegated to managers and may be redelegated to a level no lower than management official.

Employees are responsible for:

Performing official travel within the guidance of travel policies, regulations and procedures.

Requesting clarification on any travel policies, regulations and procedures that are not understood.

Planning travel to minimize travel cost to the IRS.

Exercising the same prudence and economy when incurring expenses in the performance of official travel that a prudent person would exercise if traveling on personal business.

Submitting a travel authorization at least five days before traveling and incurring local travel expenses.

Paying all charges and fees associated with the government travel card by the due date on the invoice. Employees are liable for all charges and will not be reimbursed above maximum levels prescribed by law.

Using the mode of transportation that results in the greatest overall advantage to the government.

Using the government travel card for official travel including transportation expenses (bus, streetcar, transit system), automobile rentals and other major travel-related expenses.

Canceling unused travel authorizations.

Submitting a local travel voucher every 30 days or if you are an infrequent traveler with minimal expenses that do not require immediate reimbursement, you may file a quarterly voucher; and ensuring claimed travel expenses are correct. IRS cannot reimburse an employee for expenses that are not consistent with this IRM which may have been a result of inaccurate information.

Liquidating a travel advance on a voucher or by submitting a check to Travel Operations.

Accounting for travel advances received and repaying any advances that are not liquidated by travel expenses. Employees are indebted to the government for advances which may become taxable.

Paying additional expenses resulting from scheduling travel for personal convenience and charging excess travel time against leave.

Not delaying the performance of official travel for personal reasons.

Not claiming personal expenses on travel vouchers.

Ensuring required receipts and supporting documentation are scanned, faxed or uploaded into the Electronic Travel System (ETS) or attached to your manual voucher.

Ensuring any outstanding advances are repaid if you are separating from the service.

Ensuring approval is obtained prior to incurring any expenses that require advance approval. For example: per diem within the commuting area.

Acknowledge that they have read and understand the following truth and accuracy statement before signing their voucher: “I certify that this voucher is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that payment or credit has not been received by me.”

The CFO and the Deputy CFO are responsible for:

Overseeing policies, procedures, standards and controls for the IRS financial processes and systems.

Ensuring that IRS’s financial management activities comply with laws and regulations.

The Senior Associate CFO Financial Management is responsible for establishing and ensuring compliance with policies and procedures, and for maintaining internal controls on local travel.

Travel Management Office

The Travel Management office is responsible for:

Developing and issuing IRS local and city-to-city travel policy.

Approving exemptions to using electronic travel system (ETS).

Reviewing financial policies and procedures for compliance with financial laws and regulations.

Approving reduced per diem rates.

Approving exceptions to the required commute for receiving per diem.

Reviewing and submitting premium class travel requests to CFO for denial or approval of requests.

Reviewing and/or approving all reimbursements for expenses which require higher level approval.

The Travel Policy and Review staff is responsible for:

Educating customers on travel policy, Federal Travel Regulations, ETS and travel procedures.

Review travel course materials used when Travel Services conducts travel workshops and customer outreach to ensure traveler compliance with regulations and travel policy.

Authoring travel IRMs, Interim Guidance, delegation orders and travel forms.

Develop, administer and manage mandatory travel policy training in Integrated Talent Management (ITM).

Developing travel communications.

Performing travel compliance reviews on travel documents and referring employees with two or more repeated violations, within twelve months, of the FTR and/or IRS travel policies or potential fraudulent transactions to Labor/Employee Relations and Negotiations for further determination of disciplinary action.

Conducting quarterly analysis on audit findings and creating scorecards for each business unit.

Monitoring and conducting quarterly reviews of Local long term taxable travel (LTTT) for all travelers to determine if travel is to a single location. Review to determine if there appears to be excessive travel to a single location and should be reported as LTTT and reviewing all executive travel for potential LTTT.

Managing the Travel Management Center (TMC) contract.

Travel Services is responsible for:

Providing help desk services for users and authorizing officials.

Administering the ETS, a web-based end-to-end travel system.

Interpreting federal travel policies and procedures.

Communicating travel related information.

Serving as the Federal Agency Travel Administrator (FATA).

Performing eTravel post audit reviews of local travel vouchers.

Updating training material to conduct quarterly travel workshops to continue travel education.

Travel Operations is responsible for:

Reviewing and processing manual travel authorizations and vouchers.

Processing Extended TDY Tax Reimbursement Allowance (ETTRA) reimbursement.

Processing travel reclassifications identified by Travel Policy and Review.

Performing eTravel post audit reviews of city-to-city and foreign travel vouchers.

Educating travelers on established travel policy, Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) and travel procedures.

Providing customer service for vouchers reviews.

Program Management and Review

The CFO is required to report all travel and transportation payments of more than $5 million during the fiscal year to Government Services Administration (GSA).

The travel reports include a list of data elements and report formats provided by GSA. The data must be submitted to GSA by November 30 and GSA must provide a government-wide report by January 31 to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress to be available to the public.

Program Reports

The IRS completes and submits the Travel Reporting Information Profile (Trip) to the Department of the Treasury annually.

Program Effectiveness

The IRS ensures program effectiveness for travel authorizations and vouchers through these processes:

Long-Term Taxable Travel Reviews-Current Process

Quarterly Potential Long-Term Taxable Travel (LTTT) review for both executives and non-executives to determine if travel is to a single location.

In-depth review and analysis for travelers that appear to be traveling excessively to a single location and possibly should be filing their travel as LTTT.

Review all executives travel for potential LTTT, when asked by the CFO.

Program Controls

The following chart describes the internal controls in place for the local travel program:

Terms/Definitions

The following terms and definitions apply to this program:

Accounting label -- Refers to the line of accounting in the IRS electronic travel system.

Alternative worksite -- A place where an employee is temporarily reassigned, most likely to another building/office within the city limits of the official station.

Approving official -- The manager or management official authorized to approve travel authorizations and vouchers in accordance with Servicewide travel-related Delegation Orders. The approving official should be a grade level equal to or higher than those whose documents they are approving.

Attendant -- An individual who provides personal care and travels with an authorized IRS traveler who has a disability or special need.

Automatic teller machine (ATM) travel advance -- Contractor-provided service that allows cash withdrawals from participating ATMs. The cash withdrawal and associated fees are charged to the Standard Travel Card account. Cash from ATMs is only authorized for expenses that cannot be charged to the travel card while in official travel status.

Common carrier -- Private sector supplier of air, rail, bus or mass transit.

Commute - Transportation an employee normally incurs when traveling to and from their residence to their official assigned duty station.

Commuting area -- For per diem purposes only, is defined as the area within a 50-mile radius of the employee’s residence and official station.

Concur Government Edition (CGE) reservation fee -- A vendor fee that will auto-populate in a document when reservations are booked through Concur or by contacting the TMC directly.

Electronic travel system (ETS) -- A government-contracted computer application and database that provides IRS travelers with automated travel planning and reimbursement capabilities. The ETS includes authorization, reservation and vouchering capabilities for domestic and foreign city-to-city and local travel.

Employee -- An individual serving in the IRS in the usually accepted employer-employee relationship. Employees are entitled to reimbursement of travel and transportation expenses while away from their residences or official assigned duty station.

Extended TDY tax reimbursement allowance (ETTRA) -- An allowance designed to reimburse an employee for federal, state and local income taxes incurred because of local long-term travel.

Fiscal Year -- The twelve-month accounting period used in the government. It begins on October 1 and ends September 30 and is designated by the calendar year in which it ends.

Government owned vehicle (GOV) -- An automobile or light truck, including vans and pickup trucks that is: 1. Owned by an agency, 2. Assigned or dispatched to an agency from the GSA Interagency Fleet Management System, or 3. Leased by the government for a period of 60 days or longer from a commercial source.

Government travel card -- A government contractor-issued card used by employees to pay for official travel expenses such as transportation, lodging, meals, baggage fees, and rental cars and associated fuel/oil where the contractor bills the employee.

Head of office -- Any of the following IRS officials and their deputies: Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, Division Commissioners, Chiefs, Chief Counsel, directors reporting directly to the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner, and the National Taxpayer Advocate.

Innovative mobility technology company -- An organization, including a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship, or any other entity, that applies technology to expand and enhance available transportation choices, better manages demand for transportation services, or provides alternatives to driving alone.

Invitational traveler -- Travel performed by non-Federal Government employees, including contractors, who are acting in a capacity directly related to official activities of the IRS. Reimbursement for travel by non-Federal Government employees is subject to the same regulations as travel by IRS employees.

Local travel -- Travel within a 50-mile radius of the employees officially assigned duty station which is completed within one day and does not require any air, rail or lodging expenses.

Management official -- An employee with duties and responsibilities requiring or authorizing the individual to formulate, determine or influence IRS policy. The employee also must be a non-bargaining employee on performance commitments under Form 12450A, Management Performance Agreement, or 12450B, Management Official Performance Agreement.

Official station -- An area defined by the agency that includes the location where the employee regularly performs his or her duties or an invitational traveler's home or regular place of business (see § 301-1.2 ). The area may be a mileage radius around a particular point, a geographic boundary, or any other definite domain, provided no part of the area is more than 50 miles from where the employee regularly performs his or her duties or from an invitational traveler's home or regular place of business. If the employee's work involves recurring travel or varies on a recurring basis, the location where the work activities of the employee's position of record are based is considered the regular place of work.

Official Assigned Duty Station/Post of Duty (POD) -- the specific building address of record the employee is permanently assigned.

Per diem allowance -- Also referred to as subsistence allowance, is a daily payment instead of reimbursement for lodging, meals and related incidental expenses. The per diem allowance is separate from transportation expenses and other miscellaneous expenses.

Privately owned vehicle (POV) -- Any vehicle (such as an automobile, motorcycle, aircraft or boat) that is not owned or leased by a government agency and is not commercially leased or rented by an employee under a government rental agreement for use in connection with official government business.

Profile -- A set of user data that administrators (and sometimes business users) can display and modify. It includes attributes such as name, email, address and language.

Residence -- The home in which an employee lives in the vicinity of the official assigned duty station, and where an employee commutes to and from the official assigned duty station daily or when required to report to the official assigned duty station.

Supplemental voucher -- A document used to reimburse an employee for travel expenses omitted from a previously paid travel voucher.

Taxi -- A hired car that transports passengers to a destination for a fare based upon the distance traveled, time spent in the vehicle, other metric, or a flat rate to and from one point to another (for example, a flat rate from downtown to a common carrier terminal).

Temporary duty travel (TDY) location -- A place, away from an employee's official duty station, to which an employee is authorized to travel.

Telework -- An alternative workplace arrangement (AWA) permitting an employee to perform all or a portion of their officially assigned duties at an alternative worksite, including at residence or another pre-approved location (for example, GSA telework center, satellite IRS office) geographically convenient to the employee's residence.

Texting or Text Messaging -- Reading from or entering data into any handheld or other electronic device.

Transportation network company (TNC) -- A corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity, that uses a digital network to connect riders to drivers affiliated with the entity in order for the driver to transport the rider using a vehicle owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the driver to a point chosen by the rider; and does not include a shared-expense carpool or vanpool arrangement that is not intended to generate profit for the driver (i.e., Uber or Lyft).

Travel authorization -- An electronic or written document submitted for approval to authorize official travel. The travel authorization obligates funds and must be submitted and approved prior to travel, except in emergency situations.

Travel authorization and voucher (TAV) fee -- A charge or fee assessed for processing a travel voucher in the electronic travel system.

Travel management center (TMC) -- The travel agency operating under GSA contract that provides transportation, lodging and rental car services to the IRS.

Travel status -- The period an employee is traveling on official business. The period begins with departure from home, official station, or another authorized point and ends with return to that point.

Travel voucher -- A written request or electronic submission supported by documentation and receipts, where applicable, for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performing official travel.

The following acronyms apply to this program:

Related Resources

IRM 1.32.4, Government Travel Card Program, for information on the travel card program and the centrally billed government travel card program.

IRM 1.2.2, Servicewide Delegations of Authority, for a list of travel related delegation orders.

IRM 6.800.2, Employee Benefits, IRS Telework Program, for additional information on telework.

IRM 1.32.15, Servicewide Travel Policies and Procedures, Public Transportation Subsidy Program (PTSP).

General Rules

The preferred transportation method when performing local travel is common carrier transportation available to the public, such as bus, rail or subway. There are times when this transportation method may not be feasible due to location, timing, equipment/materials and or security reasons. Alternatives would be the use of a government vehicle, a contracted rental car or a privately owned vehicle (POV).

This IRM covers local travel on official business, which is performed within a 50-mile radius of the employee’s official assigned duty station that is performed within one day and does not require any air, rail or lodging expenses.

The employee must apply the 50-mile offset (see IRM 1.32.1.7.5.2) and six day rule (see IRM 1.32.1.7.5.3) when applicable.

The employee must use the proper line of accounting to identify local long-term taxable travel.

A local travel authorization allows an employee to perform local travel during regularly scheduled work hours. This authorization is primarily intended for case-related travel and other infrequent, local travel. A local travel authorization should be entered at least five working days before travel departure and must be approved before travel begins. Local travel will generally not include lodging, meals and incidental expenses or rental car, unless authorized as outlined in this IRM 1.32.1.7.4, Rental Car and 1.32.1.8, Per Diem Expenses for Local Travel.

An approved authorization is necessary to ensure that funds are obligated to support the travel. The approving official must limit the authorization and payment of travel expenses necessary to accomplish the mission in the most economical and effective manner in accordance with the policies stated throughout this IRM. The approving official should always consider less expensive alternatives, including teleconferencing, before authorizing travel.

An employee is required to have a local travel authorization that allows travel within a 50-mile radius of the employees officially assigned duty station which is completed within one day and does not require any air, rail or lodging expenses.

An employee must use the appropriate accounting label on the authorization. When a travel authorization is funded by another business unit, the accounting label of the other business unit must be entered on the travel authorization and documentation of funding by other business unit attached to the authorization.

An employee is required to use the ETS for preparing local travel authorizations and vouchers, unless exempted per IRM 1.32.1.2(12), General Rules.

The approving official must approve local travel five days prior to an employee incurring local travel expenses, unless the employee has an approved exemption.

The employee and approving official must electronically sign the authorization. If filing a manual authorization, the employee and approving official must sign the authorization in ink or electronically.

If an employee requests an exemption from using ETS, the employee’s manager must submit a request in writing or an electronic justification to the Director, Travel Management. Travel Management will notify the manager and employee when the request is approved or denied.

Travel Guidance for Year End

Travel arrangements that are made the last few days of the fiscal year may be funded by current annual appropriation, providing the travel starts on or before September 30 and the per diem and other miscellaneous expenses are charged to the fiscal year in which the expenses are incurred.

In the event funding is not forthcoming and an employee is in a travel status at midnight on September 30, the approving official will advise the employees if it is necessary to return to their official assigned duty station.

Business units with multi-year funding may continue to authorize travel as long as there are sufficient funds available.

Travel During Periods Covered by Continuing Resolution Authority

Travel arrangements may continue to be made during a continuing resolution (CR) provided that adequate funding is available to cover anticipated travel expenses. Travel that does not begin prior to the expiration date of the CR must not be signed or approved. The Agency is not permitted to obligate funds not yet appropriated.

Official travel may not commence unless a CR is in effect, or a regular appropriation has been enacted. Employees already in travel status when a CR expires (and a new CR is not in place) should seek direction from their supervisor on whether it is necessary to return to the official assigned duty station.

Training Travel

Training travel occurs when the IRS requires an employee to travel to attend courses or professional meetings that may involve scientific or professional societies, municipal, state, federal or international organizations. Training travel also includes travel to attend:

Congressional and law enforcement events,

Other groups meetings to give or get information about IRS activities.

Employees who travel to attend training classes within the commuting area of their residence or official assigned duty station are considered on official business and may be entitled to reimbursement of transportation expenses. Reimbursement is subject to the review and approval of the employee’s manager.

Invitational Travel

Invitational travel occurs when the IRS invites and pays the travel expenses for individuals not employed by the IRS or employed intermittently in the government. This includes:

Persons employed by other federal government agencies.

Persons serving without pay or at $1 a year when acting in a capacity related to or in connection with official IRS activities.

Attendants to employees with disabilities or special needs.

Persons accompanying an employee to a major award ceremony.

Persons invited to interview with the IRS.

Persons detailed to the IRS.

Persons serving as a witness.

Reimbursement for invitational travelers is subject to the same regulations as travel by IRS employees.

The guest of an award recipient is considered an invitational traveler and travel authorizations and reimbursement expenses are the same as those normally authorized for IRS employees in conjunction with a temporary duty assignment.

Employees who receive a major award may be accompanied to the ceremony by one guest as an invitational traveler. Major awards ceremonies include:

A Presidential Award.

An IRS or major organizational component annual ceremony.

If award recipients require special assistance attendants, the attendant may receive reimbursement for travel expenses to accompany the award recipient.

The IRS funding for non-IRS award ceremonies is limited to registration fees and local travel expenses for the award recipient and their manager or representative. Non-IRS award ceremonies include:

A prestigious honorary award sponsored by a non-governmental organization.

Award ceremonies hosted by organizations that advocate/recognize achievement in public service and or support public service professions (for example, Federal Executive Boards, Association of Government Accountants).

The invitational traveler's profile must be established to make travel reservations with the TMC, process electronic authorizations and vouchers, and complete manual travel authorizations and vouchers. The business unit coordinator can provide the traveler with a worksheet to ascertain the traveler's profile. The traveler must provide the completed profile request to the business unit.

The business unit coordinator prepares Form 13635, Manual Travel Authorization, provides a copy of the authorization to the invitational traveler, and requests the traveler’s original or electronic signature on the authorization. The invitational traveler must submit an approved Form 13635, Manual Travel Authorization, before travel begins.

A request for an exception to the required commute for per diem must be submitted to the Director, Travel Management, for approval. For lodging and rental car reservations, the invitational traveler will need to provide a personal credit card number to hold the reservations. Invitational travelers who do not provide a credit card number will need to arrange their own lodging and rental car. Invitational travelers should be notified of the per diem rates.

Invitational travelers cannot receive a travel advance.

An approving official may approve invitational travel as provided in Delegation Order 1-30, Authorization and Approval of Official Travel within the United States. The approved authorization must be mailed or efaxed to Travel Operations to process into the Integrated Financial System (IFS). Documentation can also be emailed to *CFO Travel Authorizations and Accounting Codes.

The IRS’s practice is to pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). The IRS may grant an EFT waiver if no more than one reimbursement is expected to be paid to the same recipient within one-year. Invitational travelers must inform the business unit that they are unable to accept payment by EFT and complete a Request for Waiver of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Payment for Individuals form. A business unit can obtain a copy of the form from the IRS Source, Employee Resources, Travel website: Travel Forms: . The traveler must mail the form to:

The business unit coordinator must verify that the invitational travel has been completed. The traveler must complete and submit a signed paper voucher using, Form 15342, Travel Voucher, and all necessary receipts for claims, to the business unit coordinator.

When the travel is completed the business unit coordinator will:

Create a manual voucher from the authorization for the trip.

Include all authorized expenses on the manual voucher and attached receipts provided by the traveler.

Provide a copy of the manual voucher to the invitational traveler and request the traveler’s original signature.

Obtain the approving official’s signature on the manual voucher.

Invitational travel is reimbursed by submitting an approved Form 15342, Travel Voucher, required receipts and Form SF-1199-A, Direct Deposit Sign-up Form, to Travel Operations. Efax to 855-787-4375, or mail to *CFO Travel Authorizations and Accounting Codes.

Transportation Expenses

Employees may be reimbursed for transportation expenses they incur when conducting official business away from their official assigned duty station or residence.

In accordance with the provisions of this IRM, employees performing local travel may claim transportation expenses for:

POV mileage, employees must apply the 50-mile offset (IRM 1.32.1.7.5.2) and six-day rule (IRM 1.32.1.7.5.3) when applicable.

Employees will not be reimbursed for commuting expenses. Commuting expenses are transportation expenses incurred while traveling from the employee's residence to their official assigned duty station and return. These expenses are personal expenses incurred by the employee and are not reimbursable. Employees are responsible for the commuting cost between their residence and their official assigned duty station.

Government-Owned Vehicle (GOV)

The approving official can only authorize employees to use a GOV for official purposes for travel:

Between places of official business

Between an official assigned duty station and alternate worksite(s) (when public transportation is unavailable, or it is impractical)

See IRM 1.14.7, Motor Vehicle Fleet Management Program, for additional information on the use of a government-owned vehicle.

Treasury Directive (TD P) 74- 01 section 15 Vehicle Parking, states that no government vehicles shall be parked overnight at any public transportation parking facility (i.e. airport, subway, train station), unless the vehicle is occupied or being used as a work area for surveillance. Office building parking facilities are not considered public transportation parking facilities.

Employees must report accidents that occur on official business in a government vehicle to their supervisor and the ERC immediately at 866-743-5748. See IRM 1.14.7.2.9, Motor Vehicle Fleet Management Program for additional information. Employees must also, contact IRS Claims Manager at: [email protected].

