The growth of international tourism during the second half of the 20th century During the last 50 years, international tourism has grown very rapidly. As people have had large pay rises and holiday packages have become cheaper and more available to a wider range of people. Today, tourism has become a part of most people's daily lives and has become a major source of employment in developed countries. The tourism industry over the last 50 years can be linked to increased wealth, increased mobility, improved inaccessibility and transportation, increased leisure, product development and innovations, technological improvements , changes in lifestyles and fashion, a greater awareness of other places and the need for "green" tourism. Rising wealth has allowed employed people earning high wages to use their disposable income, considerably higher than several years ago, on tourism and foreign visits. People who work full time now also receive paid time off, which allows them to take more than one vacation a year. Increased mobility has given the growing number of people who own cars greater freedom to choose where to holiday and for how long. 50 years ago, only 1 in 20 households in the UK owned a car. At the end of the last century, 72% owned at least one car. Frequent charter flights have made it easier for people to go further. Improvements in communications such as roads, and especially highways, have reduced driving times between locations and encouraged more people to make trips more often. Reduced airfares, package holidays, bigger and more efficient airports have encouraged more people to go further. Shorter working weeks and longer paid holidays in the UK have given people more free time to go abroad. The population, which is ageing, is still active and wants to go abroad. The use of the Internet and improved technological developments have allowed people to move around the world more easily. Holiday camps, long-haul destinations and package tours have attracted a wide variety of people