Sustainable Tourism Info-Sheets
Tourism Acronyms
   
       
   
    Preliminary list: Please note that many of the acronyms listed are of organizations and initiatives that are country-specific.
  • ABTA - Association of British Travel Agents
  • ACORN - A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods
  • AIM - Association of Independent Museums
  • AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
  • ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
  • AONB - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • APEC - Asia Pacific Economic Community
  • ATOC - Association of Train Operating Companies
  • ATOL - Air Travel Organiser's License
  • ATTTO - Aviation Tourism and Travel Training Association
  • BAA - British Airports Authority
  • BACD - British Association of Conference Destinations
  • BAFA - British Arts Festivals Association
  • BC - British Council
  • BHA - British Hospitality Association
  • BITOA - British Incoming Tour Operators Association (now UKInbound)
  • BTA - British Tourist Authority (now VisitBritain)
  • BTTF - British Travel Trade Fair
  • CAA - Civil Aviation Authority
  • CAM - Commercial Accommodation Monitor
  • CIM - Chartered Institute of Marketing
  • CIMTIG - Chartered Institute of Marketing Travel Industry Group
  • CPRE - Council for the Protection of Rural England
  • CPT - Confederation of Passenger Transport UK
  • CRM - Customer Relationship Management
  • CRS - Computerised Reservation System
  • CTC - Coach Tourism Council
  • CTC - Cyclists' Touring Club
  • DCMS - Department for Culture, Media and Sport
  • DDA - Disability Discrimination Act
  • DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  • DMO - Destination Management Organisation
  • DMS - Destination Management System
  • DRC - Disability Rights Commission
  • DTI - Department for Trade and Industry
  • DTS - Domestic Travel Study
  • ECAT - E-Commerce Action Team
  • ERDF - European Regional Development Fund
  • F&B - Food and Beverage
  • FIYTO - Federation of International Youth Travel Organisation
  • GDS - Global Distribution System
  • HCIMA - Hotel & Catering International Management Association
  • IATA - International Air Transport Association
  • ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments & Sites
  • ICT - Information & Communications Technology
  • ILAM - Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management
  • IPS - International Passenger Survey
  • IT - Information Technology
  • ITG - Institute of Tourist Guiding
  • ITMA - Incentive Travel and Meetings Association
  • ITOs - Industry Training Organisations or Inbound Tour Operator
  • IVA - International Visitor Arrivals
  • IYHF - International Youth Hostel Federation
  • JATA - Japan Association of Travel Agents
  • LGA - Local Government Association
  • LOS / LoS - Length of Stay
  • MGC - Museums and Galleries Commission
  • MIA - Meetings Industry Association
  • MICE - Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions
  • NDPB - Non-Departmental Public Body
  • NGO - Non-Government Organisation
  • NQAS - National Quality Assurance Scheme
  • NT - National Trust
  • NTB - National Tourist Board
  • PATA - Pacific Asia Travel Association
  • PAX - Short hand for passengers
  • PESTEL analysis - Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological, (physical) Environmental and Legal forces
  • QA - Quality Assurance
  • RAC - Royal Automobile Club
  • RADAR - Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation
  • RDA - Regional Development Agency
  • REVPAR - Revenue Per Available Room Per Annum
  • RNIB - Royal National Institute for the Blind
  • RNID - Royal National Institute for the Deaf
  • RTB - Regional Tourist Board
  • SITE - Society of Incentive Travel Executives
  • SME - Small and Medium Enterprise
  • SPAB - Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
  • SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest
  • TIA - Tourism Industry Association New Zealand
  • TIC - Tourist Information Centre
  • TIM - Tourism income multiplier
  • TIP - Tourism Information Point
  • TMI - Tourism Management Institute
  • TSA - Tourism Satellite Account
  • TSA - Tourism Satellite Account
  • UKTS - United Kingdom Tourism Survey
  • UN - United Nations
  • UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme
  • UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  • VAQAS - Visitor Attractions Quality Assurance Service
  • VAT - Value Added Tax
  • VFR - Visiting Friends and Relatives
  • WHS - World Heritage Site
  • WOM / WoM - Word of Mouth - what customers say to others about your product/service.
  • WTM - World Travel Market
  • WTO - World Tourism Organization
  • WTTC - World Travel & Tourism Council
  • YHA - Youth Hostels Association.

   
   
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Contact: Hari Srinivas - hsrinivas@gdrc.org