This article is devoted to the study of lexis-semantic categories of tourism terms. The author analyzed that the word in general use is distinguished by its multi-meaning and unlimited use, while terms, as special lexical units, are characterized by their ability to represent a specific concept, related to a specific field, and are limited in use. The main goal of the study is to determine whether terms used to name concepts in tourism -specific vocabulary are composed of common nouns, and whether tourism te rms arise by imparting new terminological meanings to common nouns. The author also studied the formation of industry -specific terms using word -forming suffixes and terminological elements. The study discusses the direct relationship between the process of term formation and the internal capabilities of the language, as well as external factors – social, cultural and technological development, the emergence of new terms, and the reasons leading to the universalization of terms. The researcher analyzed terms that acquire a national character, made from commonly used words, in Uzbek tourist texts. The results of the study presented in the article serve as a useful resource in the study of tourism lexicon, text analysis and translation work. Lexis-semantic categories, general usage words, lexicographic interpretation, sematic features, terms, special vocabulary, terminology, semantic method.