Thomas Cook Invented one of the most profitable types of business - tourism Date of Birth: 22.11.1808 Country: Great Britain

1. Humble Beginnings
2. Religious Zeal
3. Birth of Tourism
4. Principles of Accessibility
5. Expansion and Diversification
6. International Horizons
7. Lasting Legacy

Humble Beginnings

Thomas Cook was born into an impoverished English family. Losing his father at a young age, his mother remarried, and his stepfather, James Smithard, sent him to a monastery school.

Religious Zeal

At 17, Cook became a devout Baptist and zealously denounced alcohol and tobacco use. He dedicated himself to writing articles for the local Baptist journal.

Birth of Tourism

In 1840, with the opening of a railway line, Cook realized the potential of trains for spreading temperance. He chartered a train to transport "friends of temperance" to an abstinence convention.

Principles of Accessibility

Cook's success was based on his philosophy of "the greatest possible good to the greatest possible number at the lowest possible cost." He organized affordable excursions for people from all walks of life.

Expansion and Diversification

In 1845, Cook organized his first purely recreational tour without preaching or abstinence. He published guidebooks for his excursions, showcasing the attractions available to tourists.

International Horizons

Expanding beyond Britain, Cook developed itineraries throughout Europe. In 1865, he introduced Americans to their ancestral homeland and Europeans to the New World. His agency, "Thomas Cook and Son," became the first dedicated travel agency.

Lasting Legacy

Mark Twain became one of the agency's first American patrons. When Cook passed away in 1892, his estate was valued at £2,497, a testament to his remarkable transformation from a humble worker earning 6 pence a week to the founder of one of the most lucrative industries: tourism.