WBBSE Madhyamik Tourism & Hospitality (Vocational) key terms

The temporary movement of people away from their usual place of residence for leisure, business, pilgrimage, or other purposes, and the activities and services that support them during that stay.

A person who travels to a place outside their normal environment for less than one year, stays at least one night, and whose main purpose is not earning money at that place.

A visitor who reaches a destination and returns the same day without staying overnight, so does not use paid accommodation there. Often called a same-day visitor in tourism statistics.

The friendly and generous reception and care of guests, and the industry of providing accommodation, food, drink and related services to travellers and other paying guests.

Travel and stay by people within their own country but outside their usual environment, without crossing an international border. It is the largest segment of tourism in India and West Bengal.

Tourism in which visitors from another country arrive at a destination. For India this means foreign nationals visiting Indian places, and their spending counts as a tourism export.

Travel by residents of one country to destinations in another country. For an Indian candidate this means Indian travellers going abroad, often booked through a travel agency.

A place with attractions, amenities, access and accommodation that draws visitors and satisfies their needs during a visit. It may be a city, a region, a coastline or a single site.

A natural or man-made feature that motivates a person to visit a place, such as a beach, temple, fort, museum, wildlife park or festival. Attractions are the core pull factor of tourism.

The combined package of transport, accommodation, attractions, activities and services that a visitor buys and experiences. It is intangible, perishable and cannot be stored for later sale.

A day-by-day plan listing dates, places, travel timings, activities, meals and accommodation for a trip. It helps the traveller and the operator track cost, time and logistics.

A single-price arrangement in which transport, accommodation, meals, sightseeing and other elements are combined and sold together, usually by a tour operator, rather than booked separately.

The department of a hotel that handles reservations, registration, room allotment, guest enquiries, billing and checkout. It is the main point of contact between guest and hotel.

The hotel department responsible for cleaning and maintaining guest rooms, corridors, public areas, linen and laundry so that standards of hygiene and comfort are met.

The published or agreed rate charged for a hotel room, usually quoted per night and varying by room category, season, occupancy and meal plan included in the rate.

The percentage of available rooms that are actually sold over a given period, calculated as rooms sold divided by rooms available multiplied by one hundred.

A form completed at check-in recording the guest's name, address, identity proof, nationality, dates of stay and signature, as required by hotel policy and local law.

The formal process of a guest settling the bill, returning the room key and vacating the room, after which the front office updates room status and housekeeping is informed.

A printed or displayed list of food and beverage items offered by an establishment, usually with prices and sometimes descriptions, arranged in courses or sections.

A style of menu in which each dish is listed and priced separately, so the guest chooses individual items and pays for exactly what is ordered.

A fixed-price menu offering a complete meal of set courses at one price, with limited or no choice. It is common in group tours and set-lunch arrangements.

In food and beverage service, one place setting for one guest, and also the unit used to count meals served, as in a restaurant reporting two hundred covers.

A French term meaning everything in its place: the advance preparation and arrangement of equipment, ingredients and service items before food or drink service begins.

A business that sells travel products on behalf of principals such as airlines, hotels and tour operators, earning commission or service fees, and advises customers on bookings.

A business that designs, assembles and sells its own tour packages by contracting transport, accommodation and sightseeing, and usually takes responsibility for delivering the whole trip.

An official endorsement or permission granted by a country allowing a foreign national to enter, stay or transit for a stated purpose and period, obtained before travel in most cases.

An official document issued by a national government certifying the holder's identity and nationality and requesting safe passage abroad. It is essential for international travel.

The practice of giving full attention to a speaker, noting both words and feelings, asking clarifying questions and confirming understanding before responding, which reduces errors and complaints.

Personal cleanliness, neat hair, nails, uniform and posture maintained by service staff. It creates the first impression of a hotel or agency and is a basic professional requirement.

Comments, ratings and complaints given by guests about a service. When collected and analysed, feedback guides improvement and helps measure service quality.

A person who identifies an opportunity, takes financial risk and organises resources to start and run a business, such as a small homestay, food stall or travel agency.

A written document describing a venture's idea, target market, operations, marketing and financial projections. It guides the owner and is used to obtain loans or partners.

The money needed to set up a business before it earns income, covering premises, equipment, licences and initial stock. It may come from savings, family or a bank loan.

A transferable ability that makes a person ready for work, such as communication, teamwork, punctuality, problem solving and basic digital literacy, valued by employers across industries.

Tourism that meets present visitor and host needs while protecting natural and cultural resources and supporting local communities, so that future generations can enjoy the same places.

Accommodation in which a guest stays in the home of a local family, often with meals and local guidance, generating income for hosts and spreading tourism benefits to rural areas.

Any establishment or arrangement that provides a place to sleep for travellers, ranging from hotels and guest houses to homestays, hostels and paying-guest rooms.

An oral examination in which a candidate answers questions and explains project work face to face. Clear speech, correct terms and honest answers about one's own work matter most.