You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Many people believe that international tourism is a bad thing for their country. What are the reasons? Solutions to change negative attitudes.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer
It is widely argued that global tourism has a negative impact on destination resorts and countries. While there is a strong case for this view, solutions must be applied to resolve some of the serious issues which have arisen.
There are two primary reasons why local residents often consider international tourism as a cause of serious problems in their countries. One reason is that it may have an adverse impact on traditional customs and indigenous practices, because tourists may be insensitive towards the feelings of local residents. For example, some western holidaymakers visiting developing Southeast Asian countries may be rowdy or wear unsuitable clothes, which might have an undesirable influence on local young people who copy immodest or provocative behaviour and fashions. Another reason is that tourists often pollute or litter beauty spots and several famous beaches in Vietnam, such as Cua Lo and Sam Son, have been spoiled by this lack of respect for the local environment.
Measures must be taken by governments and international bodies to change negative attitudes. Firstly, the undoubted economic benefits of international tourism for local economies ought to be more widely promoted through the official media. International tourists spend money in shops and restaurants and create jobs in service industries and this aspect must be publicised. At the same time, tourist agencies should urge visitors to respect the local customs and culture of their hosts. Secondly, bodies such as the World Tourism Organisation must enforce strict regulations on the tourism industry, ensuring that local operators are responsible for clearing litter and disposing of waste in ways that do not harm the environment, and issuing international Blue Flags to indicate clean beaches.
In conclusion, only by addressing the concerns of local people will negative attitudes to international tourism be changed.
295 words
Vocab Highlights
widely argued: if something has been widely argued, it means that lots of people have said the same thing about something
to have a negative impact on: this means that it is not good for you
destination: a place where tourists like to visit on vacation
a cause of serious problems: the reason why something terrible happens
to have an adverse impact on: to have a negative/bad effect on something
indigenous practices: indigenous refers to the people who are native to a local area; practices are the traditions and customs of a culture; the things they do
insensitive: it means that you don’t notice what you are doing and the effect that it is having on a person or a place
rowdy: noisy, loud, rough
unsuitable clothing: not suitable, inappropriate, not the correct or acceptable type of thing
to have an undesirable influence on: to do something so that it influences someone in a way that is not wanted by somebody else
provocative behaviour and fashions: provocative means to cause annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction on purpose; fashion refers to the clothing that you wear
to be spoiled by: to be ruined by
lack of respect for: to have no respect for someone or something; to not pay attention to agreed upon rules or customs
widely promoted: promoted in a big way; thoroughly or broadly; when you promote something widely you let a lot of people know about it
urge visitors to respect: to try to get someone to do something; you urge someone to do or not do something
to enforce strict regulations on: to make sure an punish people if they do something against the regulation
disposing of waste: to get rid of the waste or garbage, usually by taking it to the dump or landfill
addressing the concerns of local people: to listen to what the people are concerned about and then do something about it.