The employee completes a Form SF-91, Motor Vehicle Accident Report. Once completed, the employee’s manager must send the original SF-91, including copies of the police report, the Form SF-94 , Statement of Witness, for the witnesses, to the Motor Vehicle Fleet Management Program motor vehicle coordinator or appropriate fleet manager and the local safety officer within 48 hours. The safety officer must forward a copy of each SF 91 to the IRS Claims Manager, Office of Chief Counsel, General Legal Services (CC:GLS:CLP), 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW - Room 6404, Washington, DC 20024.

In accordance with Executive Order 13513, issued October 1, 2009, IRS employees are prohibited from texting or text messaging while driving a GOV on official travel.

Public Transportation

Employees should use public transportation such as bus, streetcar or subway when available and practical.

Taxis, TNCs, Innovative Mobility Technology Companies, Shuttle Services or Other Courtesy Transportation

Employees should use taxis or other ride-share companies (Uber/Lyft) only when more economical means of transportation are not available or practical. Employees should first consider the use of local public transportation such as bus, streetcar, or subway. Employees may use taxis or other ride-share companies only when advantageous because of the expeditious transaction of official business, when carrying of necessary baggage or official documents or other compelling circumstances.

Taxis or other ride-share companies (Uber/Lyft) may be used when other modes of short-distance transportation are not reasonably available or if safety is a concern (example, a late-night return). Employees are entitled to be reimbursed the standard tipping amount for taxis up to 20% of the fare amount and the tip must be included in the total fare amount claimed on the travel voucher.

Courtesy shuttle transportation should be used whenever possible.

The use of bus, subway, or streetcar is an allowable expense for local travel and may be claimed to and from a temporary duty location. Reimbursement for official travel by commercial means may be authorized/approved for local public transportation when local transit fare medium such as tokens, tickets, or cash fares are not furnished by the IRS.

Employees may be reimbursed for ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft for travel on official business when the approving official determines it is advantageous to the government. Employees are not authorized the use of luxury or executive type vehicle services offered by Uber or Lyft (e.g., Uber Black, Uber Premier, Lyft Lux, etc.).

If no government-owned vehicle is available, and the approving official has determined that travel must be performed by automobile, then a rental car can be authorized for official government travel only. When traveling within a large metropolitan area, employees should consider using public transportation before requesting approval for using a rental car.

Employees may use a rental vehicle when the approving official has determined that the use of a rental vehicle is in the best interest of the government, such as:

There is no government-owned vehicle available.

There is no readily available public transportation at the travel destination, such as subway, bus, taxi or hotel courtesy shuttle.

Additional room is required to accommodate multiple employees authorized to travel together in the same rental vehicle.

When necessary for safety reasons, such as during severe weather or having to travel on rough or difficult terrain.

When required because of the IRS mission.

The cost of other than a compact car is less than or equal to the cost of the least expensive compact car.

The employee must carry a large amount of government material incident to official business, and a compact rental vehicle does not contain sufficient space.

Employees who are authorized to use a rental car for local travel must use the least expensive compact car available unless an exception is approved, subject to the same standards as those outlined in FTR 301-10.450. The approving official should approve these exceptions on a limited basis and must indicate on the travel authorization the reason for the exception. Employees are to reserve the most cost-effective rental cars at the government’s expense. In general, compact size rental cars are considered most advantageous to the government. However, the approving official is ultimately responsible for determining and authorizing the appropriate size rental car necessary for the performance of official business under the circumstances.

When use of other than a compact car is necessary to accommodate a medical disability or other special need, the approving official may authorize the use of other than a compact car. Certification statements must include at a minimum:

A disability must be certified annually in a written statement by a competent medical authority. However, if the disability is a lifelong condition, a one-time certification statement is required;

A written statement by a competent medical authority stating that special accommodation is necessary;

An approximate duration of the special accommodation;

A special need must be certified annually in writing according to IRS’s procedures. However, if the special need is a lifelong condition, a one-time certification statement is required; and

If employees are authorized under FTR §301-13.3(a) to have an attendant accompany them, the approving official may authorize the use of other than a compact car if deemed necessary.

Employees may request approval from the approving official for vehicle upgrades for using a non-compact rental car in the following circumstances:

When two or more government employees will be sharing a vehicle.

When the traveler must transport a large amount of government equipment.

When the traveler has a documented medical condition requiring a larger vehicle.

When a traveler’s physical size warrants a size increase.

When authorized to use a rental vehicle, an employee must use a vendor that participates in the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) U.S. Government Rental Car Program, unless the travel is outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS) and there is no agreement in place for the alternative worksite location. Reservations must be made through ETS or through the TMC.

Employees who are authorized to use a rental car will be reimbursed the cost of the rental car, taxes, tolls, parking, fuel and oil changes. Employees are responsible for any additional costs incurred as the result of an unauthorized use of a rental car.

Use of high performance, convertibles or other luxury vehicles is never allowed.

Employees are not reimbursed for purchasing pre-paid refueling options for a rental car. Therefore, employees should refuel prior to returning the rental car to the drop-off location. However, if it is not possible to refuel prior to returning the vehicle because of safety issues or the location of the closest fueling station in the area, employees will be reimbursed for rental car company refueling charges.

Employees will not be reimbursed for fees associated with rental car loyalty points for the transfer of points charged by car companies.

If employees rent a car with a Global Positioning System (GPS) that is permanently attached to the vehicle and the charge for the GPS is included in the daily rate rental car fee, they will be reimbursed the cost of the GPS. GPS devices that are removable or GPS rental are not considered to be standard equipment, but an accessory, and the employee would be liable for any costs if the device is lost or stolen.

If the GPS expense is not included in the daily rental cost but billed as a separate expense on the invoice, it is not reimbursable.

Employees who travel within CONUS should not purchase collision damage waiver, theft insurance, or personal accident insurance since the government rental car agreement includes full liability, vehicle loss and damage insurance coverage for the traveler and the government.

According to the United States Government Rental Car Agreement Number 4 , an employee will be reimbursed for collision damage waiver or theft insurance when they travel OCONUS when such insurance is necessary due to rental or rental leasing agency requirements, a foreign statute, or because of legal procedures which could cause extreme difficulty for an employee if involved in an accident.

Cars rented by government employees under the United States Government Rental Car Agreement Number 4, must be used only for authorized government purposes and should not be used to transport family and friends. Transporting family or friends raises claims, tort liability and employment law issues should an accident occur injuring the passengers.

In accordance with Executive Order 13513, issued October 1, 2009, IRS employees are prohibited from texting or text messaging while driving a rental car on official travel.

If employees are involved in a rental car accident, they must contact the IRS claims manager at: [email protected]. Employees must report accidents that occur on official business to their supervisor and the ERC immediately. See IRM 1.14.7.2.9, Motor Vehicle Fleet Management Program for additional information.

Privately Owned Vehicle (POV)

Employees may use a POV for alternative worksite travel when authorized by an approving official.

The approving official cannot prohibit employees from using a POV on official travel. However, if an employee elects to use a POV instead of the mode of transportation that the approving official authorizes, the approving official will:

Limit reimbursement to the constructive cost of the authorized method of transportation, which is the sum of the reasonable transportation expenses the employee would have incurred when traveling by the authorized method of transportation versus POV mileage.

In addition to the allowance for mileage, employees are reimbursed for the actual cost of parking fees, ferry fees, bridge tolls, road tolls and tunnel fees. An employee may not be reimbursed for car repairs, depreciation, grease, oil, antifreeze, towing fees and similar expenses, fuel, insurance, and state and federal taxes. Other non-reimbursable costs include parking violations, moving violations, locksmith charges and charges for flat tires.

If another employee travels as a passenger with the employee on the same trip in the same POV, the passenger cannot claim mileage. No deduction will be made from the mileage allowance if the passenger contributes to defraying the expenses.

Employees will not receive reimbursement for parking at the permanently assigned office when it is incurred in connection with direct travel between their residence and official assigned duty station.

Employees must report accidents that occur on official business in a POV to their supervisor and the Employee Resource Center (ERC) immediately. See IRM 1.14.7.2.9, Accident Response and Reporting for additional information. Employees must also contact the IRS Claims Manager at: [email protected].

Mileage Reimbursement

Employees who use their POV near their official station to conduct official business will be reimbursed on a mileage basis, not to exceed the applicable mileage rates specified in the FTR. Employees should compute mileage reimbursement by multiplying the distance traveled by the applicable mileage rate. The mileage rates are available on the GSA website. Select - Privately Owned Vehicle (POV), Mileage Reimbursement Rates. If traveling by POV, distance is determined by:

Actual miles driven from odometer readings

An electronic highway mileage guide such as MapQuest or Google maps

Employees who frequently travel between their official assigned duty station and another work location by POV will be reimbursed the mileage rate for the distance between the two locations. They will also be reimbursed for any parking costs incurred at the alternate work location.

Employees who work at an alternate work site outside of the commuting area of their official assigned duty station because of a building closure will be reimbursed for mileage that exceeds their normal commuting costs. Normal commuting costs are expenses that an employee would incur while commuting from their residence to the closed official assigned duty station and returning to their residence.

If an employee reports to his/her official assigned duty station before visiting one or more locations on official business and then returns to their official assigned duty station before going home, the employee may be reimbursed for all mileage except the mileage in either direction between their residence and official assigned duty station.

Employees cannot be reimbursed any mileage incurred solely for personal reasons.

50-mile Offset Rule

If an employee’s residence is 50 miles or more from their officially assigned duty station, they must apply the 50-mile offset rule when traveling in the direction or vicinity of their official assigned duty station to one or more alternate work locations. Reimbursement is not allowed for travel from the employee’s residence directly to the official assigned duty station or from the official assigned duty station directly to the employee’s residence.

When the employee’s first or last alternate work location is en route, in the general direction or vicinity of the official assigned duty station, the mileage entitlement must be reduced by the number of miles greater than 50 that the residence is from the official assigned duty station. Examples:

An employee lives 48 miles from the official assigned duty station, travels directly from the residence to an alternate work location, visits the official assigned duty station during the day and travels directly home from another alternate work location. No mileage offset is applicable as employee residence is less than 50 miles from official assigned duty station.

An employee lives 55 miles from the official assigned duty station travels directly from the residence to an alternate work location (30 miles from residence) which is en route or in the general vicinity of the official assigned duty station, visits official assigned duty station during the day and travels directly to the residence from another alternate work location (25 miles from residence). A mileage offset of 10 miles is applicable, five miles each way (55-50=5) for an allowable reimbursement of 45 miles (55-10=45) plus any applicable mileage incurred for travel from official assigned duty station to alternate work locations or alternate work location to official assigned duty station.

An employee lives 80 miles from the official assigned duty station travels directly from the residence to an alternate work location (which is en route or in the vicinity of the official assigned duty station) 62 miles from residence and returns to residence. The 50-mile offset must be applied. The offset is 60 miles, 30 miles each way (80-50=30). The employee traveled 124 miles round-trip from the residence to the alternate work location and return to residence. Mileage reimbursement would be 64 miles (124-60=64).

If travel is in the opposite direction, not in the general vicinity or direction, of the official assigned duty station, the employee is entitled to full mileage reimbursement. No offset applies.

Six Day Rule

Employees performing official local travel for an extended period to the same alternate work location will be reimbursed as follows:

The amount of the reimbursement depends how many consecutive days the employees reports to the alternate work location requiring official travel. If the number is five days or less, they will receive the full mileage rate reimbursed subject to the 50-mile offset rule, if applicable. (See IRM 1.32.1.7.5.2)

If the number of consecutive days (not including weekends or holidays) at the alternate work location requiring official travel exceeds five days, they will receive a reimbursement at a reduced mileage rate for the portion exceeding five days. The reimbursement will be the lesser of:

Mileage from their residence to the alternate work location;

Mileage from the official duty station to the alternate duty location; or

If employees choose to drive their POV when they could normally use public transportation, they will receive reimbursement for the first five consecutive workdays at the current mileage rate, limited to the total cost of public transportation (calculate the cost of public transportation from the residence to the alternate duty location versus the cost of POV mileage, whichever is less).

Consecutive days continue until there is a break in travel to the alternate work location of more than one week.

Approving officials may waive the limitation in IRM 1.32.1.7.5.3 (1)(b)(3) when, in their judgement, the circumstances of the extended alternate work location assignment warrant such action. Approving officials must include economic factors such as the financial impact of the budget and the cost of public transportation when considering waiving this limitation. When waiving the limitation, approving officials must note on the travel voucher “six-day rule waived” along with an appropriate explanation. This only waives the limitation in 1.32.1.7.5.3 (1)(b)(3) above, it does not limit the reimbursement requirement of IRM 1.32.1.7.5.3(1)(b)(1) and (2).

Parking Fees and Rented Parking Space

If employees rent a parking space on a regular basis at their official assigned duty station and use the parking space to conduct official business travel away from their official assigned duty station at a weekly or monthly rate, reimbursement will be made on a pro rata basis on the actual number of days the parking space is used for official business travel as illustrated by the following examples:

Employee rents a weekly parking space for parking a POV Monday through Friday, at or near the official assigned duty station. One-fifth (1/5) of the weekly rate will be allowed for each day that the employee uses a POV for official business travel.

Employee rents a monthly parking space at or near the office with the space available to the employee as provided by the rental agreement for 21 days of the month. The employee uses the space for parking on official business travel seven days during the month. The employee will be reimbursed for one-third (seven divided by 21 days) of the monthly cost. An employee who rents a monthly a parking space and who receives a certificate from the parking facility that the space is available only Monday through Friday shall be entitled to compute pro rata reimbursement based on the number of workdays in the month.

Employees will not receive reimbursement for parking at their official station when the parking expense is incurred in connection with their normal commute.

Employees must provide a receipt for any parking expenses in excess of $25.

Limousine and Executive Car Service

The IRS will not reimburse an employee for using limousine and/or executive car services. An executive car or limousine service generally involves the use of a luxury vehicle with a chauffeur who picks up and drops off a traveler. This restriction does not include paid shuttle services or vans.

An employee can generally recognize these types of services because they are used in the company name or advertisement. This restriction also applies to premium services offered through Uber Black, Lyft Premier and other luxury sedan services.

Per Diem Expenses for Local Travel

Generally employees are not eligible for per diem for local travel as employees are only eligible for per diem when they:

Perform official travel away from their official station;

Incur per diem expenses while performing official travel; and

Are in a travel status for more than 12 hours.

The required commute for payment of per diem is that the alternative worksite location must be more than 50 miles from both the employee’s official duty station and residence, measured by odometer or other readings on the most commonly used route. Any point beyond both these distances is outside the commuting area. This 50-mile rule does not necessarily mean, however, that they are "away from home" for tax purposes, and the per diem will be taxable income. See IRM 1.32.1.11, Taxable Travel Reimbursement.

The following circumstances may justify an exception to IRM 1.32.1.8 (1) & (2) when alternative worksite travel performed is less than 50 miles but at least 30 miles from both the official duty station and residence:

Severe conditions (for example, weather or excess travel delays) exist that may endanger the health and safety of an employee.

The employee is attending training or a conference.

Approval to receive per diem in the local commuting area is required and must be submitted to the Travel Management Director, for approval at: [email protected], on Form 15299, Travel Approval Request. The approved request only provides authorization to claim the per diem and does not remove the tax liability for the traveler.

Employees must be in travel status for more than 12 hours to be eligible for per diem. If they travel for more than 12 hours, but less than 24 hours, they may receive 3/4 per diem for that day. This 12-hour rule does not necessarily mean that they are away from home for tax purposes and the per diem for that day will be taxable income. See IRM 1.32.1.11, Taxable Travel Reimbursement.

Miscellaneous Expenses

The IRS may reimburse employees for emergency and non-emergency personal telephone calls while away from the usual place of work, whether or not the calls are within the local area, if approved by the approving official. Employees must furnish a statement of telephone charges, including date, place called, and amount, for all long distance calls for which they request reimbursement. Employees are required to provide receipts, regardless of amount.

The following miscellaneous and emergency expenses may be claimed when employee provides a detailed explanation and a receipt is required regardless of the dollar amount:

Cash conversation expenses.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet access/Wi-Fi (if required for official work access) should be claimed under correct expense type. GOVCC should be used and receipt is required regardless of dollar amount.

Travelers check fees

Telephone/Telegraph expenses (if directly related to training travel or an emergency)

Personal protective equipment (PPE), not to exceed $20 and/or COVID-19 testing when required for official travel during a period of restricted travel due to a pandemic or other national health crisis. Employees may only claim if PPE is not provided by POD, does not already have readily available and if testing is not covered by health insurance. PPE is limited to a plain cloth face covering (non-medical grade), hand sanitizer and, if available, disinfecting wipes.

Other expenses approved by CFO with instructions to claim as an emergency expense.

Public Transportation Subsidy Program (PTSP)

The purpose of the public transportation subsidy benefit is not to pay for local travel. The PTSP benefit supports employees using public transportation for their commute to and from their residence and the workplace. Employees can use an unlimited transit pass, which is a ticket that allows an IRS employee to take unlimited trips within a fixed period of time. Employees cannot use their unlimited PTSP transit subsidy benefit and file a local voucher. Employees can find more information about PTSP on the IRS Source, Employee Resources, Benefits website.

If the employee's building has closed and the employee receives PTSP, they should use the subsidy to cover their transportation costs to the alternate work site. Employees should increase their PTSP to cover any additional costs of commuting to the alternate work location.

Taxable Travel Reimbursement

Taxable travel reimbursements for local travel include:

Daily travel between employee’s residence and a non-temporary work location (other than the officially assigned duty station).

Subsistence for less than 24 hours without a night’s lodging.

Overdue travel advances (See IRM 1.32.1.1.3.2, Employees).

Per diem expenses (lodging and/or M&IE) incurred within the commuting area.

A Form W-2 will be issued for all taxable travel reimbursements.

Reimbursement for travel between a residence and an official station for lodging, and meals provided to an employee for temporary travel within a commuting area is normally taxable travel reimbursement because the travel is not overnight and not away from home. Reimbursement for travel between a residence and a temporary work location generally is not taxable, unless the travel is long-term taxable travel, as described in IRM 1.32.1.12, Local Long-Term Taxable Travel. Reimbursement for travel between two work locations is not taxable .

Reimbursements for travel between an employee's residence and a non-temporary work location are taxable, even if the residence is the employee's telework location. The tax rules provide that transportation expense reimbursements for trips, between an office in the home and a non-temporary work location are taxable if the home office does not meet the requirements of Section 280A(c)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The "office in the home" must be used regularly and exclusively as the employee's principal place of business for the employer's convenience. The IRS, as the employer, has determined that each employee's post of duty (POD) is the assigned IRS office of the employee and that a telework location is for the convenience of the employee rather than for the employer; therefore, the requirements of Section 280A(c)(1)(A) are not met. Reimbursements for travel between a non-temporary work location and a telework location in an employee's residence will be taxable.

If an employee always leaves from his/her official station to go to the non-temporary work location and returns to his/her official station before returning to his/her residence, the reimbursement is not taxable. The travel reimbursement is only taxable if the employee travels to/from his/her residence to the work site. See IRM 1.32.1.12, Local Long-Term Taxable Travel.

Local Long-Term Taxable Travel

The work location is the building or street address where the employee will be performing his/her official duties. Travel to the same work location is considered travel to one location, even if the purpose of the travel changes or the type of work performed changes.

The authority that requires IRS to tax local long-term travel (LTTT) is Revenue Ruling 99-7.

The rules for long-term travel within the commuting area are:

One-Year Rule: If local travel between a residence and a regular work location (other than the employee’s permanent work location) is realistically expected to last for more than one year, it will be considered long-term local travel, not temporary. The realistic expectation is based on the information known to the employee and manager. The travel becomes taxable at the point it expected to exceed one-year. To determine an employee's length of travel expectation (one-year rule), the first date of travel to a particular work location is the beginning date or "start the clock" (i.e., the determination would be whether travel is expected to end within one year from that date). Physical presence at the work location is the determinative factor and not the date assigned to a project or the first time charged to a project.

35-Workday Rule Exception to the One-Year Rule: For purposes of travel within the commuting area, if the travel is realistically expected to last for more than one year, or if there is no realistic expectation that the travel will last for one year or less, the travel is not long-term if the employee expects to travel to the location on 35 or fewer days in the calendar year. For purposes of this exception, the employee must take into account all travel to the location, even if the travel is for a different purpose and even if the travel is for less than a full day. Daily transportation costs, such as workdays (or partial workdays), are counted in applying the 35 workdays and seven months break in service. The 35 workdays may be continuous or may be spread throughout the entire calendar year.

Seven-Month Rule Exception to the One-Year Rule: In determining whether travel within the commuting area is long-term, an employee may disregard prior travel to a location if the employee has not traveled to that location for a period of seven or more continuous months. For purposes of this exception, the employee must take into account all travel to the location, even if the travel is for a different purpose.

Employees who are in LTTT status are subject to social security taxes (where applicable) and medicare taxes under the Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA), as well as federal, state and local income tax liabilities, related to their LTTT reimbursements. The appropriate amounts for their additional tax liabilities will be withheld from their travel reimbursements. Because the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 authorizes federal agencies to reimburse employees for federal, state and local income taxes incurred as a result of LTTT, the employees will be reimbursed substantially for all additional income taxes.

The IRS payment system has been configured in accordance with state withholding regulations based upon information received from all states. If the employee’s state does not have a withholding requirement and the long-term taxable travel voucher reflects a state withholding, the employee should complete a ticket via ERC immediately to have the travel voucher corrected for the withholding.

