Experiential tourism is an outgrowth of a global movement toward experiential learning, whereby people create meaning through direct experience.
Experiential tourism has become the current term that encompasses a variety of tourism and traveler categories, including the following: cultural tourism, ecotourism, educational travel, experimental tourism, heritage tourism and nature tourism, where activities are environmentally sensitive, displaying respect for the culture of the host area and looking to experience and learn rather that merely stand back and gaze. Experiential tourism involves active participation, involvement, even immersion.