48 (A) And it is this which is the central characteristic of mass tourism in modern societies. (B)There have always been periods in which much of the mass of the population have engaged in play or recreation. (C)Over this period, treaties on travel shifted from a scholastic emphasis on touring as an opportunity for discourse, to travel as an eyewitness observation. (D) Travel was considered an essential part of education, which led to the emergence of travel writing.