Taxes under FICA are computed as a percentage of wages for employment. FICA taxes consist of social security taxes (where applicable) and medicare taxes (including additional medicare tax).

The federal income tax is withheld and will be placed back into the employee’s voucher, potentially reducing the refund the employee normally receives. At the time each voucher is paid, the withholding tax allowance (WTA) will be calculated and paid to the employee to replace only the federal tax withholdings on the reimbursement. The WTA reimburses the employee for the federal tax withholdings on the taxable travel reimbursements.

Federal employees who have performed continuous federal service since December 31,1983, and who are covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), are generally exempt from the social security portion of FICA taxes. However, such employees are subject to the medicare portion of FICA taxes. Federal employees who were hired since December 31,1983, or who have not performed continuous federal service since December 31,1983, are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), and are subject to both the social security and Medicare portions of FICA taxes. Applicable FICA taxes are withheld with respect to LTTT reimbursements because LTTT is a nondeductible employee expense and the payments generally constitute wages subject to FICA taxes.

The social security FICA taxes apply only to wages that do not exceed a maximum wage base that is adjusted annually. If social security taxes are withheld from an employee's wages that exceed the maximum wage base for a year, the employee has two options:

Claim the excess FICA withholding electronically when filing their income tax return (most recommended option); or

claim the excess FICA withholding manually through Travel Operations using the FICA memorandum request, OV Form. To request the OV Form or for FICA coordinator assistance, email [email protected].

Payments are not made to Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) even though LTTT is considered additional wages. The Office of Personnel Management's pay and leave administration function states that 5 CFR 531.202 is the regulatory source for the definition of basic pay. Taxable travel related payments are not considered basic pay for calculating of TSP.

If an employee incurs LTTT for monthly parking expenses at a work location, the parking expenses may be considered non-taxable under the qualified parking exclusion. Additional information on qualified parking exclusion is available in Publication 15- B, Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits .

Filing Authorization for Long-Term Taxable Travel Form

Managers who know, or can reasonably expect, that their employees will receive LTTT assignments, must ensure that it is authorized on Form 12654, Authorization for Long-Term Taxable Travel. Managers must issue a Form 12654 each calendar year to each affected employee when it is determined that the employee will receive LTTT assignments. Both the authorizing official and the employee must sign the form. Employees in LTTT situations must attach a copy of Form 12654, Authorization for Long-Term Taxable Travel, to each LTTT voucher. Employees on LTTT must complete their vouchers using ETS and should submit them promptly at the end of each month or every 30 days if on a continuous travel assignment.

A Form 12654, Authorization for Long-Term Taxable Travel, must be completed for each work location.

Employees on LTTT must use Purpose Code "L" for LTTT expenses associated with temporary duty travel and Purpose Code "W" for LTTT expenses associated with training travel.

If an employee is on LTTT but does not have a LTTT travel authorization or proper withholding on their vouchers, the manager and employee should complete and sign the travel authorization as soon as possible to correct potential misclassification of vouchers. All vouchers with expenses that should have been charged under purpose code "L" or "W" for long-term taxable travel expenses will require manual correction by Travel Operations. If employee do not classify their vouchers properly, they should submit a statement to Travel Operations and give an accounting of the long-term taxable travel transaction. They will complete the process by adding the withholding tax allowance, deducting the appropriate tax withholdings, paying the taxing authorities, and disbursing the net payment to the employee or establishing billing documents, if appropriate. If an employee does not classify their long-term taxable travel accurately, it violates established tax reporting requirements.

A copy of Form 12654, Authorization for Long-Term Taxable Travel, must be retained along with other required supporting documentation for long-term travel vouchers. The Form 12654, Authorization for Long-Term Taxable Travel, should be faxed or scanned into ETS each time a voucher is filed. Also, if the employee submits a manual voucher using Form 15342, the Form 12654, should be submitted to Travel Operations each time a manual voucher is filed.

Extended Temporary Duty Travel Tax Reimbursement Allowance

The Extended TDY Tax Reimbursement Allowance (ETTRA) reimburses employees for their federal, state and local income tax liability incurred as the result of being reimbursed for tax expenses while on LTTT. The ETTRA does not reimburse employees for Medicare or FlCA taxes.

The ETTRA is paid in two parts:

A Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) that is calculated and paid when the initial voucher is paid.

A final ETTRA paid after the end of the calendar year during which the employee was reimbursed for LTTT expenses.

The IRS will pay an ETTRA to employees incurring additional income tax liability resulting from long-term travel reimbursements. A final ETTRA payment is made to the employee in the year following when the travel reimbursements are made. The final ETTRA will adjust for any federal tax liability not considered when the WTA was paid in the previous year and the final ETTRA will also reimburse the employee for the state and local income tax liability incurred on the long-term taxable travel expense reimbursements.

Employees are required to file an ETTRA claim if they received taxable reimbursements associated with long-term taxable travel during the previous year and received a WTA. Employees will receive a notice from BFC, Travel Operations, when it is time to file their ETTRA claim. If they fail to file, it will be assumed that the ETTRA amount is zero. Consequently, employees would have to repay the amount of the WTA previously paid to them for the related reimbursements. Employees may request an extension of the filing date; however, for BFC, Travel Operations, to consider the request, employees must show just cause, such as approval of an extension to file their current year federal tax return.

Arranging for Travel Services, Fees, Paying Travel Expenses and Claiming Reimbursements

This section provides IRS guidance and instructions for:

Arranging for transportation

Paying fees

Paying travel expenses using the government travel card

Claiming reimbursements

Arranging for Transportation

A rental car is considered advantageous to the government, when employees do not have a POV, where public or courtesy transportation is not available or when a government vehicle is not available for performing official business. Employees may use a government contract rental car when authorized.

Employees seeking a rental car must use ETS or the TMC to book it.

The ETS charges two fees, a CGE reservation fee and a CGE voucher fee, when booking official travel reservations. The CGE reservation fee includes fees for reservations made within ETS or directly with the TMC.

The CGE reservation fee automatically populates on an ETS travel authorization when employees complete their ETS authorization.

The ETS will automatically remove the CGE reservation fee when all reservations are removed from an adjusted or amended authorization that has not been stamped ticketed. If the ticket has been issued and the trip has been cancelled, the employee will need to file a voucher for the CGE fee.

The online CGE reservation fee will change to an agent-assist CGE transaction fee when agent intervention or assistance is needed, for example, when a credit card declines, authorizations are not approved timely or an employee, responds "Yes" to an email regarding unapproved authorization.

The CGE voucher fee is charged when using ETS to process a voucher. This fee is paid directly to ETS. The fee auto-populates in the authorization and is charged when the voucher is approved. The fee amount varies based on the type of travel, either local or city-to-city, and cannot be edited.

The CGE voucher fee appears automatically on each travel voucher and is paid by the IRS after each travel voucher is processed. Employees should not claim CGE fees as reimbursable expenses on their travel vouchers.

Paying Travel Expenses Using the Government Travel Card

Employees should use the government travel card for authorized expenses to the maximum extent possible. Employees must use the government travel card to pay for transportation, lodging and rental cars including rental car fuel/oil.

Employees may also use the travel card to purchase fuel one day before travel and one day after travel when using their POV.

There are two types of travel cards. For additional information on the government travel card, see IRM 1.32.4, Government Travel Card Program.

Standard government travel card - includes a maximum monthly card limit of $5,000, a merchant category code template for official travel expenses and ATM access.

Restricted government travel card - includes the same benefits as the standard travel card; however, ATM access is not granted.

New employees are exempt from the requirement to pay travel expenses using a government travel card until they obtain one. New employees who are expected to travel must apply for a travel card within 60 days after they report for duty.

Employees can withdraw cash from an ATM beginning three days before the official travel date of departure through the last day of official travel, to cover anticipated out-of-pocket incidental travel expenses, such as ground transportation, rental car fuel/oil, tolls, parking and other expenses that generally cannot be purchased with the government travel card.

Employees should use the government travel card to pay for the following expenses:

Rental car, including rental car fuel/oil (government travel card MUST be used)

Emergency purchases, receipt required regardless of dollar amount

Taxi and shuttle services

Employees may not use the government travel card for any personal expenses or these unauthorized uses:

Alcohol and alcoholic beverages

Restaurants at the official station

Office supplies (ink cartridges, paper, toners)

Gifts or souvenirs

Personal items and services

Long distance calls (except for calls billed to the hotel room)

Fuel for a government-owned car (use the fleet purchase card)

Conference fees

Expenses associated with obtaining meeting space

The IRS exempts the following groups of travelers from the mandatory use of the government travel card:

Employees who have a pending application for the government travel card.

Employees for whom the issuance of a government travel card would adversely affect the mission of the IRS or put the employee at risk.

Employees who are not eligible to receive a government travel card.

Invitational travelers.

Employees with suspended or cancelled government travel cards.

Employees seeking an exemption from using the government travel card must prepare a memorandum requesting an exemption and submit it by email for approval to the appropriate office:

The Director, Credit Card Services, has authority to grant exemptions for financial hardship and religious reasons.

The Manager, International Meetings, Travel and Visitors’ Programs, in LB&I has authority to grant exemptions for overseas travel on a case-by-case basis.

The Director, Travel Management, has the authority for all other reasons.

Management may take disciplinary action when a government travel card has been used inappropriately. Disciplinary actions range from oral and written reprimands, to suspension without pay, or removal. Managers should contact Labor/Employee Relations and Negotiations for advice and assistance regarding disciplinary action.

Claiming Reimbursement

Employees must submit a voucher within five workdays after completing travel or every 30 days for continuous local travel. If you are an infrequent local traveler with minimal expenses that do not require immediate reimbursement, you may file a voucher on a quarterly basis.

Employees must sign their voucher within five days of the trip end date. If they don’t sign the voucher within 30 days of the trip end date, ETS will de-obligate the money used to fund the trip and the authorization will be canceled. The system will send email notifications to the employee 5, 25 and 30 days before de-obligating the authorization. Once it’s canceled, employees cannot modify the authorization and if they have expenses associated with the canceled authorization they are required to complete a new authorization.

If employees travel on behalf of the IRS, they must account for their expenses in the travel voucher process. They must submit their travel voucher electronically using ETS, or manually, if the travel authorization was manually submitted.

The approving official should approve or return the voucher for correction within seven calendar days to ensure payment within 30 calendar days after submission by the employee.

If employees file through ETS, the reimbursement will occur through a split disbursement process. If they file a manual Form 15342, Travel Voucher, they will receive reimbursement for all claimed expenses by EFT; and the employee is responsible for paying the travel credit card company for expenses paid for with the travel credit card.

Employees are required to use split disbursement. Split disbursement is the ETS default payment method. All travelers have the option to change the method and amount of payment (i.e., meals and incidental expenses not charged on the travel card). However, if the method or amount of payment is changed, employees will be required to explain during the ETS pre-audit process why the default split disbursement payment method was not used.

Split disbursement permits direct payment to the government travel card via EFT and the employee. Payment for charges incurred on the travel card are disbursed to the bank and any residual amount to the employee for expenses not charged to the government travel card. All rental cars and non-mileage expenses charged on the government travel card will be credited to the government travel card account after the approved voucher is processed and the payment will go directly to the government travel card issuer. Employees will receive a bill reflecting the charges and the payments processed from ETS. The government travel card issuer will bill the employee for the balance of any unpaid amounts.

If employees have travel expenses that should be charged to a different line of accounting (LOA), the office directing the travel is responsible for providing instructions to the traveler containing the correct LOA to use when filing travel vouchers.

An employee’s government travel card statements cannot be scanned or faxed as supporting documentation nor as a receipt for rental car expenses. The government travel card statement does not itemize the detailed travel expenses for reimbursement.

Employees must provide receipts and supporting documentation when they file their travel voucher for:

Approval for actual expenses

Bus fare (en route to and from the alternative worksite location)

Rail fare (en route to and from the alternative worksite location)

Rental car expenses including fuel/oil regardless of dollar amount

Telephone calls

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet access/Wi-Fi (if required for official work access)

Parking receipts in excess of $25

Individual expenses over $75

Reporting instructions for training classes

Employees should do the following with their travel receipts:

When using ETS, employees must scan or fax all receipts required for expenses detailed in IRM 1.32.1.15.4 (10), Claiming Reimbursements, into ETS and all applicable supporting documentation. The approving official must review the receipts in ETS before approving and signing the travel voucher. The ETS retains copies of the receipts for six years, in compliance with General Records Schedule (GRS) 1.1, item 010 Financial Transaction Records Related to Procuring Goods and Services, Paying Bills, Collecting Debts, and Accounting, so they are available for subsequent audits. Employees may want to keep their original receipts for their records for six years.

When filing a manual voucher, employees must attach original receipts and all applicable supporting documents to their manual travel voucher for the approving official to review before signing the voucher. The approving official must retain the attached receipts for six years in compliance with GRS 1.1, item 010 Financial Transaction Records Related to Procuring Goods and Services, Paying Bills, Collecting Debts, and Accounting.

When filing a manual travel voucher, employees must provide receipts or explain in writing why they are unable to provide the necessary receipts. The explanation must be acceptable to the approving official. The approving official will return any voucher submitted without a justification statement. Inconvenience is not an acceptable explanation for failure to provide receipts.

Employees may claim reimbursement for non-travel costs for the following expenses on their travel voucher when other travel related expenses are being claimed, when not directly related to the performance of travel, but incurred during travel:

Investigative expenses (for additional information see IRM 9.11.1.3, Incidental Investigative Expenditures)

Administrative summons expenses

Right to Financial Privacy Act fees

Other non-travel expenses incurred during official travel such as office supplies must be claimed on Form 1034, Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other Than Personal, and submitted to Travel Operations for processing with the receipt(s).

Employees cannot submit claims for confidential expenses on travel vouchers.

Training and conference fees must be paid through the procurement process. Employees cannot claim a training or conference fee on a travel voucher. Employees should contact their business unit finance organization for more information.

Employees must electronically sign the voucher in ETS and if filing a manual voucher, they must prepare their claim on Form 15342, Travel Voucher, and sign the voucher in ink. Any changes to a manual travel voucher must be initialed.

The approving official must authorize and approve travel vouchers per Delegation Order 1-30, Authorization and Approval of Official Travel within the United States.

The traveler and approving official are responsible for the validity of the voucher and must ensure all travel expenses are prudent, accurate and necessary.

The approving officials must do the following if they disallow an expense claim on a travel voucher:

Provide the reason for the disallowance in ETS and return the document to the traveler.

Issue a Notice of Disallowance and authorize payment of the amount of the travel claim that is not in dispute.

Employees who challenge a disallowed claim must submit a request for reconsideration of the disallowed amount by sending the voucher back to the approving official with a full explanation of the circumstances and the reasons for reconsidering the amount of reimbursement. If the approving official denies the request for reconsideration, employees may submit a request for reconsideration of the disallowance to the Travel Management mailbox *CFO-FM-Travel Policy & Review @irs.gov and must include:

A full explanation of the circumstances and the reasons the requested reimbursement was disallowed.

A full itemization for all disallowed items reclaimed.

Receipts for the disallowed items that require receipt.

A copy of the Notice of Disallowance.

The proper authority for the claim if challenging the IRS application of the law or statute.

If an employee request for reconsideration to a disallowed claim is approved by the CFO, Financial Management, Travel Management office, and if the employee submitted a voucher using ETS, they must process a supplemental voucher in ETS using the Amend link. If a manual voucher was submitted, employees need to:

Prepare a new Form 15342, Travel Voucher, to claim the amount disallowed on the original voucher.

Write Supplemental Voucher at the top of the new voucher.

Sign and date the supplemental voucher.

Attach a copy of the approval notice.

Have the approving official sign and date the voucher.

Attached any required receipt (s)

Mail the supplemental voucher to: Internal Revenue Service ATTN: Travel Operations P.O. Box 9002 Beckley, WV 25802

Email to *CFO Travel Vouchers, or efax to 855-787-4375.

If an employee’s challenge of a disallowed claim request for reconsideration is denied by the Travel Management, the employee may submit the request reconsideration as follows:

Bargaining unit employees should contact their Union representative.

Non-bargaining unit employees whose claims are denied, may file a claim with the GSA Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA). (The burden is on the claimant to establish the timeliness of the claim and the liability of the claim based on the information submitted by the claimant and the IRS).

Employees will receive their reimbursement three to five workdays after the travel voucher is approved in ETS.

If a travel expense is omitted from a travel voucher inadvertently, employees may file a supplemental voucher to claim the expense. Employees must have receipts for amounts claimed over $75 on a supplemental voucher, just as required for an original voucher.

Employees who need to correct errors on an already paid voucher should do the following:

Omitted expense - file a supplemental voucher to add the omitted expense and sign the voucher. The voucher will be processed, and the added expense will be reimbursed.

Overpayments on the voucher - complete the Debt Collection Repayment Memo, make a check or money order payable to the IRS and submit the overpaid amount to at the following address: Internal Revenue Service ATTN: Debt Collection Unit P.O. Box 9002 Beckley, WV 25802-9002

Employees must provide the following information on their travel voucher:

Dates of arrival to and departure from the local travel location.

Expenses for local transportation fares, mileage and parking meter fees. These amounts may be aggregated; however, any individual expenses over $75 must be listed separately.

Accounting for personal time taken during the local travel.

Accounting label information.

Death of Employee While in Travel Status

This section provides the guidance and instructions supplementing FTR Chapter 303, Part 303-70, Agency Requirements for Payment of Expenses Connected with the Death of Certain Employees

Upon the death of the employee, the approving official needs to identify the travel expenses and prepare a manual authorization and travel voucher to claim the travel expenses on behalf of the employee. The approving official annotates "Employee Deceased" on the employee signature line, signs the voucher and forwards for payment to at the following address: Internal Revenue Service ATTN: Travel Management Section P.O. Box 9002 Beckley, WV 25802-9002 Efax 855-787-4375, email *CFO Travel Vouchers Receipts must be obtained, where applicable and appropriate and the travel agency contacted for a refund if a round trip flight was involved.

Travel Forms

Form 15342, Travel Voucher

Form 13635, Manual Travel Authorization

Form 8445, Income Tax Allowance Certification

Form 12654, Authorization for Long-Term Taxable Travel

Delegation Orders (DO)

This section provides delegation orders for travel:

More Internal Revenue Manual

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Travel Tips

What Does Local Tourism Mean

Published: December 12, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Genni Wellman

Plan Your Trip
Sustainability

Introduction

When it comes to exploring new destinations and experiencing different cultures, there is a growing trend towards embracing local tourism. Local tourism, also known as community-based tourism or grassroots tourism, is all about immersing oneself in the local community and getting a genuine taste of the destination.

Unlike traditional tourism, which often focuses on popular tourist attractions and staying in mainstream hotels, local tourism offers a more authentic and enriching experience by connecting travelers with local residents, traditions, and customs. It allows visitors to go beyond the surface level and truly understand the essence of a place.

Traveling as a local tourist means venturing off the beaten path, exploring hidden gems, interacting with locals, and contributing to the local economy. It is a way to support sustainable tourism practices, preserve cultural heritage, and promote community development.

In recent years, local tourism has gained significant popularity due to various factors. Firstly, there is a growing interest among travelers in seeking unique and meaningful experiences. Many people are no longer satisfied with superficial sightseeing and are eager to engage with locals and learn about their way of life.

Secondly, the rise of social media has played a crucial role in promoting local tourism. Travelers are sharing their experiences and recommendations online, which influences others to follow in their footsteps. This word-of-mouth promotion has helped uncover lesser-known destinations and contributed to their growth.

Lastly, travelers are becoming more conscious of the impact of their choices. They are looking for ways to minimize their carbon footprint, support local economies, and preserve cultural heritage. Local tourism aligns perfectly with these values, as it allows visitors to have a positive impact on the communities they visit.

In this article, we will delve deeper into the concept of local tourism, its importance, benefits, challenges, and strategies for promoting it effectively. We will also explore successful examples of local tourism initiatives from around the world. So, pack your bags and get ready for a journey into the heart of local tourism!

Definition of Local Tourism

Local tourism can be defined as a form of travel that focuses on immersing oneself in the local community and culture of a destination. It emphasizes grassroots experiences, connecting travelers with the local residents, traditions, and customs of a place. Unlike traditional tourism, which often revolves around well-known tourist attractions and commercial establishments, local tourism highlights the unique aspects of a destination that are not as widely known or explored.

Local tourism goes beyond just visiting a place; it aims to provide travelers with an authentic and immersive experience. It involves staying in locally-owned accommodations, dining at neighborhood restaurants, shopping at local markets, and participating in community events. It encourages travelers to engage with the local population, learn about their way of life, and contribute to the local economy and community development.

One of the key aspects of local tourism is sustainability. It promotes responsible travel practices that minimize the negative impact on the environment and cultural heritage. By supporting small businesses and local initiatives, visitors help to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of a destination. In return, they gain a deeper understanding of the local culture, traditions, and history.

Local tourism can take many forms, depending on the destination and the interests of the traveler. It could involve exploring rural villages, participating in traditional crafts or art workshops, learning about local cuisine, or engaging in cultural performances. The focus is on creating meaningful connections and experiences that leave a lasting impression on both the traveler and the community.

