Pictures are good memory keepers but pictures can also fetch a good price. There are many amateur photographers that do it for pleasure sake too. A good camera does not have to be expensive.
It is important though to know in advance for what purpose one is taking the pictures for. For the family album a regular camera using film or simple digital camera will do. Any digital camera with 3 mega pixels, with settings to photographs in a number of conditions usually sunny, cloudy, night ad indoors will do. It is important to have enough memory with you so you do not have to limit what you can take because of lack of space. The memory that comes with cameras is usually too low for even a days shooting so make sure to but some more.
If the traveller is an amateur or intends to sell, enlarge or otherwise make any special effects with the photographer then a more specialised camera is needed. A camera that can be manipulated in many different ways is ideal, with high a number of mega pixels to allow for reproduction and enlarging later. It may also have the option to attach wide angle, telephoto or other special lenses. Wide angle lens are good for landscape or panoramic...