Souvenir

A souvenir (French for 'remembrance' or 'memory'), memento, keepsake, or token of remembrance

As objects

thumb|Miniature [[Eiffel Tower souvenirs from Paris, France]]

thumb|Souvenir porcelain mug from [[Germany, ]]

The tourism industry designates tourism souvenirs as commemorative merchandise associated with a location, often including geographic information and usually produced in a manner that promotes souvenir collecting.

Throughout the world, the souvenir trade is an important part of the tourism industry serving a dual role, first to help improve the local economy, and second to allow visitors to take with them a memento of their visit, ultimately to encourage an opportunity for a return visit, or to promote the locale to other tourists as a form of word-of-mouth marketing. Promotional tchotchke at trade shows serve a similar function. Perhaps the most collected souvenirs by tourists are self-generated: photographs as a medium to document specific events and places for remembrance.

As memorabilia

thumb|Souvenir Album of Houston, 1891

Similar to souvenirs, memorabilia (Latin for 'memorable (things)'; plural of memorābile) are objects treasured for their memories or historical interest; however, unlike souvenirs, memorabilia can be valued for a connection to an event or a particular professional field, company or brand. Memorabilia can also be related to collections, such as action figures, or video games.

Examples include sporting events, historical events, culture, and entertainment. Such items include: clothing; game equipment; publicity photographs and posters; magic memorabilia; other entertainment-related merchandise and memorabilia; movie memorabilia; airline and other transportation-related memorabilia; and pins, among others.

Often memorabilia items are kept in protective covers or display cases to safeguard and preserve their condition.

As gifts

thumb| from Japan

In Japan, souvenirs are known as , and are frequently selected from , or products associated with a particular region. Bringing back from trips to co-workers and families is a social obligation and can be considered a form of apology for the traveller's absence. sales are big business at Japanese tourist sites. Unlike souvenirs, however, are frequently special food products, packaged into several small portions to be easily distributed to all the members of a family or a workplace.

Travelers may buy souvenirs as gifts for those who did not make the trip. A common tradition is to bring a thank-you gift for someone who provided a service such as pet sitting during the trip.

In the Philippines a similar tradition of bringing souvenirs as a gift to family members, friends, and coworkers is called .

Gallery

File:Cultural Fashion and Adornment, El Moez St., 00 (26).JPG|Pyramid and Great Sphinx souvenirs from Egypt

File:Souvenirs.jpg|Examples of souvenirs: figurines, models, snow globe

File:Colección de imanes de frigorífico (RPS 28-06-2015).png|Fridge magnets

File:SouvenirsChichenItza002.JPG|Hand-carved wood souvenirs (Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico)

File:RomSouvenirs.jpg|Souvenir statues (Rome, Italy)

File:Souvenirs-Athen.jpg|Souvenir statues (Greece)

File:Matryoshka dolls put up for sale.jpg|Matryoshka doll

. is (Russia)

File:Souvenir Shop - panoramio.jpg|A souvenir shop along Aleksanterinkatu (Helsinki, Finland)

File:Souvenirs de Paris, Quai aux Fleurs (Paris) 2010-07-29.jpg|A souvenir shop (Paris, France)

File:Flickr - schmuela - IMG 6595.jpg|A souvenir shop (Egypt)

File:Сувенирный киоск на набережной Евпатории.jpg|A souvenir kiosk (Eupatoria, Crimea, Ukraine)

File:Souvenir.london.arp.750pix.jpg|A souvenir stall (London, UK)

File:Souvenir Seller Namibia.jpg|A souvenir stall (Namibia)

File:SouvenirsPalenque04.JPG|Street traders selling souvenirs (Palenque, Mexico)

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As objects

As memorabilia

As gifts

Gallery

See also

References