Overall, local tourism offers a unique and alternative way of experiencing a destination. It allows travelers to go beyond the surface level and truly understand the essence of a place through local interactions. By embracing local tourism, travelers not only enrich their own travel experiences but also contribute to the well-being and sustainability of the communities they visit.

Importance of Local Tourism

Local tourism plays a crucial role in the development and sustainability of a destination. It offers numerous benefits, both for the travelers and the local communities. Let’s explore why local tourism is important.

1. Preserving Cultural Heritage: Local tourism helps to preserve and promote the unique cultural heritage of a destination. By supporting local artisans, craftsmen, and cultural initiatives, travelers contribute to the preservation and transmission of traditional customs, practices, and knowledge from one generation to another.

2. Economic Advancement: Local tourism has a significant economic impact on communities. By choosing local accommodations, restaurants, and businesses, travelers channel their spending directly into the local economy. This supports job creation, entrepreneurship, and overall economic development, particularly in rural areas that may otherwise struggle to attract visitors.

3. Sustainable Development: Local tourism promotes sustainable and responsible travel practices. It encourages visitors to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting environmentally friendly initiatives, such as eco-lodges, farm-to-table dining, and nature conservation projects. By minimizing negative environmental impacts, local tourism helps to safeguard natural resources for future generations.

4. Authentic Experiences: One of the key benefits of local tourism is the opportunity to have authentic and immersive experiences. Travelers get the chance to go beyond the typical tourist attractions and interact with the locals. This fosters a deeper understanding of the local culture, traditions, and way of life.

5. Community Empowerment: Local tourism empowers local communities to take control of their own development. By involving local residents in tourism activities, they gain a sense of pride and ownership. This stimulates community involvement, leading to increased social cohesion, cultural appreciation, and self-sufficiency.

6. Diversifying Tourism Offerings: Local tourism helps to diversify the tourism offerings of a destination. It brings attention to lesser-known places, encourages the development of new tourism products and services, and promotes a more balanced distribution of visitors. This reduces the strain on overcrowded tourist hotspots and helps to distribute economic benefits more evenly.

7. Enhancing Sustainability: By supporting local tourism, travelers contribute to the long-term sustainability of a destination. They help to maintain the unique character and authenticity of the place by fostering cultural pride, environmental protection, and social well-being.

Overall, local tourism is essential for the preservation of cultural identity, economic growth, and sustainable development. By choosing to travel as local tourists, we can make a positive impact on the communities we visit while enjoying enriching and meaningful experiences.

Benefits of Local Tourism

Local tourism offers a wide range of benefits, both for travelers and the local communities they visit. Let’s explore some of the key advantages of embracing local tourism.

1. Authentic Experiences: One of the major benefits of local tourism is the opportunity to have authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences. Travelers can immerse themselves in the local culture, traditions, and way of life, providing a deeper understanding and appreciation for the destination. By interacting with locals, participating in community activities, and exploring hidden gems, travelers can create lifelong memories and unique stories to share.

2. Cultural Exchange: Local tourism fosters cultural exchange between travelers and local residents. It encourages meaningful interactions, allowing visitors to learn firsthand about different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. This promotes cross-cultural understanding, tolerance, and appreciation, breaking down barriers and creating bridges of friendship and empathy.

3. Support for Local Economies: When travelers engage in local tourism, they directly contribute to the local economy. By staying in locally-owned accommodations, dining at local restaurants, and supporting local businesses, travelers help create jobs and stimulate economic growth. This income directly benefits the local community, improving the quality of life for residents and encouraging entrepreneurship.

4. Preserving Cultural Heritage: Local tourism plays a vital role in preserving the cultural heritage of a destination. By supporting local artisans, craftsmen, and cultural initiatives, travelers contribute to the survival and continuation of traditional customs, practices, and craftsmanship. This helps maintain the unique identity and authenticity of a place and ensures that cultural heritage is passed down to future generations.

5. Environmental Sustainability: Local tourism promotes sustainable travel practices, minimizing the negative impact on the environment. By supporting eco-friendly initiatives, such as organic farming, renewable energy, and nature conservation projects, travelers help protect the natural resources and biodiversity of a destination. This ensures the preservation of natural landscapes and habitats for future generations to enjoy.

6. Strengthening Communities: Local tourism empowers local communities and strengthens social bonds. It encourages community involvement and participation in tourism activities, fostering a sense of pride and ownership. This strengthens social cohesion, cultural identity, and local resilience, creating a sustainable and inclusive community.

7. Unique and Personalized Experiences: Local tourism offers personalized experiences tailored to individual preferences and interests. Whether it’s exploring local markets, participating in cooking classes, or engaging in cultural performances, travelers can create a customized itinerary that aligns with their desires. This allows for more meaningful and memorable experiences that go beyond the typical tourist attractions.

In summary, local tourism provides a multitude of benefits, including authentic experiences, cultural exchange, economic support, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, community empowerment, and personalized experiences. By embracing local tourism, travelers can make a positive impact on the destinations they visit while enjoying enriching and rewarding experiences themselves.

Challenges of Local Tourism

While local tourism offers numerous benefits, it also faces various challenges that need to be addressed for its successful implementation. Let’s explore some of the challenges associated with local tourism.

1. Infrastructure and Facilities: Local communities may face challenges in providing adequate infrastructure and facilities to accommodate the needs of tourists. Limited transportation options, lack of quality accommodations, and limited access to amenities can deter travelers from choosing local tourism. Investment in infrastructure development is crucial to ensure a comfortable and convenient experience for visitors.

2. Limited Awareness and Marketing: Local tourism initiatives often struggle with limited awareness and marketing efforts. Many travelers may be unaware of the unique experiences and attractions that local communities offer. Lack of effective marketing strategies and presence in tourism platforms can hinder the visibility and promotion of local tourism opportunities.

3. Balancing Sustainability and Commercialization: Local tourism needs to strike a balance between sustainable practices and commercialization. As tourism grows, there is a risk of overcommercialization and loss of authenticity. It’s essential to implement sustainable tourism practices that protect the local environment, culture, and traditional way of life, while still generating economic benefits for the community.

4. Preserving Cultural Integrity: Maintaining the cultural integrity of a destination can be a challenge in the face of increased tourism. Local communities need to find ways to protect their cultural heritage and prevent it from being diluted or commodified. Sustainable tourism practices, community involvement, and responsible visitor behavior can help preserve the cultural authenticity of a place.

5. Capacity Building and Training: Local tourism initiatives require appropriate training and capacity building for community members involved in tourism-related activities. This includes training in hospitality, customer service, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation. Building the necessary skills and knowledge will help ensure a high-quality experience for visitors and enhance the overall sustainability of local tourism.

6. Seasonality and Tourism Dependence: Many local tourism destinations heavily rely on seasonal visitation, which can lead to economic fluctuations and dependency on a particular time of the year. Diversifying tourism offerings and extending the length of the tourism season can help mitigate this challenge and create more stable economic opportunities for local communities.

7. Balancing Local Needs and Visitor Expectations: Local tourism initiatives must strike a balance between meeting the needs and expectations of both local residents and visitors. It is essential to consider the social, cultural, and economic impacts on the community while ensuring a positive and satisfying experience for travelers.

Addressing these challenges requires collaboration and cooperation between local communities, government bodies, tourism organizations, and visitors. By overcoming these obstacles, local tourism can thrive and continue to provide meaningful experiences for both travelers and locals alike.

Strategies for Promoting Local Tourism

Promoting local tourism requires a strategic approach that encompasses various aspects, from marketing and community engagement to sustainable development. Here are some effective strategies that can be employed to promote and support local tourism initiatives.

1. Collaboration and Partnerships: Foster collaboration among local stakeholders, including community members, tourism organizations, local businesses, and government authorities. By working together, they can create a unified vision for local tourism and develop joint marketing campaigns, shared infrastructure, and cooperative ventures that benefit the entire community.

2. Engage the Local Community: Involve and engage the local community in the tourism development process. Encourage their participation in decision-making, training programs, and tourism-related activities. This not only creates a sense of ownership but also ensures that the community’s perspectives, traditions, and expertise are respected and valued.

3. Develop Authentic Experiences: Emphasize the unique and authentic experiences available in the local community. Highlight the cultural heritage, traditional craftsmanship, local cuisine, and lesser-known attractions that differentiate the destination from mainstream tourism. This can be done through storytelling, local guides, immersive activities, and showcasing the local way of life.

4. Digital Marketing and Online Presence: Leverage digital platforms and social media to reach a broader audience. Create a website or online platform dedicated to promoting local tourism, featuring captivating visuals, informative content, and user-generated content. Engage with travel influencers, bloggers, and online communities to generate buzz and create awareness about the destination.

5. Sustainable Tourism Practices: Prioritize sustainable tourism practices that minimize the negative impact on the environment, culture, and community. Encourage eco-friendly initiatives such as waste reduction, renewable energy, and responsible tourism guidelines. Showcase the destination’s commitment to sustainability, which can attract eco-conscious travelers seeking meaningful and responsible travel experiences.

6. Cultural Preservation and Education: Implement programs that preserve and promote the local culture and heritage. This can include cultural festivals, art exhibitions, workshops, and heritage tours. By educating both locals and visitors about the importance of cultural preservation, there is a greater appreciation for the destination’s unique identity and traditions.

7. Support Local Businesses: Encourage visitors to support local businesses by highlighting the benefits of shopping at local markets, staying in locally-owned accommodations, and dining at neighborhood restaurants. Promote the connection between local products, services, and the overall local experience. This creates economic opportunities for the community and ensures a more authentic and vibrant tourism sector.

8. Community-Based Tourism Initiatives: Initiate and support community-based tourism projects that allow visitors to directly interact with locals and learn about their way of life. This can include homestays, community-led tours, and volunteering opportunities. By actively involving the local community in tourism activities, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the destination while contributing to its sustainable development.

9. Visitor Education and Responsible Travel: Educate visitors about responsible travel practices, such as respecting local customs, traditions, and the environment. Provide guidelines on how to engage with the community respectfully and encourage them to be mindful of their behavior and impact on the destination. Empower them to be ambassadors for responsible travel and share their experiences with others.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuously monitor the impact of local tourism initiatives and evaluate their effectiveness. Collect feedback from visitors and the local community to identify areas for improvement and measure the success of promotional strategies. This data-driven approach allows for effective decision-making and the adaptation of strategies to changing needs and trends.

By implementing these strategies, destinations can effectively promote and support local tourism. This will not only benefit the local community but also provide travelers with unique and enriching experiences that leave a positive impact.

Examples of Successful Local Tourism Initiatives

Several destinations around the world have successfully implemented local tourism initiatives, showcasing the positive outcomes that can be achieved through community involvement and sustainable practices. Let’s explore some inspiring examples of successful local tourism initiatives.

1. The Guna Yala Indigenous Community, Panama: The Guna Yala community in Panama has embraced community-based tourism to preserve their culture and improve their livelihoods. Visitors can stay in traditional Guna-owned accommodations, learn about their customs and traditions, and engage in activities such as fishing, coconut harvesting, and traditional dance performances. Through controlled tourism, the Guna Yala community has been able to generate income while preserving their ancestral lands and way of life.

2. Kerala Backwaters, India: The Kerala Backwaters in India has implemented a successful community-based tourism model. Local residents offer homestays, boat tours, and cooking classes, providing visitors with an authentic experience while creating economic opportunities for local communities. The community-based approach has helped sustain the fragile ecosystem of the backwaters while promoting cultural exchange and supporting livelihoods.

3. The Sami Cultural Tourism Network, Norway: The Sami cultural tourism network in Norway has been successful in preserving and promoting Sami traditions and culture. Local Sami communities offer guided tours, reindeer sledding, and traditional handicraft workshops. Through these initiatives, visitors gain insights into Sami traditions and contribute to the economic well-being of the community. The network also works towards sustainable tourism development by respecting and protecting the environment and Sami cultural practices.

4. The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve, Borneo: Located in Borneo, the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve showcases how local tourism can contribute to environmental conservation. The reserve focuses on ecotourism, offering guided tours that highlight the importance of conserving the habitat and protecting endangered wildlife. Revenue from tourism activities supports reforestation efforts, local communities, and wildlife conservation initiatives.

5. The Maasai Mara Community Conservancies, Kenya: The Maasai Mara Community Conservancies in Kenya demonstrate the successful involvement of local communities in wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism. Maasai communities have established conservancies where visitors can go on guided safaris and experience Maasai culture and traditions. The conservancies have helped protect wildlife habitats, preserve cultural heritage, and provide alternative livelihoods for the Maasai people.

6. The Slow Food Movement, Italy: The Slow Food movement in Italy promotes local food culture and culinary heritage. It encourages travelers to experience local traditions and flavors by supporting local farmers, food producers, and chefs. Through events, festivals, and educational opportunities, the Slow Food movement enhances the overall tourism experience while promoting sustainability, local economies, and cultural preservation.

7. The Community-Based Homestays in Thailand: In several rural communities in Thailand, community-based homestays have been established to provide travelers with an authentic cultural experience. Visitors stay with local families, participate in daily activities, and learn about Thai customs and traditions. The income generated from homestays benefits the community, supporting local businesses and improving infrastructure and services.

These successful examples showcase the power of local tourism initiatives in preserving cultural heritage, supporting local communities, promoting sustainability, and offering unique travel experiences. They demonstrate the positive outcomes that can be achieved when local communities actively engage in tourism activities and collaborate with stakeholders to create a thriving and responsible tourism sector.

Local tourism offers a refreshing and authentic alternative to traditional tourism, providing travelers with immersive experiences that go beyond surface-level sightseeing. It emphasizes community engagement, cultural preservation, and sustainable practices, making it a valuable and meaningful way to explore a destination.

Throughout this article, we have explored the definition, importance, benefits, challenges, strategies, and successful examples of local tourism initiatives. We have seen how local tourism contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment.

Local tourism provides authentic and enriching experiences that create lasting memories for travelers. It connects visitors with local communities, allowing for cultural exchange and deeper understanding of different ways of life. By staying in locally-owned accommodations, supporting local businesses, and engaging in community activities, travelers play a vital role in the economic well-being of local communities.

However, local tourism also faces challenges that need to be addressed, such as infrastructure limitations, balancing sustainability and commercialization, and ensuring the preservation of cultural integrity. Through collaboration, community engagement, and responsible travel practices, these challenges can be overcome.

By promoting local tourism, destinations can diversify their offerings, reduce the strain on overcrowded tourist areas, and create a more sustainable and inclusive tourism sector. Travelers can contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage, support local economies, and gain unique insights into the local way of life.

In conclusion, local tourism is an invaluable and transformative way to travel. It allows us to step off the beaten path, connect with local communities, and make a positive impact on the destinations we visit. Through local tourism, we can foster cultural appreciation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability, ensuring a more vibrant and responsible future for the travel industry.

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Glossary of tourism terms

Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which involve tourism expenditure.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Activity/activities : In tourism statistics, the term activities represent the actions and behaviors of people in preparation for and during a trip in their capacity as consumers ( IRTS 2008, 1.2 ).

Activity (principal): The principal activity of a producer unit is the activity whose value added exceeds that of any other activity carried out within the same unit ( SNA 2008, 5.8 ).

Activity (productive): The (productive) activity carried out by a statistical unit is the type of production in which it engages. It has to be understood as a process, i.e. the combination of actions that result in a certain set of products. The classification of productive activities is determined by their principal output.

Administrative data : Administrative data is the set of units and data derived from an administrative source. This is a data holding information collected and maintained for the purpose of implementing one or more administrative regulations.

Adventure tourism : Adventure tourism is a type of tourism which usually takes place in destinations with specific geographic features and landscape and tends to be associated with a physical activity, cultural exchange, interaction and engagement with nature. This experience may involve some kind of real or perceived risk and may require significant physical and/or mental effort. Adventure tourism generally includes outdoor activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, rock climbing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, canyoning, mountain biking, bush walking, scuba diving. Likewise, some indoor adventure tourism activities may also be practiced.

Aggregated data : The result of transforming unit level data into quantitative measures for a set of characteristics of a population.

Aggregation : A process that transforms microdata into aggregate-level information by using an aggregation function such as count, sum average, standard deviation, etc.

Analytical unit : Entity created by statisticians, by splitting or combining observation units with the help of estimations and imputations.

Balance of payments : The balance of payments is a statistical statement that summarizes transactions between residents and non-residents during a period. It consists of the goods and services account, the primary income account, the secondary income account, the capital account, and the financial account ( BPM6, 2.12 ).

Bias : An effect which deprives a statistical result of representativeness by systematically distorting it, as distinct from a random error which may distort on any one occasion but balances out on the average.

Business and professional purpose (of a tourism trip): The business and professional purpose of a tourism trip includes the activities of the self-employed and employees, as long as they do not correspond to an implicit or explicit employer-employee relationship with a resident producer in the country or place visited, those of investors, businessmen, etc. ( IRTS 2008, 3.17.2 ).

Business tourism : Business tourism is a type of tourism activity in which visitors travel for a specific professional and/or business purpose to a place outside their workplace and residence with the aim of attending a meeting, an activity or an event. The key components of business tourism are meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The term "meetings industry" within the context of business tourism recognizes the industrial nature of such activities. Business tourism can be combined with any other tourism type during the same trip.

Business visitor : A business visitor is a visitor whose main purpose for a tourism trip corresponds to the business and professional category of purpose ( IRTS 2008, 3.17.2 ).

Central Product Classification : The Central Product Classification (CPC) constitutes a complete product classification covering goods and services. It is intended to serve as an international standard for assembling and tabulating all kinds of data requiring product detail, including industrial production, national accounts, service industries, domestic and foreign commodity trade, international trade in services, balance of payments, consumption and price statistics. Other basic aims are to provide a framework for international comparison and promote harmonization of various types of statistics dealing with goods and services.

Census : A census is the complete enumeration of a population or groups at a point in time with respect to well defined characteristics: for example, Population, Production, Traffic on particular roads.

Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism : Coastal tourism refers to land-based tourism activities such as swimming, surfing, sunbathing and other coastal leisure, recreation and sports activities which take place on the shore of a sea, lake or river. Proximity to the coast is also a condition for services and facilities that support coastal tourism. Maritime tourism refers to sea-based activities such as cruising, yachting, boating and nautical sports and includes their respective land-based services and infrastructure. Inland water tourism refers to tourism activities such as cruising, yachting, boating and nautical sports which take place in aquatic- influenced environments located within land boundaries and include lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, groundwater, springs, cave waters and others traditionally grouped as inland wetlands.

Coherence : Adequacy of statistics to be combined in different ways and for various uses.

Competitiveness of a tourism destination : The competitiveness of a tourism destination is the ability of the destination to use its natural, cultural, human, man-made and capital resources efficiently to develop and deliver quality, innovative, ethical and attractive tourism products and services in order to achieve a sustainable growth within its overall vision and strategic goals, increase the added value of the tourism sector, improve and diversify its market components and optimize its attractiveness and benefits both for visitors and the local community in a sustainable perspective.

Consistency : Logical and numerical coherence.

Country of reference : The country of reference refers to the country for which the measurement is done. ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Country of residence : The country of residence of a household is determined according to the centre of predominant economic interest of its members. If a person resides (or intends to reside) for more than one year in a given country and has there his/her centre of economic interest (for example, where the predominant amount of time is spent), he/she is considered as a resident of this country.

Country-specific tourism characteristic products and activities : To be determined by each country by applying the criteria of IRTS 2008, 5.10 in their own context; for these products, the activities producing them will be considered as tourism characteristic, and the industries in which the principal activity is tourism-characteristic will be called tourism industries ( IRTS 2008, 5.16 ).

Cultural tourism : Cultural tourism is a type of tourism activity in which the visitor's essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination. These attractions/products relate to a set of distinctive material, intellectual, spiritual and emotional features of a society that encompasses arts and architecture, historical and cultural heritage, culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries and the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions.

Data checking : Activity whereby the correctness conditions of the data are verified. It also includes the specification of the type of error or of the condition not met, and the qualification of the data and their division into "error-free data" and "erroneous data".

Data collection : Systematic process of gathering data for official statistics.

Data compilation : Operations performed on data to derive new information according to a given set of rules.

Data confrontation : The process of comparing data that has generally been derived from different surveys or other sources, especially those of different frequencies, in order to assess and possibly improve their coherency, and identify the reasons for any differences.

Data processing : Data processing is the operation performed on data by the organization, institute, agency, etc., responsible for undertaking the collection, tabulation, manipulation and preparation of data and metadata output.

Data reconciliation : The process of adjusting data derived from two different sources to remove, or at least reduce, the impact of differences identified.

Destination (main destination of a trip): The main destination of a tourism trip is defined as the place visited that is central to the decision to take the trip. See also purpose of a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.31 ).

Destination management / marketing organization (DMO) : A destination management/marketing organization (DMO) is the leading organizational entity which may encompass the various authorities, stakeholders and professionals and facilitates tourism sector partnerships towards a collective destination vision. The governance structures of DMOs vary from a single public authority to a public/ private partnership model with the key role of initiating, coordinating and managing certain activities such as implementation of tourism policies, strategic planning, product development, promotion and marketing and convention bureau activities. The functions of the DMOs may vary from national to regional and local levels depending on the current and potential needs as well as on the decentralization level of public administration. Not every tourism destination has a DMO.

