Evaluatation Of The Positive And Negative Impacts Of Tourism And The Meaning Of Ecotourism

Question 1

Explain two positive cultural impacts of tourism.

Answer 1

1. Tourism opens up areas to other cultures which helps people understand each other better.
2. In local people, tourism can generate pride of the history, culture, buildings and environment of their country.

Question 2

Explain two negative cultural impacts of tourism.

Answer 2

1. Restaurants and bars which attract tourists can cause disturbing public behaviour and crime as a result of social conflict.
2. Tourists may challenge traditional attitudes to work, money and relationships.

Question 3

Explain two positive economic impacts of tourism. [1] and [3]

Answer 3

1. Enormous amounts of money are earned through tourism. The World Tourism Organisation calculated that £582 billion was earned from 903 million tourists in 2007.
2. Employment in tourism can generate a considerable income for local people, particularly if there are not many other means of employment.
3. This tourism money provides a stimulus to develop other forms of work.
4. It may be used to develop more tourist attractions to bring even more money into the area.

Question 4

Explain two negative economic impacts of tourism.

Answer 4

1. Much of the money spent by tourists does not stay in the area to stimulate economic growth if tourism is controlled by large companies not based locally.
2. Employment in tourism is seasonal meaning jobs aren’t always available and needed.

Question 5

Explain two positive environmental impacts of tourism.

Answer 5

1. Money earned through tourism can help improve roads and other transport links or can help improve treatment plants for water supplies and sewage.
2. Tourism conserves attractions such as historic buildings, preserving the culture of an area.

Question 6

Explain two negative environmental impacts of tourism. [1] and [2]

Answer 6

1. Tourism puts pressure on local ecosystems as tourists produce waste and pollution which affects local wildlife.
2. A survey in Zanzibar, on the east coast of Africa, found that while tourists used 685 litres of water a day on average, local residents used less than 50 litres. Tourists staying in hotels, as opposed to guesthouses, used as many as 931 litres each a day.
3. Water consumption should be limited to 200-300 litres daily to ensure sustainable water management.

Question 7

Define the term ecotourism/green tourism.

Answer 7

A sustainable form of tourism that protects the environment and local way of life at the destination.