Ask people what they love to do and more often than not, most will say they love to travel. Assuming this broad classification, does it mean that we all are travelers? Most of us would love to get the tag of a traveler but the truth is a different ball game altogether. There is a THICK line between being a traveler and a tourist, which I have tried to make evident for you in the course of this write up.

Let us look at some of the different aspects of being a traveler and a tourist.

• Travelers posses a carefree streak whereas tourists are more measured in their travels. You will see travelers with a haversack on their back and a map in their hand strolling along the lanes and bylanes. A tourist on the other hand will be lounging at the poolside sipping on his Mai Tai or getting a foot massage.

• For travelers, it’s more a journey and a learning experience; for tourists it’s a holiday and relaxation.

• Travelers soak in the culture and don’t just do the mundane sightseeing; which is exactly what the tourists focus on. You will see travelers connecting with the locals, maybe trying to learn the local language or enroll in a cooking class. A tourist will probably focus on famous shopping destinations or sites etc. Their interaction with the locals will be minimum throughout their travel.

• Travelers have a flexible itinerary and it need not like a fixed plan. Whereas tourists have their entire trip planned meticulously. Usually travelers are not on a time constraint and take their travel as it comes. Tourists are bound by a schedule and are on a shorter trip.

• Travelers camp under moonlight and prefer homestays, at the most they check into some simple guesthouse/hotel. Tourists will have a room booked in a starred hotel, probably a room with a view. Travelers don’t focus on luxury or a lavish time, they are more focused on adventure and learning.

When you look at it broadly or minutely, you will understand that being a traveler and a tourist are completely different aspects of traveling. Most of us are more touristy as opposed to being true blue travelers. But then, it all depends on what you are seeking from your travels, which classifies you as a traveler or a tourist. So which one are you?