Documentation: Processes and procedures for imputation, weighting, confidentiality and suppression rules, outlier treatment and data capture should be fully documented by the survey provider. Such documentation should be made available to at least the body financing the survey.

Domestic tourism : Domestic tourism comprises the activities of a resident visitor within the country of reference, either as part of a domestic tourism trip or part of an outbound tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39 ).

Domestic tourism consumption : Domestic tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a resident visitor within the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Domestic tourism expenditure : Domestic tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a resident visitor within the economy of reference, (IRTS 2008, 4.15(a)).

Domestic tourism trip : A domestic tourism trip is one with a main destination within the country of residence of the visitor (IRTS 2008, 2.32).

Domestic visitor : As a visitor travels within his/her country of residence, he/she is a domestic visitor and his/her activities are part of domestic tourism.

Durable consumer goods : Durable consumer goods are goods that may be used repeatedly or continuously over a period of a year or more, assuming a normal or average rate of physical usage. When acquired by producers, these are considered to be capital goods used for production processes, as is the case of vehicles, computers, etc. When acquired by households, they are considered to be consumer durable goods ( TSA:RMF 2008, 2.39 ). This definition is identical to the definition of SNA 2008, 9.42 : A consumer durable is a goodthat may be used for purposes of consumption repeatedly or continuously over a period of a year or more.

Dwellings : Each household has a principal dwelling (sometimes also designated as main or primary home), usually defined with reference to time spent there, whose location defines the country of residence and place of usual residence of this household and of all its members. All other dwellings (owned or leased by the household) are considered secondary dwellings ( IRTS 2008, 2.26 ).

Ecotourism : Ecotourism is a type of nature-based tourism activity in which the visitor's essential motivation is to observe, learn, discover, experience and appreciate biological and cultural diversity with a responsible attitude to protect the integrity of the ecosystem and enhance the well-being of the local community. Ecotourism increases awareness towards the conservation of biodiversity, natural environment and cultural assets both among locals and the visitors and requires special management processes to minimize the negative impact on the ecosystem.

Economic analysis : Tourism generates directly and indirectly an increase in economic activity in the places visited (and beyond), mainly due to demand for goods and services thatneed to be produced and provided. In the economic analysis of tourism, one may distinguish between tourism's 'economic contribution' which refers to the direct effect of tourism and is measurable by means of the TSA, and tourism's 'economic impact' which is a much broader concept encapsulating the direct, indirect and induced effects of tourism and which must be estimated by applying models. Economic impact studies aim to quantify economic benefits, that is, the net increase in the wealth of residents resulting from tourism, measured in monetary terms, over and above the levels that would prevail in its absence.

Economic territory : The term "economic territory" is a geographical reference and points to the country for which the measurement is done (country of reference) ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Economically active population : The economically active population or labour force comprises all persons of either sex who furnish the supply of labour for the production of goods and services as defined by the system of national accounts during a specified time-reference period (ILO, Thirteenth ICLS, 6.18).

Economy (of reference): "Economy" (or "economy of reference") is an economic reference defined in the same way as in the balance of payments and in the system of national accounts: it refers to the economic agents that are resident in the country of reference ( IRTS 2008, 2.15 ).

Education tourism : Education tourism covers those types of tourism which have as a primary motivation the tourist's engagement and experience in learning, self-improvement, intellectual growth and skills development. Education Tourism represents a broad range of products and services related to academic studies, skill enhancement holidays, school trips, sports training, career development courses and language courses, among others.

Employees : Employees are all those workers who hold the type of job defined as "paid employment" (ILO, Fifteenth ICLS, pp. 20-22).

Employer-employee relationship : An employer-employee relationship exists when there is an agreement, which may be formal or informal, between an entity and an individual, normally entered into voluntarily by both parties, whereby the individual works for the entity in return for remuneration in cash or in kind ( BPM6, 11.11 ).

Employers : Employers are those workers who, working on their own account with one or more partners, hold the type of job defined as a "self-employment job" and, in this capacity, on a continuous basis (including the reference period) have engaged one or more persons to work for them in their business as "employee(s)" (ILO, Fifteenth ICLS, pp. 20-22).

Employment : Persons in employment are all persons above a specified age who, during a specified brief period, either one week or one day, were in paid employment or self-employment (OECD GST, p. 170).

Employment in tourism industries : Employment in tourism industries may be measured as a count of the persons employed in tourism industries in any of their jobs, as a count of the persons employed in tourism industries in their main job, or as a count of the jobs in tourism industries ( IRTS 2008, 7.9 ).

Enterprise : An enterprise is an institutional unit engaged in production of goods and/or services. It may be a corporation, a non-profit institution, or an unincorporated enterprise. Corporate enterprises and non-profit institutions are complete institutional units. An unincorporated enterprise, however, refers to an institutional unit —a household or government unit —only in its capacity as a producer of goods and services (OECD BD4, p. 232)

Establishment : An establishment is an enterprise, or part of an enterprise, that is situated in a single location and in which only a single productive activity is carried out or in which the principal productive activity accounts for most of the value added ( SNA 2008, 5.14 ).

Estimation : Estimation is concerned with inference about the numerical value of unknown population values from incomplete data such as a sample. If a single figure is calculated for each unknown parameter the process is called "point estimation". If an interval is calculated within which the parameter is likely, in some sense, to lie, the process is called "interval estimation".

Exports of goods and services : Exports of goods and services consist of sales, barter, or gifts or grants, of goods and services from residents to non-residents (OECD GST, p. 194)

Frame : A list, map or other specification of the units which define a population to be completely enumerated or sampled.

Forms of tourism : There are three basic forms of tourism: domestic tourism, inbound tourism, and outbound tourism. These can be combined in various ways to derive the following additional forms of tourism: internal tourism, national tourism and international tourism.

Gastronomy tourism : Gastronomy tourism is a type of tourism activity which is characterized by the visitor's experience linked with food and related products and activities while travelling. Along with authentic, traditional, and/or innovative culinary experiences, Gastronomy Tourism may also involve other related activities such as visiting the local producers, participating in food festivals and attending cooking classes. Eno-tourism (wine tourism), as a sub-type of gastronomy tourism, refers to tourism whose purpose is visiting vineyards, wineries, tasting, consuming and/or purchasing wine, often at or near the source.

Goods : Goods are physical, produced objects for which a demand exists, over which ownership rights can be established and whose ownership can be transferred from one institutional unit to another by engaging in transactions on markets ( SNA 2008, p. 623 ).

Gross fixed capital formation : Gross fixed capital formation is defined as the value of institutional units' acquisitions less disposals of fixed assets. Fixed assets are produced assets (such as machinery, equipment, buildings or other structures) that are used repeatedly or continuously in production over several accounting periods (more than one year) ( SNA 2008, 1.52 ).

Gross margin : The gross margin of a provider of reservation services is the difference between the value at which the intermediated service is sold and the value accrued to the provider of reservation services for this intermediated service.

Gross value added : Gross value added is the value of output less the value of intermediate consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 3.32 ).

Gross value added of tourism industries : Gross value added of tourism industries (GVATI) is the total gross value added of all establishments belonging to tourism industries, regardless of whether all their output is provided to visitors and the degree of specialization of their production process ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.86 ).

Grossing up : Activity aimed at transforming, based on statistical methodology, micro-data from samples into aggregate-level information representative of the target population.

Health tourism : Health tourism covers those types of tourism which have as a primary motivation, the contribution to physical, mental and/or spiritual health through medical and wellness-based activities which increase the capacity of individuals to satisfy their own needs and function better as individuals in their environment and society. Health tourism is the umbrella term for the subtypes wellness tourism and medical tourism.

Imputation : Procedure for entering a value for a specific data item where the response is missing or unusable.

Inbound tourism : Inbound tourism comprises the activities of a non-resident visitor within the country of reference on an inbound tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39 ).

Inbound tourism consumption : Inbound tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a non-resident visitor within the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Inbound tourism expenditure : Inbound tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a non-resident visitor within the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.15(b) ).

Innovation in tourism : Innovation in tourism is the introduction of a new or improved component which intends to bring tangible and intangible benefits to tourism stakeholders and the local community, improve the value of the tourism experience and the core competencies of the tourism sector and hence enhance tourism competitiveness and /or sustainability. Innovation in tourism may cover potential areas, such as tourism destinations, tourism products, technology, processes, organizations and business models, skills, architecture, services, tools and/or practices for management, marketing, communication, operation, quality assurance and pricing.

Institutional sector : An aggregation of institutional units on the basis of the type of producer and depending on their principal activity and function, which are considered to be indicative of their economic behaviour.

Institutional unit : The elementary economic decision-making centre characterised by uniformity of behaviour and decision-making autonomy in the exercise of its principal function.

Intermediate consumption : Intermediate consumption consists of the value of the goods and services consumed as inputs by a process of production, excluding fixed assets whose consumption is recorded as consumption of fixed capital ( SNA 2008, 6.213 ).

Internal tourism : Internal tourism comprises domestic tourism and inbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident and non-resident visitors within the country of reference as part of domestic or international tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(a) ).

Internal tourism consumption : Internal tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of both resident and non-resident visitors within the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism consumption and inbound tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Internal tourism expenditure : Internal tourism expenditure comprises all tourism expenditure of visitors, both resident and non-resident, within the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism expenditure and inbound tourism expenditure. It includes acquisition of goods and services imported into the country of reference and sold to visitors. This indicator provides the most comprehensive measurement of tourism expenditure in the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.20(a) ).

International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities : The International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) consists of a coherent and consistent classification structure of economic activities based on a set of internationally agreed concepts, definitions, principles and classification rules. It provides a comprehensive framework within which economic data can be collected and reported in a format that is designed for purposes of economic analysis, decision-taking and policymaking. The classification structure represents a standard format to organize detailed information about the state of an economy according to economic principles and perceptions (ISIC, Rev.4, 1).

International tourism : International tourism comprises inbound tourism and outbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident visitors outside the country of reference, either as part of domestic or outbound tourism trips and the activities of non-resident visitors within the country of reference on inbound tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(c) ).

International visitor : An international traveller qualifies as an international visitor with respect to the country of reference if: (a) he/she is on a tourism trip and (b) he/she is a non-resident travelling in the country of reference or a resident travelling outside of it ( IRTS 2008, 2.42 ).

Job : The agreement between an employee and the employer defines a job and each self-employed person has a job ( SNA 2008, 19.30 ).

Measurement error : Error in reading, calculating or recording numerical value.

Medical tourism : Medical tourism is a type of tourism activity which involves the use of evidence-based medical healing resources and services (both invasive and non-invasive). This may include diagnosis, treatment, cure, prevention and rehabilitation.

Meetings industry : To highlight purposes relevant to the meetings industry, if a trip's main purpose is business/professional, it can be further subdivided into "attending meetings, conferences or congresses, trade fairs and exhibitions" and "other business and professional purposes". The term meetings industry is preferred by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Reed Travel over the acronym MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) which does not recognize the industrial nature of such activities.

Metadata : Data that defines and describes other data and processes.

MICE : See meetings industry.

Microdata : Non-aggregated observations, or measurements of characteristics of individual units.

Mirror statistics : Mirror statistics are used to conduct bilateral comparisons of two basic measures of a trade flow and are a traditional tool for detecting the causes of asymmetries in statistics (OECD GST, p. 335).

Mountain tourism : Mountain tourism is a type of tourism activity which takes place in a defined and limited geographical space such as hills or mountains with distinctive characteristics and attributes that are inherent to a specific landscape, topography, climate, biodiversity (flora and fauna) and local community. It encompasses a broad range of outdoor leisure and sports activities.

National tourism : National tourism comprises domestic tourism and outbound tourism, that is to say, the activities of resident visitors within and outside the country of reference, either as part of domestic or outbound tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.40(b) ).

National tourism consumption : National tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of resident visitors, within and outside the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism consumption and outbound tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

National tourism expenditure : National tourism expenditure comprises all tourism expenditure of resident visitors within and outside the economy of reference. It is the sum of domestic tourism expenditure and outbound tourism expenditure ( IRTS 2008, 4.20(b) ).

Nationality : The concept of "country of residence" of a traveller is different from that of his/her nationality or citizenship ( IRTS 2008, 2.19 ).

Non-monetary indicators : Data measured in physical or other non-monetary units should not be considered a secondary part of a satellite account. They are essential components, both for the information they provide directly and in order to analyse the monetary data adequately ( SNA 2008, 29.84 ).

Observation unit : entity on which information is received and statistics are compiled.

Outbound tourism : Outbound tourism comprises the activities of a resident visitor outside the country of reference, either as part of an outbound tourism trip or as part of a domestic tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.39(c) ).

Outbound tourism consumption : Outbound tourism consumption is the tourism consumption of a resident visitor outside the economy of reference ( TSA:RMF 2008, figure 2.1 ).

Outbound tourism expenditure : Outbound tourism expenditure is the tourism expenditure of a resident visitor outside the economy of reference ( IRTS 2008, 4.15(c) ).

Output : Output is defined as the goods and services produced by an establishment, a) excluding the value of any goods and services used in an activity for which the establishment does not assume the risk of using the products in production, and b) excluding the value of goods and services consumed by the same establishment except for goods and services used for capital formation (fixed capital or changes in inventories) or own final consumption ( SNA 2008, 6.89 ).

Output (main): The main output of a (productive) activity should be determined by reference to the value added of the goods sold or services rendered (ISIC rev.4, 114).

Pilot survey : The aim of a pilot survey is to test the questionnaire (pertinence of the questions, understanding of questions by those being interviewed, duration of the interview) and to check various potential sources for sampling and non-sampling errors: for instance, the place in which the surveys are carried out and the method used, the identification of any omitted answers and the reason for the omission, problems of communicating in various languages, translation, the mechanics of data collection, the organization of field work, etc.

Place of usual residence : The place of usual residence is the geographical place where the enumerated person usually resides, and is defined by the location of his/her principal dwelling (Principles and recommendations for population and housing censuses of the United Nations, 2.20 to 2.24).

Probability sample : A sample selected by a method based on the theory of probability (random process), that is, by a method involving knowledge of the likelihood of any unit being selected.

Production account : The production account records the activity of producing goods and services as defined within the SNA. Its balancing item, gross value added, is defined as the value of output less the value of intermediate consumption and is a measure of the contribution to GDP made by an individual producer, industry or sector. Gross value added is the source from which the primary incomes of the SNA are generated and is therefore carried forward into the primary distribution of income account. Value added and GDP may also be measured net by deducting consumption of fixed capital, a figure representing the decline in value during the period of the fixed capital used in a production process ( SNA 2008, 1.17 ).

Production : Economic production may be defined as an activity carried out under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit that uses inputs of labour, capital, and goods and services to produce outputs of goods or services ( SNA 2008, 6.24. ).

Purpose of a tourism trip (main): The main purpose of a tourism trip is defined as the purpose in the absence of which the trip would not have taken place ( IRTS 2008, 3.10. ). Classification of tourism trips according to the main purpose refers to nine categories: this typology allows the identification of different subsets of visitors (business visitors, transit visitors, etc.) See also destination of a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 3.14 ).

Quality of a tourism destination : Quality of a tourism destination is the result of a process which implies the satisfaction of all tourism product and service needs, requirements and expectations of the consumer at an acceptable price, in conformity with mutually accepted contractual conditions and the implicit underlying factors such as safety and security, hygiene, accessibility, communication, infrastructure and public amenities and services. It also involves aspects of ethics, transparency and respect towards the human, natural and cultural environment. Quality, as one of the key drivers of tourism competitiveness, is also a professional tool for organizational, operational and perception purposes for tourism suppliers.

Questionnaire and Questionnaire design : Questionnaire is a group or sequence of questions designed to elicit information on a subject, or sequence of subjects, from a reporting unit or from another producer of official statistics. Questionnaire design is the design (text, order, and conditions for skipping) of the questions used to obtain the data needed for the survey.

Reference period : The period of time or point in time to which the measured observation is intended to refer.

Relevance : The degree to which statistics meet current and potential users' needs.

Reliability : Closeness of the initial estimated value to the subsequent estimated value.

Reporting unit : Unit that supplies the data for a given survey instance, like a questionnaire or interview. Reporting units may, or may not, be the same as the observation unit.

Residents/non-residents : The residents of a country are individuals whose centre of predominant economic interest is located in its economic territory. For a country, the non-residents are individuals whose centre of predominant economic interest is located outside its economic territory.

Response and non-response : Response and non-response to various elements of a survey entail potential errors.

Response error : Response errors may be defined as those arising from the interviewing process. Such errors may be due to a number of circumstances, such as inadequate concepts or questions; inadequate training; interviewer failures; respondent failures.

Rural tourism : Rural tourism is a type of tourism activity in which the visitor's experience is related to a wide range of products generally linked to nature-based activities, agriculture, rural lifestyle / culture, angling and sightseeing. Rural tourism activities take place in non-urban (rural) areas with the following characteristics:

Low population density;
Landscape and land-use dominated by agriculture and forestry; and
Traditional social structure and lifestyle

Same-day visitor (or excursionist): A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Sample : A subset of a frame where elements are selected based on a process with a known probability of selection.

Sample survey : A survey which is carried out using a sampling method.

Sampling error : That part of the difference between a population value and an estimate thereof, derived from a random sample, which is due to the fact that only a subset of the population is enumerated.

Satellite accounts : There are two types of satellite accounts, serving two different functions. The first type, sometimes called an internal satellite, takes the full set of accounting rules and conventions of the SNA but focuses on a particular aspect of interest by moving away from the standard classifications and hierarchies. Examples are tourism, coffee production and environmental protection expenditure. The second type, called an external satellite, may add non-economic data or vary some of the accounting conventions or both. It is a particularly suitable way to explore new areas in a research context. An example may be the role of volunteer labour in the economy ( SNA 2008, 29.85 ).

SDMX, Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange : Set of technical standards and content-oriented guidelines, together with an IT architecture and tools, to be used for the efficient exchange and sharing of statistical data and metadata (SDMX).

Seasonal adjustment : Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique to remove the effects of seasonal calendar influences on a series. Seasonal effects usually reflect the influence of the seasons themselves, either directly or through production series related to them, or social conventions. Other types of calendar variation occur as a result of influences such as number of days in the calendar period, the accounting or recording practices adopted or the incidence of moving holidays.

Self-employment job : Self-employment jobs are those jobs where remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits (or the potential of profits) derived from the goods or services produced.

Self-employed with paid employees : Self-employed with paid employees are classified as employers.

Self-employed without employees : Self-employed without employees are classified as own-account workers.

Services : Services are the result of a production activity that changes the conditions of the consuming units, or facilitates the exchange of products or financial assets. They cannot be traded separately from their production. By the time their production is completed, they must have been provided to the consumers ( SNA 2008, 6.17 ).

Social transfers in kind : A special case of transfers in kind is that of social transfers in kind. These consist of goods and services provided by general government and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISHs) that are delivered to individual households. Health and education services are the prime examples. Rather than provide a specified amount of money to be used to purchase medical and educational services, the services are often provided in kind to make sure that the need for the services is met. (Sometimes the recipient purchases the service and is reimbursed by the insurance or assistance scheme. Such a transaction is still treated as being in kind because the recipient is merely acting as the agent of the insurance scheme) (SNA 2008, 3.83).

Sports tourism : Sports tourism is a type of tourism activity which refers to the travel experience of the tourist who either observes as a spectator or actively participates in a sporting event generally involving commercial and non-commercial activities of a competitive nature.

Standard classification : Classifications that follow prescribed rules and are generally recommended and accepted.

Statistical error : The unknown difference between the retained value and the true value.

Statistical indicator : A data element that represents statistical data for a specified time, place, and other characteristics, and is corrected for at least one dimension (usually size) to allow for meaningful comparisons.

Statistical metadata : Data about statistical data.

Statistical unit : Entity about which information is sought and about which statistics are compiled. Statistical units may be identifiable legal or physical entities or statistical constructs.

Survey : An investigation about the characteristics of a given population by means of collecting data from a sample of that population and estimating their characteristics through the systematic use of statistical methodology.

System of National Accounts : The System of National Accounts (SNA) is the internationally agreed standard set of recommendations on how to compile measures of economic activity in accordance with strict accounting conventions based on economic principles. The recommendations are expressed in terms of a set of concepts, definitions, classifications and accounting rules that comprise the internationally agreed standard for measuring indicators of economic performance. The accounting framework of the SNA allows economic data to be compiled and presented in a format that is designed for purposes of economic analysis, decision-taking and policymaking ( SNA 2008, 1.1 ).

Total tourism internal demand : Total tourism internal demand, is the sum of internal tourism consumption, tourism gross fixed capital formation and tourism collective consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.114 ). It does not include outbound tourism consumption.

Tourism : Tourism refers to the activity of visitors ( IRTS 2008, 2.9 ).

Tourism characteristic activities : Tourism characteristic activities are the activities that typically produce tourism characteristic products. As the industrial origin of a product (the ISIC industry that produces it) is not a criterion for the aggregation of products within a similar CPC category, there is no strict one-to-one relationship between products and the industries producing them as their principal outputs ( IRTS 2008, 5.11 ).

