This boosts the local economy considerably because tourists not only buy crafts, but they also use the restaurants and hotels and other services of the area.

State arts councils help sponsor local arts and crafts festivals which draw crowds of tourist consumers.

They are crowded with tourists.

On a recent fall morning, a large crowd blocked the steps at one of Venice's main tourist sites, the Rialto Bridge.

Venice is one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world.

Within Italy, the great focus was Rome, whose ancient ruins and more recent achievements were shown to every Grand Tourist.

The Grand Tourist was typically a young man with a thorough grounding in Greek and Latin literature as well as some leisure time, some means, and some interest in art.

The British traveler Charles Thompson spoke for many Grand Tourists when in 1744 he described himself as being impatiently desirous of viewing a country so famous in history, a country which once gave laws to the world, and which is at present the greatest school of music and painting, contains the noblest productions of sculpture and architecture, and is filled with cabinets of rarities, and collections of all kinds of historical relics.

Since there were few museums anywhere in Europe before the close of the eighteenth century, Grand Tourists often saw paintings and sculptures by gaining admission to private collections, and many were eager to acquire examples of Greco-Roman and Italian art for their own collections.

Most Grand Tourists, however, stayed for briefer periods and set out with less scholarly intentions, accompanied by a teacher or guardian, and expected to return home with souvenirs of their travels as well as an understanding of art and architecture formed by exposure to great masterpieces.

London was a frequent starting point for Grand Tourists, and Paris a compulsory destination; many traveled to the Netherlands, some to Switzerland and Germany, and a very few adventurers to Spain, Greece, or Turkey.

Its flagship stores in major U.S. cities depend heavily on international tourist spending, which shrank at many retailers due to a strong dollar.

They have become a tourist attraction.

within Italy, the great focus was Rome, whose ancient ruins and more recent achievements were shown to every Grand Tourist.