Travel bags and tourism - a bit of history

Beginnings:

The ancient Egyptians around the year 1500 BC are considered the inventors of Luggage. For their trips they used chests and trunks that evolved into primitive suitcases made of fine wood and covered with animal fat or leather to make them waterproof. The luggage was very heavy. Heavy trunks and chests on carts with blood traction, which prevented them from moving quickly and agile.

The history of the suitcase is also a story of people in migration. Evolving to fit the trends and needs of its time, the suitcase has been indispensable to travelers of all kinds, while reflecting the things they value most.

Traveling for Pleasure:

People have always had a need to travel, be it to explore and discover new lands or for our own enjoyment. Tourism covers precisely the latter. The Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the 18th century, produced a major economic, social and technological transformation that would spread to the rest of the world. As a result of these changes, there was an exodus from rural regions to growing big cities, which needed labour for the new industry. Therefore, new social classes appeared. Developments in transport were also key. The improvements in freight and passenger transport contributed to the birth of leisure, new forms of entertainment and travel. People travelled mainly by train, taking advantage of the fact that railway networks connected the destinations in Europe and other parts of the world. In the following decades, there was a progressive internationalisation of hotel companies, travel agencies and airlines. New products and new leisure activities were also offered, revolving around sports and health, among others.

Tourism today:

The tourism industry in Europe is growing, but still has not reached pre-pandemic profits. Like the rest of the world, the tourism sector in Europe is still feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2023, it will still not be possible to achieve financial results as in 2019, but the future looks quite optimistic.