Tourism characteristic products : Tourism characteristic products are those that satisfy one or both of the following criteria: a) Tourism expenditure on the product should represent a significant share total tourism expenditure (share-of-expenditure/demand condition); b) Tourism expenditure on the product should represent a significant share of the supply of the product in the economy (share-of-supply condition). This criterion implies that the supply of a tourism characteristic product would cease to exist in meaningful quantity in the absence of visitors ( IRTS 2008, 5.10 ).

Tourism connected products : Their significance within tourism analysis for the economy of reference is recognized although their link to tourism is very limited worldwide. Consequently, lists of such products will be country-specific ( IRTS 2008, 5.12 ).

Tourism consumption : Tourism consumption has the same formal definition as tourism expenditure. Nevertheless, the concept of tourism consumption used in the Tourism Satellite Account goes beyond that of tourism expenditure. Besides the amount paid for the acquisition of consumption goods and services, as well as valuables for own use or to give away, for and during tourism trips, which corresponds to monetary transactions (the focus of tourism expenditure), it also includes services associated with vacation accommodation on own account, tourism social transfers in kind and other imputed consumption. These transactions need to be estimated using sources different from information collected directly from the visitors, such as reports on home exchanges, estimations of rents associated with vacation homes, calculations of financial intermediation services indirectly measured (FISIM), etc. ( TSA:RMF 2008, 2.25 ).

Tourism destination : A tourism destination is a physical space with or without administrative and/or analytical boundaries in which a visitor can spend an overnight. It is the cluster (co-location) of products and services, and of activities and experiences along the tourism value chain and a basic unit of analysis of tourism. A destination incorporates various stakeholders and can network to form larger destinations. It is also intangible with its image and identity which may influence its market competitiveness.

Tourism direct gross domestic product : Tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP) is the sum of the part of gross value added (at basic prices) generated by all industries in response to internal tourism consumption plus the amount of net taxes on products and imports included within the value of this expenditure at purchasers' prices ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.96 ).

Tourism direct gross value added : Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) is the part of gross value added generated by tourism industries and other industries of the economy that directly serve visitors in response to internal tourism consumption ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.88 ).

Tourism expenditure : Tourism expenditure refers to the amount paid for the acquisition of consumption goods and services, as well as valuables, for own use or to give away, for and during tourism trips. It includes expenditures by visitors themselves, as well as expenses that are paid for or reimbursed by others ( IRTS 2008, 4.2 ).

Tourism industries : The tourism industries comprise all establishments for which the principal activity is a tourism characteristic activity. Tourism industries (also referred to as tourism activities) are the activities that typically producetourism characteristic products. The term tourism industries is equivalent to tourism characteristic activities and the two terms are sometimes used synonymously in the IRTS 2008, 5.10, 5.11 and figure 5.1 .

Tourism product : A tourism product is a combination of tangible and intangible elements, such as natural, cultural and man-made resources, attractions, facilities, services and activities around a specific center of interest which represents the core of the destination marketing mix and creates an overall visitor experience including emotional aspects for the potential customers. A tourism product is priced and sold through distribution channels and it has a life-cycle.

Tourism ratio : For each variable of supply in the Tourism Satellite Account, the tourism ratiois the ratio between the total value of tourism share and total value of the corresponding variable in the Tourism Satellite Account expressed in percentage form ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.56 ). (See also Tourism share).

Tourism Satellite Account : The Tourism Satellite Account is the second international standard on tourism statistics (Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008 –TSA:RMF 2008) that has been developed in order to present economic data relative to tourism within a framework of internal and external consistency with the rest of the statistical system through its link to the System of National Accounts. It is the basic reconciliation framework of tourism statistics. As a statistical tool for the economic accounting of tourism, the TSA can be seen as a set of 10 summary tables, each with their underlying data and representing a different aspect of the economic data relative to tourism: inbound, domestic tourism and outbound tourism expenditure, internal tourism expenditure, production accounts of tourism industries, the Gross Value Added (GVA) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) attributable to tourism demand, employment, investment, government consumption, and non-monetary indicators.

Tourism Satellite Account aggregates : The compilation of the following aggregates, which represent a set of relevant indicators of the size of tourism in an economy is recommended ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.81 ):

Internal tourism expenditure;
Internal tourism consumption;
Gross value added of tourism industries (GVATI);
Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA);
Tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP).

Tourism sector : The tourism sector, as contemplated in the TSA, is the cluster of production units in different industries that provide consumption goods and services demanded by visitors. Such industries are called tourism industries because visitor acquisition represents such a significant share of their supply that, in the absence of visitors, their production of these would cease to exist in meaningful quantity.

Tourism share : Tourism share is the share of the corresponding fraction of internal tourism consumption in each component of supply ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.51 ). For each industry, the tourism share of output (in value), is the sum of the tourism share corresponding to each product component of its output ( TSA:RMF 2008, 4.55 ). (See also Tourism ratio ).

Tourism single-purpose consumer durable goods : Tourism single-purpose consumer durables is a specific category of consumer durable goods that include durable goods that are used exclusively, or almost exclusively, by individuals while on tourism trips ( TSA:RMF 2008 , 2.41 and Annex 5 ).

Tourism trip : Trips taken by visitors are tourism trips ( IRTS 2008, 2.29 ).

Tourist (or overnight visitor): A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Tourism value chain : The tourism value chain is the sequence of primary and support activities which are strategically fundamental for the performance of the tourism sector. Linked processes such as policy making and integrated planning, product development and packaging, promotion and marketing, distribution and sales and destination operations and services are the key primary activities of the tourism value chain. Support activities involve transport and infrastructure, human resource development, technology and systems development and other complementary goods and services which may not be related to core tourism businesses but have a high impact on the value of tourism.

Travel / traveller : Travel refers to the activity of travellers. A traveller is someone who moves between different geographic locations, for any purpose and any duration ( IRTS 2008, 2.4 ). The visitor is a particular type of traveller and consequently tourism is a subset of travel.

Travel group : A travel group is made up of individuals or travel parties travelling together: examples are people travelling on the same package tour or youngsters attending a summer camp ( IRTS 2008, 3.5 ).

Travel item (in balance of payments): Travel is an item of the goods and services account of the balance of payments: travel credits cover goods and services for own use or to give away acquired from an economy by non-residents during visits to that economy. Travel debits cover goods and services for own use or to give away acquired from other economies by residents during visits to other economies ( BPM6, 10.86 ).

Travel party : A travel party is defined as visitors travelling together on a trip and whose expenditures are pooled ( IRTS 2008, 3.2 ).

Trip : A trip refers to the travel by a person from the time of departure from his/her usual residence until he/she returns: it thus refers to a round trip. Trips taken by visitors are tourism trips.

Urban/city tourism : Urban/city tourism is a type of tourism activity which takes place in an urban space with its inherent attributes characterized by non-agricultural based economy such as administration, manufacturing, trade and services and by being nodal points of transport. Urban/city destinations offer a broad and heterogeneous range of cultural, architectural, technological, social and natural experiences and products for leisure and business.

Usual environment: The usual environment of an individual, a key concept in tourism, is defined as the geographical area (though not necessarily a contiguous one) within which an individual conducts his/her regular life routines ( IRTS 2008, 2.21 ).

Usual residence : The place of usual residence is the geographical place where the enumerated person usually resides (Principles and recommendations for population and housing censuses of the United Nations, 2.16 to 2.18).

Vacation home : A vacation home (sometimes also designated as a holiday home) is a secondary dwelling that is visited by the members of the household mostly for purposes of recreation, vacation or any other form of leisure ( IRTS 2008, 2.27 ).

Valuables : Valuables are produced goods of considerable value that are not used primarily for purposes of production or consumption but are held as stores of value over time ( SNA 2008, 10.13 ).

Visit : A trip is made up of visits to different places.The term "tourism visit" refers to a stay in a place visited during a tourism trip ( IRTS 2008, 2.7 and 2.33 ).

Visitor : A visitor is a traveller taking a trip to a main destination outside his/her usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose (business, leisure or other personal purpose) other than to be employed by a resident entity in the country or place visited ( IRTS 2008, 2.9 ). A visitor (domestic, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if his/her trip includes an overnight stay, or as a same-day visitor (or excursionist) otherwise ( IRTS 2008, 2.13 ).

Wellness tourism : Wellness tourism is a type of tourism activity which aims to improve and balance all of the main domains of human life including physical, mental, emotional, occupational, intellectual and spiritual. The primary motivation for the wellness tourist is to engage in preventive, proactive, lifestyle-enhancing activities such as fitness, healthy eating, relaxation, pampering and healing treatments.

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What Is Responsible Travel?

The term “responsible travel” has been thrown around a lot recently. But what is responsible travel? How does it work? Why does it matter? And how can we, as travellers, put the concept into action?

As we begin to see more and more negative consequences of mass tourism in our favourite destinations, the answers to these questions become increasingly vital.

I’d like to start by saying: don’t be daunted by the phrase “responsible travel.” People can become wary and turned-off by buzzwords like this as it can sound like preaching or guilt-tripping. That isn’t to say that there isn’t a strong message behind the responsible tourism movement — because there definitely is — but it’s not as preachy as it may sound. It’s simply about encouraging people to be more switched on, ethical and thoughtful when they travel.

Ultimately, responsible travel does not involve limiting yourself. It actually opens you up to the world a little more, encouraging you to scratch beneath the surface and understand your surroundings. The goal is to try and make people aware of the impact tourism can have on local environments, economies and communities, and ensure this impact is a positive one.

In this article, I’ll define responsible travel, take a look at where the concept came from, explore its principles and discuss how we can all do our part to ensure our travels make a positive impact.

What is responsible travel?

The definition of responsible travel is as simple as this:

Responsible travel pertains to being socially, economically and environmentally aware when you travel. You understand how your actions can impact a destination and strive to ensure this impact is a positive one.

In short, responsible travel is about taking responsibility for making tourism sustainable and how we address this challenge. Perhaps we could say that sustainability is the goal, and travelling responsibly is the action.

Confusion arises thanks to the range of similar buzzwords within the travel and tourism industry. For example, you may have heard of the following terms: ecotourism, sustainable tourism, ethical travel, green travel, mindful travel and conscious travel. These buzzwords do have their own specific definitions and principles, but they all aim to make a positive impact.

Regardless of what you call it, they all share the same core principles:

Conserve and protect wildlife, biodiversity and the environment
Respect and conserve traditions, values and heritage
Contribute to cultural understanding and tolerance
Ensure viable long-term economic and social benefits

Responsible tourism is all about leaving a positive impact on not only the environment, but also the people who live in the places we choose to visit. The result being not only a more ethical and responsible trip when it comes to travellers’ impacts, but also a more authentic, exciting and culturally immersive one for them too. responsibletravel.com

A brief history of responsible travel/ecotourism

The origin of ecotourism arguably has its roots in the Sierra Club back in the early 1900s. The Sierra Club took annual expeditions into the Sierra Nevada to show hikers the natural beauty of the mountains and forest, with the hope that they would want to help protect the environment there.

However, ecotourism officially developed with the environmental movement of the 1970s and 1980s. Growing concern for the environment coupled with dissatisfaction with mass tourism led to increased demand for alternative styles of travel — travel that was kinder to the planet and more rewarding for tourists.

Around the same time, less developed countries began to realise that nature-based tourism, or ecotourism, could offer a healthy income. This gave incentive for them to protect their environment and move away from more destructive methods of making money, such as animal agriculture and logging.

By the mid-1980s, a number of these developing countries had identified ecotourism as a means of achieving both conservation and development goals, as well as a good way of securing foreign exchange.

Megan Epler Wood, a wildlife biologist, is renowned for being one of the first advocates for the ecotourism movement. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Colombia in 1986, and in 1990, she founded The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the first not-for-profit in the world dedicated to economic development through sustainable tourism.

Today, ecotourism and responsible travel are considered one of the fastest-growing sectors in the travel industry.

Principles of responsible travel

1) Provide long-term economic benefits to local people. Responsible travel aims to achieve a measurable reduction in poverty among local communities. By employing local people in tourism, staying in locally-owned accommodation, and putting money directly into the pockets of local communities, the economy is strengthened over-all. Tourism can also stimulate local business growth and generate investment in infrastructure where it’s needed.

2) Provide long-term social and cultural benefits to local people. Tourism should positively influence international understanding and respect for local traditions, customs and values. Tourists should act sensitively and respectfully towards local people and help to strengthen natural heritage.

3) Conserve and protect wildlife, biodiversity and the environment. Tourist activity should not cause negative consequences for wildlife or the environment. This can be as simple as taking litter away, sticking to marked hiking trails and not participating in animal tourism, such as swimming with dolphins or riding elephants.

Consequences of unsustainable tourism

Mass tourism and unresponsible travel can have a variety of negative consequences on a destination. I often use Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi as an example of how unsustainable tourism can contribute to the demise of a destination: mass numbers, pollution and trash caused the government to completely close Maya Beach.

1) Destruction of the environment. Overdevelopment, pollution and overconsumption of natural resources all contribute to the destruction of an environment. High tourist numbers place high demand for more restaurants and hotels to be built; sunscreen-clad tourists pollute oceans and damage coral reefs ; litter and waste are left behind, and natural resources are drained.

2) Disturbance or abuse of wildlife. Habitats are often cleared to make space for resorts, hotels and tourist attractions, which directly impacts wildlife. Not only this, many animals are exploited for the tourism industry — think of “swim with dolphins” programmes, elephant riding and big cat encounters.

3) Inflated living costs. High tourist numbers cause land, food, water, housing and transport to increase in price. The phrase “tourist tax” is not a myth. You’ll pay more for just about everything in tourist areas — even if you’re a resident.

4) The commodification of local cultures and traditions. In many countries around the world, tourists can pay to visit “local tribes” or “ethnic groups” who are, in essence, taught to put on a display in order to satisfy paying customers. This is just one example of how cultures and traditions can be commodified.

Responsible tourism: cultural tours in Africa

How to be a responsible traveller

Now that you know why responsible travel is so important, let’s look at some ways you can put the concept into action.

1) Conserve energy, electricity and water. This is something that you should be doing at home anyway. But ensure you limit your use of energy and utilities as much as possible, such as keeping showers short, limiting your use of A/C and only doing laundry when you have a full load.

2) Shop and eat locally. Shop and eat locally wherever possible. Supermarkets ship food from all over the world, resulting in increased carbon emissions and plastic packaging. Not only is eating local better for the environment, but its usually cheaper and also supports the local economy.

3) Respect the environment, culture and people of the places you visit. Cultures all over the world have very different customs, traditions and societal rules. Take the time to learn what these are so that you can ensure you’re being respectful.

4) Make eco-aware accommodation choices. When deciding on your accommodation, opt for locally-owned guesthouses or homestays. This means you’ll be supporting the local people. You should also look for eco-friendly hotels and hostels that work to reduce their impact on the environment, specifically by using renewable energy or having a recycling scheme.

5) Choose responsible tour companies. If you’re looking to travel with a tour group, do your homework and choose a company that adheres to sustainable and eco-friendly travel policies. G Adventures and Intrepid Travel are good examples of responsible tour companies.

6) Avoid animal tourism. If you want to see wild animals, opt for sanctuaries or national parks that offer a “hands-off” approach and who rescue/rehabilitate/protect the animals. Under no circumstance is there any need to touch, ride or watch a wild animal perform.

7) Get off the beaten track. Although tourism can have lots of positives for the local economy, too much of it can have dire consequences. Get off the beaten track and discover locations which would benefit from tourism, rather than contribute to the demise of already over-touristed destinations.

READ MORE: 13 Ways To Travel More Responsibly

Responsible travel is easy

Responsible travel is mostly just a whole lot of common sense. There are lots of misconceptions about it, though, as many people seem to think it involves shelling out for five-star eco-lodges. Or, they think the exact opposite, and that responsible travel is for folk who spend their time exclusively camping, hiking and observing wildlife. While both these styles of travel could be great examples, the reality is that everyone can adopt responsible tourism principles.

Unfortunately, there is no magic solution. For change to occur, people must really do their part to ensure they are travelling consciously, ethically and sustainably. This will also require local communities to realise that their home is not to be exploited for tourist dollar, but to be celebrated and protected.

About The Author

Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren. Hotels – Booking.com Hostels – Hostelworld Cheap flights – Skyscanner Travel insurance – World Nomads Outdoor gear – Decathlon / GO Outdoors Cycling gear – Chain Reaction Cycles Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!

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This is a super great post! I kept seeing the phrase responsible travel but had no idea what it really meant! And I totally agree that overcrowding and over tourism is ruining a lot of places around the world. Definitely need to see some change 🙌

Thanks Alice! Yes it’s popping up everywhere at the moment so I wanted to share what I know on the subject as it’s important to me. Hopefully change will occur soon 😊

Travel & Hospitality 3 Ways Local and Domestic Trends Will Shape the Future of Travel

Covid-19 has redefined how many consumers think about travel, which has given rise to new opportunities for the industry. Amidst a flood of short-term local and domestic demand, travel brands will have to navigate long-term changes to how they operate.

The travel industry is no stranger to upheaval and disruption, and brands are well attuned to pivoting business practices when unexpected scenarios arise. In the past 20 years, travel companies have faced complete reinvention amidst changing rules, regulations, and consumer sentiments due to 9/11, the rise of online and mobile booking, and the financial crisis.

Then came Covid-19. Public health restrictions influenced behaviors for those who did choose to travel — prioritizing family visits, balancing work and vacation, or emphasizing remote, outdoor activities — and any movement almost always occurred within their own borders .

With these trends expected to continue as travel demand increases sharply in 2021 , the next few months will remain anything but business as usual and still far from a new normal. In this environment, travel brands will need to be creative, but calculated, to meet the influx of pent-up demand, enjoying the excitement of reopening while ensuring their business is running smoothly and sustainably.

“There is an opportunity now to meet new demand and build loyal relationships,” said Nick Shay, vice president of Technology & Hospitality at Publicis Sapient. “What travel brands do now and how they treat customers will fuel a longer-term recovery and help support longer goals around growth — if they do it in the right way.”

Publicis Sapient and SkiftX collaborated on this analysis of three key trends that will dominate the landscape for the next few months and into 2022, identifying how travel brands can strategically take advantage of changing traveler sentiments during recovery and optimize their operations for the future.

#1 National Travel Wins Over International Travel, at Least for Now

An uptick in leisure travel and local demand was expected to come first as the pandemic wave eased, but further waves and lockdown restrictions have made even local demand difficult to anticipate.

According to Skift’s latest U.S. Travel Tracker survey, 42.3 percent of Americans traveled in May 2021. This was 2 percentage points higher than in February 2020, prior to the pandemic, and 4.5 percentage points higher than October 2020, the peak of last year’s demand roller coaster.

However, just 1.9 percent of all trips were international in May 2021, compared to 7.9 percent in January 2020, before news began to break about Covid-19, borders closed, and cancellations of international events began.

While international travel remains down, people are flying domestically again. According to flight-tracking website RadarBox.com , the number of daily domestic flights in China have been exceeding 2019 levels since March of this year. The first week of July saw 11,539 daily flights, compared with 10,659 daily flights for the same week in 2019.

In general, the local and domestic trend has been driven by travel restrictions, and there’s good news for destinations that have seen increased popularity: That demand is not going away. But travel is not a zero-sum game, and what is domestic today will be global in due time.

“A desire to explore, get away from it all, or switch off digitally doesn’t start and end within your own borders,” said Shay. “If you're an international traveler, you're going to be an international traveler again as soon as you are able.”

“In the short-term at least, people just want to leave their homes and their cities rather than leave their countries,” said Shay. “A change of scenery is a big demand driver right now.”

#2 Governments Will Play a Greater Role in Shaping Recovery

Over the last few months, we have started to see how different government policies and tactics have been employed to stimulate demand. A recent report by KPMG highlighted that if Australians could be convinced to spend 70 percent of their international travel budget domestically, then the tourism market could tread water through the pandemic.

Diverting overseas spend to the domestic market is not going away anytime soon, and the largest markets such as the U.S. and China have an advantage here.

According to the UN’s World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Chinese tourists spent $254.6 billion overseas in 2019, accounting for almost one-fifth of global tourism spending. By keeping its borders closed, it has diverted much of that spend locally. China has seen a record number of domestic flights this year. In March, for example, Macau welcomed the largest number of visitors from the mainland since before the pandemic.

This may be good news for domestic businesses, but not all markets can survive without overseas tourists. In these cases, the only option is to innovate their way to safely reopening borders.

For example, Thailand’s tourism industry is particularly reliant on overseas visitors, but is struggling with its own vaccination program. But by creating a sandbox on the island of Phuket and prioritizing the vaccination of its islanders, it has been able to reopen to overseas visitors who are fully vaccinated and want to stay on the island.

“This level of government intervention is something that we will see for some time to come,” Shay said. “A previously silent partner to the industry has woken up and is now key to its recovery.”

While something like this can stimulate recovery, the rapidly changing conditions of the pandemic can still bring about unsettlement. Spare a thought for the numerous businesses that have re-hired staff, only to be told they need to hold off or change the way they operate, again.

“The key for travel brands is digital flexibility and agility, because it is difficult to predict what’s coming next,” said Shay. “We’re helping our clients rapidly adapt their service models to accommodate more contactless interactions and make more use of their direct channels to provide up-to-date information, more booking options, modifications, and refunds. Safety may have been the primary driver here, but removing friction points and improving the overall experience is happening along the way.”

#3 Digital Acceleration Will Fuel Both Domestic and Overseas Travel

There is plenty of evidence that immersive experiences and virtual reality will play a role in the future of travel, and these trends picked up steam during Covid-19. While those technologies might not be popular enough to become the new normal in this upcycle, digital acceleration has already affected travel and hospitality in other ways.

According to research conducted by Publicis Sapient and Adobe , 65 percent of leaders in the dining sector are seeing significant or tremendous gaps in their current digital offerings. Now, businesses are rethinking their digital roadmaps to understand how to best transform in preparation for a fast-changing future.

In the travel space, Israel launched, scrapped, and is now contemplating reintroducing its “Green Pass” vaccine passport, all in the space of three months. The EU Digital COVID Certificate is now live in 27 member states, and other nations are trialing varying solutions to achieve the same goal of opening up travel, tourism, and hospitality. By way of contrast, it took 20 years for the widespread adoption of the biometric passport.

Shifts in the way we work brought on by the pandemic will also push new travel trends ahead. Last year, many businesses functioned successfully as their offices closed and employees worked from home. It is now likely we will see changing policies around remote work moving forward, which also presents opportunities for the industry.

Some companies — Google being one notable example — are explicitly building in “workation” policies. In an email to employees , CEO Sundar Pichai said that all employees would be allowed up to four “work-from-anywhere” weeks, which is exactly what it sounds like. “The goal here is to give everyone more flexibility around summer and holiday travel,” he wrote.

These types of policies supporting workations will lead to extended trips and additional bookings. That could mean an exotic vacation rental, or it could mean a week-long spa retreat at a nice hotel close to home — whatever work-life balance looks like to that person.

“The debates we are hearing around the use of health passports and the associated infringement of civil liberties will continue,” said Shay. “But the inconvenient truth is that digital proof of health is key to reopening travel, tourism, and hospitality services safely.”

The Upshot: How to Balance Short-Term Gains with Long-Term Goals

The intensity of the rebound, while welcomed, has caused an uneven effect in recovery. Travel companies are treading a fine line, in some cases having to resist the urge to open their doors wider amidst staff shortages, operational hurdles, and continued public health restrictions as Covid-19 rages in parts of the world and simmers, ready to boil over again, in others.

The balance in some parts lies in pragmatism, though restraint will be difficult after a terrible year for companies and consumers alike. For example, American Airlines announced route cutbacks to make sure that they could safely meet local demand in a way that gets back to a solid growth. While the decision wasn’t the most popular in the court of public opinion, predictable growth is preferable for long-term financials, and consistent service will bode better for customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Consumers recognize that the combination of high local demand and inventory and labor shortages will lead to price increases, but the fine line between economic opportunity and gouging isn’t always easy to see or communicate.

“Some companies are clearly benefiting in the short-term. And why not? They need to recover,” said Shay. “But they need to think very carefully about their pricing strategy and how they engage with their customers both now and in the future.”

Today’s travelers need more information, reassurance, booking flexibility, and fewer risks when it comes to booking travel . Brands can meet these needs by establishing more meaningful and direct relationships with customers and reducing reliance on third parties.

As Shay explained, “Sometimes you have to keep moving forward with the bigger business goals, regardless of what's happening in the short-term. The pandemic has shown that the need for a mature, yet agile, digital capability that enables new levels of customer-centricity is as relevant today as it will be for building better tomorrow.”

This content was created collaboratively by Publicis Sapient and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX .

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The difference between international and domestic tourism

Hospitality & Tourism

What is Tourism?

Tourism can be broadly defined as the act of traveling to destinations outside one’s residence for the purpose of leisure, recreation, business, or other objectives. It covers a wide range of activities, such as sightseeing, cultural experiences, ecotourism, and others. But looking at the bigger picture, it is a complex and varied industry that has a significant impact on the global landscape.

Tourism has a tremendous impact on the global economy , contributing to create job opportunities, develop infrastructure, and promote cultural exchange. Tourism can be linked into two closely linked concepts: domestic tourism and international tourism.

What is Domestic Tourism?

Domestic tourism involves traveling within one’s own country for leisure, recreation, or business purposes. It entails exploring places, landmarks, and accommodations that are situated within the country’s borders. Domestic tourists are considered those who engage in short-term travel within their own country.

Destinations under domestic tourism are easily accessible for residents, typically located within a manageable driving distance or a short flight away. is generally more affordable compared to international travel, as it avoids expenses like airfare, visas, and currency exchange fees.

What is International Tourism?

International tourism is the act of traveling to foreign countries or territories for leisure, business, or various other reasons. International tourism plays a vital role in global economies through fostering economic growth and generating career opportunities.

International tourism promotes cross-cultural exchange and understanding as tourists engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds and traditions. While international tourists might experience challenges such as language barriers, it’s all part of the experience and others see it as an opportunity to learn different languages. Most tourists visit historical landmarks and natural wonders, explore the country’s culinary highlights, and other adventures the country has to offer.

What’s the Difference Between Domestic and International Tourism?

The following table will help you determine the general differences between domestic and international tourism:

Why Are Tourists Favouring Domestic Tourism Over International Tourism?

There are a number of reasons why people would favour domestic travel over foreign travel. Among the most common reasons are:

Cost: Domestic travel generally entails shorter distances and lower travel expenses than international travel.
Language and cultural barriers: Domestic tourism may be more enticing to travellers who are not comfortable traveling to a foreign country where they may be unfamiliar with the language and culture.
Familiarity: Exploring one’s own country can be less overwhelming as there may be fewer changes to adapt to.
Time: Domestic tourism may be more convenient for those who have limited time for vacation, as it typically involves shorter travel times.
Economic advantages: By supporting local companies and job-generating opportunities, domestic tourism can help boost the economy of one’s own country.

What Should You Consider Before Going on a Domestic or International Trip?

There are several things to consider before embarking on a trip, whether domestic or international. Some of these include:

Budget: Determine how much money you will need for the trip. Be sure to allocate funds for transportation, lodging, food, and any attractions or activities you’d like to see or do.
Documentation: For those looking to travel internationally, it’s important to prepare the necessary documentation, such as a passport and visa, well in advance and keep them on your person during your transit.
Activities: Research and plan out the activities and attractions you want to experience during your trip.
Travel insurance: Consider getting travel insurance as a safeguard against unforeseen circumstances like trip cancellations or health concerns.
Health and safety: Research the health and safety protocols at your travel destination and ensure that you are able to comply with them, including getting vaccinated, masking, or purchasing travel insurance that covers medical emergencies.

If you’re interested in joining this sector, check out TSoM’s academic opportunities in hospitality and tourism .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between international and domestic tourism?

The main difference between international and domestic tourism is the destination of travel. International tourism involves traveling outside of one’s own country, while domestic tourism involves traveling within one’s own country.

What does domestic mean vs international?

Within the context of tourism, the term “domestic” pertains to activities, destinations, or travel that takes place within the borders of one’s own country of residence. On the other hand, “international” refers to activities, places, or travel that extends outside national borders.

What is domestic tourism?

Domestic tourism refers to traveling within one’s own country for leisure, recreation, or business reasons.

Why is domestic tourism better?

There are several advantages to domestic tourism when compared to international tourism, such as accessibility, the local country’s economic growth, sustainability, and more

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21 Types of Travellers: Which one are you?

Have you ever wondered which types of travellers there are and which one you are? You will find the answer to this question in this post.

People travel in many different ways and the same destination can be experienced completely differently according to one’s travel style.

While some of us are thrill-seekers who can’t wait to scratch off more thrilling experiences on our adventurous bucket list , others dream of a white-sanded beach where they can spread their towel in the sand and relax.

In this list, you will find the 21 different types of travel that are the most common. While some people belong to just one category in this list, others (this is the case for me) can relate to more than one.

So, let’s dive into it, here are the most common types of travellers!

Types of Travellers: Quick Answer

The backpacker: Travels on a low budget and often for a longer time. Loves getting to know the local culture.
The tourist: Sticks to more popular destinations and likes to visit the hotspots, sometimes by organized tour.
The luxury traveller: Is looking for comfort and doesn’t mind spending a lot of money on it.
The soul searcher: Is mainly looking for the meaning of life, spirituality and growth. Usually travels solo.
The adventurer: An adrenaline junkie and thrill-seeker that’s constantly looking to expand his comfort zone.
The (digital) nomad: Doesn’t have a fixed address but moves from place to place.
The group traveller: Travels in small or big groups and loves exploring places with groups of people.
The unusual traveller: Heads to off-the-beaten-path destinations where you won’t find many tourists (or none at all).
The photographer: Can always be found behind his camera and will go out of his way to click the perfect shot.
The party animal: Is always looking for bars, parties and vibrant nightlife.
The business traveller: Travels for work and not for fun. He most likely doesn’t have the time to explore a destination.
The social media addict: Is always looking for places to make the perfect Instagram picture, reel or Tiktok video.
The chiller: Travels to rest and relax, whether it is at the beach or in the mountains.
The interest-specific traveller: Travels according to a specific interest or hobby.
The couple: Their main goal is to spend valuable time together.
The country hopper: Wants to see as many countries as possible and doesn’t stay in one country for a very long time.
The four-wheeler: Travels around and sometimes also lives in his own vehicle.
The solo traveller: Travels by himself, sometimes for short trips and sometimes long-term.
The expedition traveller: Goes on a journey with a specific purpose, often in more remote areas.
The pilgrim: Travels for religious reasons and is on a spiritual journey.
The danger tourist: This type of traveller can be found in dangerous countries that are going through war, for example.

21 Types of Travellers Explained

1. the backpacker.

Backpackers travel on a budget and they’re often on a gap year, but not always. These kinds of travellers usually stay in hostel dorms and cheaper hotels. They travel independently and often by themselves.

Eager to explore and learn about new cultures, backpackers like hanging out with the locals too and they usually get around using local transportation or hitchhiking.

2. The tourist

This is one of the most common types of travellers out there. Tourists stick to more popular destinations and mainly visit the hotspots .

Although there are different types of tourists, what they have in common is that tourists always make sure not to miss the must-see attractions of the places they’re visiting. They usually travel for a few weeks at a time and some also book organized tours and day trips.

You will find many tourists in places like Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal , the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Gizeh and other popular destinations around the world. Some might try to tick off the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World or the 7 Wonders of the New World too, for example.

3. The luxury traveller

The luxury traveller checks in at 5-star or boutique hotels, dines at classy restaurants and is most likely to travel around with a private driver.

This type of traveller is looking for comfort and doesn’t mind spending money to find it. You will find him in many places around the world, especially in luxury destinations like Dubai , Bali, Bora Bora and Hawaii.

Many luxury travellers travel for special occasions, such as their honeymoon, to celebrate something or they might even be on a 21st, 50th or 70th birthday trip .

Some of the activities the luxury traveller will engage in are luxury cruises , spa treatments, private safaris, etc.

4. The soul searcher

You may have come across the soul searcher during some of your travels, or maybe this type of traveller describes you. Soul searchers are mainly travelling to find themselves.

These are most often solo travellers who are looking for the meaning of life, spirituality, growth and inner peace . Many of them can be found in India , Nepal or Mexico, for example.

5. The adventurer

Laura Meyers at Annapurna basecamp in Nepal ABC trek

These are the adrenaline junkies and thrill-seekers ! From trekking and mountain climbing to skydiving, paragliding, rafting, riding a bike and more, these types of travellers are constantly looking for new ways to get out of their comfort zone.

Some great adventure destinations the adventurer will love are Nepal , Greenland, New Zealand, South Africa and Alaska.

6. The (digital) nomad

This kind of traveller doesn’t have a fixed address and t ravels from place to place . He either works from his laptop, works anywhere he can find a job or finds other ways to get by.

Some nomads stay in specific locations for a couple of months, while others prefer moving around more frequently. Apart from a type of travel, being a nomad is also a type of lifestyle .

>> Read: 21 Inspiring Movies about Nomads

7. The group traveller

As its name suggests, group travellers love travelling in groups . They either travel with a group arranged by a travel agency or plan a trip with a group of friends or family themselves.

Group travellers both come in small groups as well as in big groups of 30 people or more. They enjoy the company and love exploring new destinations together with a bunch of other people.

8. The unusual traveller

The chief of the village in Taneka Koko, Benin.

The unusual traveller can be found in off-the-beaten-path destinations like Benin , Turkmenistan, Bangladesh , Pakistan, Afghanistan or Papua New Guinea, for example.

Even when they’re visiting more popular countries, you won’t find them exploring the tourist hotspots very often. Instead, they will head to these unexplored places that not too many people would think to travel to.

9. The photographer

Always with a camera by their side, photographers can usually be found behind their lenses .

These types of travellers will capture nearly every moment of their trip. They also tend to start exploring early in the morning to get the best light for their pictures (and fewer people in them).

The photographer’s main intention while travelling is to capture the world’s beauty (or reality) with his camera, and he can’t wait to start editing his pictures once he gets home.

10. The party animal

Party animals look for destinations with the most vibrant party scenes and nightlife .

You will usually find them at bars, clubs and party hostels. They love loud music, meeting people, having lots of fun and partying until the early hours.

Some great destinations for party animals are Goa, Ibiza, Amsterdam, Bali and Bangkok. There are many, many more, though.

11. The business traveller

Not all of us are travelling for fun; the business traveller, for example, is travelling for his job .

He may travel frequently but he doesn’t really have the time to explore a destination, and even if he does, he’s often too tired to go out and explore after working all day.

Although you will find business travellers nearly everywhere, most of them can be found in cities like New York, Paris , London, Tokyo and Brussels .

12. The social media addict

The social media addict is constantly looking for the perfect angle to take a picture or record a video for their social media channels .

These types of travellers will do their best to look good in their pictures and will take the time to upload their photos, videos or stories on their favourite channels on a daily basis.

13. The chiller

If spreading out a towel in the sand, swimming or snorkelling in the ocean or relaxing by the beach or pool sounds like your type of travel, then you might be a chiller.

This being said these types of travellers can also be found in the mountains or in other environments. The chiller’s main goal is to be able to rest and relax and take a well-deserved break from their busy lives.

14. The interest-specific traveller

Most famous paintings in the Louvre Museum Paris

This traveller doesn’t particularly travel to explore a new destination but he is in pursuit of his favourite interest or hobby .

For example, the interest-specific traveller travels to go to concerts or festivals, skiing or snowboarding, visit a specific museum, go to fashion events, etc.

Depending on their interest, this kind of traveller can be found in many places. Paris and Milan, for example, are popular among fashionistas, while destinations like Switzerland, France and Canada are popular among skiers.

15. The couple

If spending time with your significant other is your priority while travelling, you may belong to the category of this type of traveller. Couples may be on a honeymoon, though that’s not always the case, and their main priority is to spend valuable time together .

You will find couples nearly everywhere, but some particularly popular destinations for them are Venice, Bali, the Maldives and Paris, the so-called city of love .

16. The country counter

Passport in front of Machu Picchu in Peru

This type of traveller doesn’t stay in one place for a very long time. His main goal is to see as many countries as possible , maybe even all of them, and to get as many stamps on his passport as possible.

As the country hopper wants to visit as many countries as he can, you can encounter him in nearly every country in the world.

17. The four-wheeler

The four-wheeler can either be an RV-er , a van lifer or a road tripper . Although there is a difference between an RV-er and a van-lifer, both kinds of travellers travel around and live in their own vehicles. The main difference between them is that RVs tend to be larger than vans.

Vanlife has become immensely popular in the last couple of years, and it is easy to understand why. Being able to travel around in your own house on wheels is something many people dream of!

The road tripper , however, travels around in his car but he doesn’t live in it and stays at hotels, hostels, guesthouses or other types of accommodation instead.

The road tripper enjoys the freedom of having his own car to travel around more freely, and you will find this kind of traveller on the road for just a few days to weeks, months and sometimes even years.

18. The solo traveller

For the solo traveller, travelling alone is the most fulfilling kind of travel. He might enjoy travelling with family and friends too but still finds solo travel the most enriching.

There are plenty of amazing solo travel destinations around the world, and you will most likely find the solo traveller in all of these, as this type of travel is becoming increasingly popular.

I have travelled through many countries solo myself, and I have to say that it is pretty rewarding!

>> Read: 63 Inspiring Quotes About Travelling Alone

19. The expedition traveller

This kind of traveller is similar to the adventurer (#5 on this list) but the expedition traveller is going on a journey with a specific purpose , often in more remote areas.

For example, the expedition traveller might be on an expedition to climb a mountain ( Mount Everest or K2, for example), cross a continent or sail a boat across the Atlantic.

These expeditions vary from short journeys of a couple of days to year-long journeys like the woman who walked around the world in six years.

20. The pilgrim

Pilgrim travellers are on a spiritual journey and travel for religious reasons . They travel to follow pilgrimage routes and visit religious shrines.

You can find the pilgrim at places like Golden Rock in Myanmar , Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Wartburg Castle in Germany or the Meenakshi Amman Temple, one of India’s most famous landmarks .

21. The Danger Tourist

The danger tourist is the type of traveller who will travel to destinations that are struck by war and other dangerous events. Some examples are Yemen, Ukraine and Venezuela.

You can also find them climbing Mount Everest or exploring the warmest or coldest places on earth. They’re mostly thrill seekers who are looking for a serious challenge.

Types of travellers: Final thoughts

And that was it – the 21 most common types of travellers out there. I hope you have found exactly what you were looking for in this post!

I see myself as a mix of #5 the adventurer, #6 the nomad, #8 the unusual traveller (although I can be #2 the tourist, too from time to time), #9 the photographer and #18 the solo traveller. It is hard to choose just one!

So, what type of traveller are you? Or can you recognize yourself in more than one of these types? Let me know in the comments below!

Pin it for later: Did you find this post helpful? Save it on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more travel tips and inspiration.

Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers is the founder of Laure Wanders. She was born in Belgium and has been travelling solo for years. She currently spends most of her time between Belgium and South Asia and loves helping other travellers plan their adventures abroad.

Local Travel definition

Examples of local travel in a sentence.

Local travel for official purposes while at an overnight temporary work site is reimbursable and includes transportation between places of official business, temporary lodging, restaurants, and similar establishments as required for the subsistence, comfort, recreation or health of personnel.

More Definitions of Local Travel

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Ethnicity facts and figures homepage Home

Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller ethnicity summary

Updated 29 March 2022

1. About this page

2. the gypsy, roma and traveller group, 3. classifications, 4. improving data availability and quality, 5. population data, 6. education data, 7. economic activity and employment data.

8. Home ownership data data
9. Health data

This is a summary of statistics about people from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller ethnic groups living in England and Wales.

It is part of a series of summaries about different ethnic groups .

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) is a term used to describe people from a range of ethnicities who are believed to face similar challenges. These groups are distinct, but are often reported together.

This page includes:

information about GRT data and its reliability
some statistics from the 2011 Census
other statistics on the experiences of people from the GRT groups in topics including education, housing and health

This is an overview based on a selection of data published on Ethnicity facts and figures or analyses of other sources. Some published data (for example, on higher education) is only available for the aggregated White ethnic group, and is not included here.

Through this report, we sometimes make comparisons with national averages. While in other reports we might compare with another ethnic group (usually White British), we have made this decision here because of the relatively small impact the GRT group has on the overall national average.

The term Gypsy, Roma and Traveller has been used to describe a range of ethnic groups or people with nomadic ways of life who are not from a specific ethnicity.

In the UK, it is common in data collections to differentiate between:

Gypsies (including English Gypsies, Scottish Gypsies or Travellers, Welsh Gypsies and other Romany people)
Irish Travellers (who have specific Irish roots)
Roma, understood to be more recent migrants from Central and Eastern Europe

The term Traveller can also encompass groups that travel. This includes, but is not limited to, New Travellers, Boaters, Bargees and Showpeople. (See the House of Commons Committee report on Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities .)

For the first time, the 2011 Census ethnic group question included a tick box for the ethnic group ‘Gypsy or Irish Traveller’. This was not intended for people who identify as Roma because they are a distinct group with different needs to Gypsy or Irish Travellers.

The 2021 Census had a ‘Gypsy or Irish Traveller’ category, and a new ‘Roma’ category.

A 2018 YouGov poll found that 66% of people in the UK wrongly viewed GRT not to be an ethnic group, with many mistaking them as a single group (PDF). It is therefore important that GRT communities are categorised correctly on data forms, using separate tick boxes when possible to reflect this.

The 2011 Census figures used in this report and on Ethnicity facts and figures are based on respondents who chose to identify with the Gypsy or Irish Traveller ethnic group. People who chose to write in Roma as their ethnicity were allocated to the White Other group, and data for them is not included here. Other data, such as that from the Department for Education, includes Roma as a category combined with Gypsy, with Irish Traveller shown separately.

The commentary in this report uses the specific classifications in each dataset. Users should exercise caution when comparing different datasets, for example between education data (which uses Gypsy/Roma, and Irish Traveller in 2 separate categories) and the Census (which uses Gypsy and Irish Traveller together, but excludes data for people who identify as Roma).

Finally, it should be noted that there is also a distinction that the government makes, for the purposes of planning policy, between those who travel and the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller ethnicities. The Department for Communities and Local Government (at the time, now the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) planning policy for traveller sites (PDF) defines "gypsies and travellers" as:

"Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or circus people travelling together as such."

This definition for planning purposes includes any person with a nomadic habit, whether or not they might have identified as Gypsy, Roma or Traveller in a data collection.

The April 2019 House of Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee report on inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities noted that there was a lack of data on these groups.

The next section highlights some of the problems associated with collecting data on these groups, and what is available. Some of the points made about surveys, sample sizes and administrative data are generally applicable to any group with a small population.

Improving data for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller populations, as well as other under-represented groups in the population is part of the recommendations in the Inclusive Data Taskforce report and the key activities described in the ONS response to them. For example, in response to recommendation 3 of the report, ONS, RDU and others will "build on existing work and develop new collaborative initiatives and action plans to improve inclusion of under-represented population groups in UK data in partnership with others across government and more widely".

Also, the ONS response to recommendation 4 notes the development of a range of strategies to improve the UK data infrastructure and fill data gaps to provide more granular data through new or boosted surveys and data linkage. Recommendation 6 notes that research will be undertaken using innovative methods best suited to the research question and prospective participants, to understand more about the lived experiences of several groups under-represented in UK data and evidence, such as people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups.

4.1 Classifications

In some data collections, the option for people to identify as Gypsy, Roma or Traveller is not available. Any data grouped to the 5 aggregated ethnic groups does not show the groups separately. Data based on the 2001 Census does not show them separately as there was no category for people identifying as Gypsy, Roma or Traveller. As part of our Quality Improvement Plan, the Race Disparity Unit (RDU) has committed to working with government departments to maintain a harmonised approach to collecting data about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people using the GSS harmonised classification. The harmonised classification is currently based on the 2011 Census, and an update is currently being considered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In particular, RDU has identified working with DHSC and NHS Digital colleagues as a priority – the NHS classification is based on 2001 Census classifications and does not capture information on any of the GRT groups separately (they were categorised as White Other in the 2001 Census). Some of these issues have been outlined in the quarterly reports on progress to address COVID-19 health inequalities .

Research into how similar or different the aggregate ethnic groups are shows how many datasets are available for the GRT group.

Further information on the importance of harmonisation is also available.

4.2 Census data

A main source of data on the Gypsy and Irish Traveller groups is the 2011 Census. This will be replaced by the 2021 Census when results are published by the ONS. The statistics in this summary use information from Ethnicity facts and figures and the Census section of ONS’s NOMIS website.

4.3 Survey data

It is often difficult to conclude at any one point in time whether a disparity is significant for the GRT population, as the population is so small in comparison to other ethnic groups.

Even a large sample survey like the Annual Population Survey (APS) has a small number of responses from the Gypsy and Irish Traveller ethnic group each year. Analysis of 3 years of combined data for 2016, 2017 and 2018 showed there were 62 people in the sample (out of around 500,000 sampled cases in total over those 3 years) in England and Wales. Another large survey, the Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey, recorded 58 people identifying as Gypsy or Traveller out of 157,000 people surveyed between 2011 and 2019.

Small sample sizes need not be a barrier to presenting data if confidence intervals are provided to help the user. But smaller sample sizes will mean wider confidence intervals, and these will provide limited analytical value. For the 2016 to 2018 APS dataset – and using the standard error approximation method given in the LFS User Guide volume 6 with a fixed design factor of 1.6 (the formula is 1.6 * √p(1 − p)/n where p is the proportion in employment and n is the sample size.) – the employment rate of 35% for working age people in the Gypsy and Traveller group in England and Wales would be between 16% and 54% (based on a 95% confidence interval). This uses the same methodology as the ONS’s Sampling variability estimates for labour market status by ethnicity .

A further reason for smaller sample sizes might be lower response rates. The Women and Select Committee report on the inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities noted that people in these groups may be reluctant to self-identify, even where the option is available to them. This is because Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people might mistrust the intent behind data collection.

The RDU recently published a method and quality report on working out significant differences between estimates for small groups using different analytical techniques.

4.4 Administrative data

While administrative data does not suffer from the same issues of sampling variability, small numbers of respondents can mean that data is either disclosive and needs to be suppressed to protect the identity of individuals, or results can fluctuate over time.

An example of this is the measure of students getting 3 A grades or better at A level . In 2019 to 2020, no Irish Traveller students achieved this (there were 6 students in the cohort). In 2017 to 2018, 2 out of 7 Irish Traveller students achieved 3 A grades, or 28.6% – the highest percentage of all ethnic groups.

Aggregating time periods might help with this, although data collected in administrative datasets can change over time to reflect the information that needs to be collected for the administrative process. The data collected would not necessarily be governed by trying to maintain a consistent time series in the same way that data collected through surveys sometimes are.

4.5 Data linkage

Linking datasets together provides a way of producing more robust data for the GRT groups, or in fact, any ethnic group. This might improve the quality of the ethnicity coding in the dataset being analysed if an ethnicity classification that is known to be more reliable is linked from another dataset.

Data linkage does not always increase the sample size or the number of records available in the dataset to be analysed, but it might do if records that have missing ethnicity are replaced by a known ethnicity classification from a linked dataset.

An example is the linking of the Census data to Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and death registrations by the ONS. The ethnicity classifications for GRT groups are not included in the HES data, and are not collected in the death registrations process at the moment. So this data linking gives a way to provide some information for Gypsy and Irish Travellers and other smaller groups. The report with data up to 15 May 2020 noted 16 Gypsy or Irish Traveller deaths from COVID-19.

RDU will be working with ONS and others to explore the potential for using data linking to get more information for the GRT groups.

4.6 Bespoke surveys and sample boosts

A country-wide, or even local authority, boost of a sample survey is unlikely to make estimates for the GRT groups substantially more robust. This is because of the relatively small number in the groups to begin with.

Bespoke surveys can be used to get specific information about these groups. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities list of traveller sites available through their Traveller caravan count statistics can help target sampling for surveys, for example. Bespoke surveys might be limited in geographical coverage, and more suitable for understanding GRT views in a local area and then developing local policy responses. An example of a bespoke survey is the Roma and Travellers in 6 countries survey .

Another method that could be useful is snowball sampling. Snowball sampling (or chain-referral sampling) is a sampling technique in which the respondents have traits that are rare to find. In snowball sampling, existing survey respondents provide referrals to recruit further people for the survey, which helps the survey grow larger.

There are advantages to snowball sampling. It can target hidden or difficult to reach populations. It can be a good way to sample hesitant respondents, as a person might be more likely to participate in a survey if they have been referred by a friend or family member. It can also be quick and cost effective. Snowball sampling may also be facilitated with a GRT community lead or cultural mediator. This would help bridge the gap between the GRT communities and the commissioning department to encourage respondent participation.

However, one statistical disadvantage is that the sampling is non-random. This reduces the knowledge of whether the sample is representative, and can invalidate some of the usual statistical tests for statistical significance, for example.

All data in this section comes from the 2011 Census of England and Wales, unless stated otherwise.

In 2011, there were 57,680 people from the Gypsy or Irish Traveller ethnic group in England and Wales, making up 0.1% of the total population. In terms of population, it is the smallest of the 18 groups used in the 2011 Census.

Further ONS analysis of write-in responses in the Census estimated the Roma population as 730, and 1,712 people as Gypsy/Romany.

Table A: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller write-in ethnicity responses on the 2011 Census

Source: Census - Ethnic group (write-in response) Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, GypsyRomany - national to county (ONS). The figures do not add to the 57,680 classified as White: Gypsy/Traveller because Roma is included as White Other, and some people in the other categories shown will have classified themselves in an ethnic group other than White.

An ONS report in 2014 noted that variations in the definitions used for this ethnic group has made comparisons between estimates difficult. For example, some previous estimates for Gypsy or Irish Travellers have included Roma or have been derived from counts of caravans rather than people's own self-identity. It noted that other sources of data estimate the UK’s Gypsy, Roma and Traveller population to be in the region of 150,000 to 300,000 , or as high as 500,000 (PDF).

5.1 Where Gypsy and Irish Traveller people live

There were 348 local authorities in England and Wales in 2011. The Gypsy or Irish Traveller population was evenly spread throughout them. The 10 local authorities with the largest Gypsy or Irish Traveller populations constituted 11.9% of the total population.

Figure 1: Percentage of the Gypsy or Irish Traveller population of England and Wales living in each local authority area (top 10 areas labelled)

Basildon was home to the largest Gypsy or Irish Traveller population, with 1.5% of all Gypsy or Irish Traveller people living there, followed by Maidstone (also 1.5%, although it had a smaller population).

Table 1: Percentage of the Gypsy or Irish Traveller population of England and Wales living in each local authority area (top 10)

28 local authorities had fewer than 20 Gypsy or Irish Traveller residents each. This is around 1 in 12 of all local authorities.

11.7% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller people lived in the most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods , higher than the national average of 9.9% (England, 2019 Indices of Multiple Deprivation).

81.6% of people from the Gypsy or Irish Traveller ethnic group were born in England, and 6.1% in the other countries of the UK. 3.0% were born in Ireland and 8.3% were born somewhere else in Europe (other than the UK and Ireland). Less than 1.0% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller people were born outside of Europe.

5.2 Age profile

The Gypsy or Irish Traveller ethnic group had a younger age profile than the national average in England and Wales in 2011.

People aged under 18 made up over a third (36%) of the Gypsy or Irish Traveller population, higher than the national average of 21%.

18.0% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller people were aged 50 and above , lower than the national average of 35.0%.

Figure 2: Age profile of Gypsy or Irish Traveller and the England and Wales average

Table 2: age profile of gypsy or irish traveller and the england and wales average, 5.3 families and households.

20.4% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller households were made up of lone parents with dependent children , compared with 7.2% on average for England and Wales.

Across all household types, 44.9% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller households had dependent children, compared with an average of 29.1%.

8.4% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller households were made up of pensioners (either couples, single pensioners, or other households where everyone was aged 65 and over), compared with 20.9% on average.

All data in this section covers pupil performance in state-funded mainstream schools in England.

At all key stages, Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller pupils’ attainment was below the national average.

Figure 3: Educational attainment among Gypsy, Roma, Irish Traveller and pupils from all ethnic groups

Table 3: educational attainment among gypsy, roma, irish traveller and pupils from all ethnic groups.

Source: England, Key Stage 2 Statistics, 2018/19; Key Stage 4 Statistics, 2019/20; and A Level and other 16 to 18 results, 2020/21. Ethnicity facts and figures and Department for Education (DfE). Figures for Key Stage 2 are rounded to whole numbers by DfE.

6.1 Primary education

In the 2018 to 2019 school year, 19% of White Gypsy or Roma pupils, and 26% of Irish Traveller pupils met the expected standard in key stage 2 reading, writing and maths . These were the 2 lowest percentages out of all ethnic groups.

6.2 Secondary education

In the 2019 to 2020 school year, 8.1% of White Gypsy or Roma pupils in state-funded schools in England got a grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths, the lowest percentage of all ethnic groups.

Gypsy or Roma (58%) and Irish Traveller (59%) pupils were the least likely to stay in education after GCSEs (and equivalent qualifications). They were the most likely to go into employment (8% and 9% respectively) – however, it is not possible to draw firm conclusions about these groups due to the small number of pupils in key stage 4.

6.3 Further education

Gypsy or Roma students were least likely to get at least 3 A grades at A level, with 10.8% of students doing so in the 2020 to 2021 school year. 20.0% of Irish Traveller students achieved at least 3 A grades, compared to the national average of 28.9%. The figures for Gypsy or Roma (61) and Irish Traveller (19) students are based on small numbers, so any generalisations are unreliable.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer exam series was cancelled in 2021, and alternative processes were set up to award grades. In 2020/21 attainment is higher than would be expected in a typical year. This likely reflects the changes to the way A/AS level grades were awarded rather than improvements in student performance.

6.4 School exclusions

In the 2019 to 2020 school year, the suspension rates were 15.28% for Gypsy or Roma pupils, and 10.12% for Irish Traveller pupils – the highest rates out of all ethnic groups.

Also, the highest permanent exclusion rates were among Gypsy or Roma pupils (0.23%, or 23 exclusions for every 10,000 pupils). Irish Traveller pupils were permanently excluded at a rate of 0.14%, or 14 exclusions for every 10,000 pupils.

6.5 School absence

In the autumn term of the 2020 to 2021 school year, 52.6% of Gypsy or Roma pupils, and 56.7% of Irish Traveller pupils were persistently absent from school . Pupils from these ethnic groups had the highest rates of overall absence and persistent absence.

For the 2020 to 2021 school year, not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19) was not counted toward the overall absence rate and persistent absence rates.

Data in this section is from the 2011 Census for England and Wales, and for people aged 16 and over. Economic activity and employment rates might vary from other published figures that are based on people of working age.

47% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller people aged 16 and over were economically active, compared to an average of 63% in England and Wales.

Of economically active people, 51% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller people were employees, and 26% were self-employed. 20% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller people were unemployed, compared to an average for all ethnic groups of 7%.

7.1 Socio-economic group

Figure 4: socio-economic group of gypsy or irish traveller and average for all ethnic groups for people aged 16 and over, table 4: socio-economic group of gypsy or irish traveller and average for all ethnic groups for people aged 16 and over.

Source: 2011 Census

31.2% of people in the Gypsy or Irish Traveller group were in the socio-economic group of ‘never worked or long-term unemployed’. This was the highest percentage of all ethnic groups.

The Gypsy or Irish Traveller group had the smallest percentage of people in the highest socio-economic groups. 2.5% were in the ‘higher, managerial, administrative, professional’ group.

15.1% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller people were small employers and own account workers. These are people who are generally self-employed and have responsibility for a small number of workers.

For Gypsy or Irish Travellers, who were 16 and over and in employment, the largest group worked in elementary occupations (22%). This can include occupations such as farm workers, process plant workers, cleaners, or service staff (for example, bar or cleaning staff).

The second highest occupation group was skilled trades (19%), which can include farmers, electrical and building trades. The Gypsy or Irish Traveller group had the highest percentage of elementary and skilled trade workers out of all ethnic groups.

7.2 Employment gender gap

The gender gap in employment rates for the Gypsy or Irish Traveller group aged 16 and over was nearly twice as large as for all ethnic groups combined. In the Gypsy or Irish Traveller ethnic group, 46% of men and 29% of women were employed, a gap of 17%. For all ethnic groups combined, 64% of men and 54% of women were employed, a gap of 10%.

This is likely to be due to the fact that Gypsy or Irish Traveller women (63%) were about 1.5 times as likely as Gypsy or Irish Traveller men (43%) to be economically inactive, which means they were out of work and not looking for work.

7.3 Economic inactivity

There are a range of reasons why people can be economically inactive. The most common reason for Gypsy or Irish Travellers being economically inactive was looking after the home or family (27%). This is higher than the average for England and Wales (11%). The second most common reason was being long term sick or disabled (26%) – the highest percentage out of all ethnic groups.

8. Home ownership data

Figure 5: home ownership and renting among gypsy or irish traveller households and all households, table 5: home ownership and renting among gypsy or irish traveller households and all households.

Source: England, 2011 Census

In 2011, 34% of Gypsy or Irish Traveller households owned their own home, compared with a national average of 64%. 42% lived in social rented accommodation, compared with a national average of 18%.

In 2016 to 2017, 0.1% of new social housing lettings went to people from Gypsy or Irish Traveller backgrounds (429 lettings).

In 2011, a whole house or bungalow was the most common type of accommodation for Gypsy or Irish Traveller households (61%). This was lower than for all usual residents in England and Wales (84%).

Caravans or other mobile or temporary homes accounted for 24% of Gypsy or Irish Travellers accommodation, a far higher percentage than for the whole of England and Wales (0.3%).

The percentage of people living in a flat, maisonette or apartment was 15% for both Gypsy or Irish Travellers and all usual residents in England and Wales.

In 2011, 14.1% of Gypsy and Irish Traveller people in England and Wales rated their health as bad or very bad, compared with 5.6% on average for all ethnic groups.

In 2016 to 2017, Gypsy or Irish Traveller people aged 65 and over had the lowest health-related quality of life of all ethnic groups (average score of 0.509 out of 1). The quality of life scores for the White Gypsy or Irish Traveller ethnic group are based on a small number of responses (around 35 each year) and are less reliable as a result.

Ethnicity facts and figures has information on satisfaction of different health services for different ethnic groups. For the results presented below, the Gypsy or Irish Traveller figures are based on a relatively small number of respondents, and are less reliable than figures for other ethnic groups.

In 2014 to 2015 (the most recent data available), these groups were the most satisfied with their experience of GP-out-of-hours service , with 75.2% reporting a positive experience.

In 2018 to 2019, they were less satisfied with their experience of GP services than most ethnic groups – 73.0% reported a positive experience.

They were also among the groups that had least success when booking an NHS dentist appointment – 89.0% reported successfully booking an appointment in 2018 to 2019.

The Gypsy or Irish Traveller group were also less satisfied with their access to GP services in 2018 to 2019 – 56.9% reported a positive experience of making a GP appointment, compared to an average of 67.4% for all respondents.

Publication release date: 31 January 2022

Updated: 29 March 2022

29 March 2022: Corrected A-level data in Table 3, and All ethnic groups data in Table 4. Corrected the legend in Figure 1 (map).

31 January 2022: Initial publication.

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‘Landmark’ court judgement rules that ‘gypsy status’ planning law discriminates

‘Landmark’ court judgement rules ‘gypsy status’ planning law discriminatory

Planning definition for Traveller sites excludes disabled and elderly Gypsies and Travellers say judges

In a significant victory for Gypsies and Travellers, the Court of Appeal has rejected the Government’s use of a “discriminatory” planning definition that determines who gets to live on a Traveller site.

The court decision, which has been handed down yesterday nearly three months after the Court of Appeal sat, has determined that the Government’s planning definition of Gypsies and Travellers (known as ‘gypsy status’) is unlawful and breaks equalities laws.

Campaigners say that the planning definition, which was changed to its current form in 2015, discriminates against elderly and disabled Gypsies and Travellers because to get ‘gypsy status’ you have to prove that you are able to continue to travel to look for work. No exception to that rule is given if you are disabled and/or elderly.

Chief Executive Officer of London Gypsies and Travellers Debby Kennett said:

“We are proud to be involved in such a significant victory, not only for Lisa Smith and her family, but for Gypsies and Travellers who have been campaigning against this discriminatory policy since 2014.

This case both exposes and recognises the discrimination Gypsies and Travellers face in the planning system.”

The case was taken to the Court of Appeal by Lisa Smith , who since 2011 has rented pitches on a private site with temporary planning permission. Two of Ms Smith’s adult sons are severely disabled and cannot travel for work.

Ms Smith previously attempted to challenge the use of the discriminatory planning definition in the High Court but was unsuccessful.

The case was then taken to the Court of Appeal, where the planning definition was declared ‘discriminatory’.

Speaking about what this decision means for Gypsy and Traveller people, Abbie Kirkby, Public Affairs and Policy Manager at Friends, Families and Travellers, said that the Court of Appeal’s decision sets in stone what Gypsy and Traveller people have known all this time – that no matter which way you twist it, discrimination is never justified.

"The judgement recognises that protected characteristics are protected for a reason, and sheds light on policies and legislation that have attacked and stripped back the cultural traditions of Gypsy and Traveller people like Ms Smith,” added Abbie Kirkby.

As it stands, the definition excludes large numbers of Gypsies and Travellers living in caravans who need a place to live, regardless of ethnic status. It has often been used by local authorities to argue that there is no need for additional sites in their local area.

In support of the case, Friends, Families and Travellers along with London Gypsies and Travellers , Southwark Travellers Action Group and the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group joined the initial challenge together as ‘Interveners’, presenting vital evidence of the discriminatory effects of the Government’s definition on the wider Gypsy and Traveller community.

The joint Interveners continued to support the challenge in the Court of Appeal and were represented by the barristers David Wolfe KC, Owen Greenhall and Tim Jones. Their solicitor was Chris Johnson of CLP .

Speaking about the Court of Appeal decision, Chris Johnson, Partner at Community Law Partnership, said:

“This is a landmark judgment. Congratulations to Lisa Smith and to her counsel, Marc Willers KC and Tessa Buchanan and her solicitor, Keith Coughtrie of Deighton Pierce Glynn, and to the Interveners in this case.

Though I understand that the Government will seek to take the matter to the Supreme Court, it leaves them with a major headache as to how to deal with the use of the definition in planning cases in the meantime.”

The Court of Appeal’s decision does not automatically get rid of the current definition, and the Government will be seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. The full judgment can be seen here .

A message from Community Law Partnership:

We are delighted to inform our readers that the application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court by three leading Traveller organisations in this matter concerning wide injunctions has been successful.

As ordered by the Supreme Court, you can download the following documents below:

TT News/FFT press release

Further reading from 2016: Lisa Smith says the Government need to think again about ‘gypsy status’ | Travellers Times

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Planning definition for Traveller sites excludes disabled and elderly Gypsies and Travellers say judges. In a significant victory for Gypsies and Travellers, the Court of Appeal has rejected the Government's use of a "discriminatory" planning definition that determines who gets to live on a Traveller site. The court decision, which has been handed down yesterday nearly three months after ...