impacts of tourism: economic impacts

Question 1

+ve

employment opportunities

Answer 1

• helps generate jobs through supply of goods and sales, like hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, taxis, and souvenir sales
• UNTWO estimated that in 2011, tourism employed > 235 mil people worldwide, roughly 6 - 8% of all jobs worldwide

Question 2

+ve

growth in income

Answer 2

• high demand for services –> growth in income for locals employed into tourism-related jobs
• e.g. fishermen on Pamilcan island in Philippines hired to take domestic and international visitors to look for and swim w/ whale sharks and dolphins
• fishermen paid US$80 - $100 per ride

Question 3

+ve

development in infrastructure and facilities

Answer 3

• improvements to satisfy tourists needs –> sufficient infrastructure and appropriate facilities –> tourism operate on large scale
• e.g. Greece & China, underground rail systems enhanced & expanded –> move large no. of visitors during Summer Olympic Games

Question 4

-ve

seasonal unemployment

Answer 4

• certain tourist activities depend on climatic conditions –> rise and fall in tourists no.
• e.g. Sapporo Japan, received large no. of tourists from Dec - Feb –> tourist engage in winter sports (skiing, snowboarding). > mountain ski operator employed to cater to high demand of tourist

Question 5

-ve

under use of facilities at certain times of year

Answer 5

• facilities developed for certain events may be under used once events are over, costly to maintain
• e.g. based on Beijing Sports Uni report, only 1/3 of major sports venues in China managed to break even

Question 6

-ve

shortage of services

Answer 6

• tourist infrastructure require use of large amounts of land, water and power –> lead to shortage of services (water or power supplies) in non-tourist areas
• e.g. Indonesia 2019, country experienced drought affecting 50 mil people, accommodate to 16 mil tourists which used up 65% of country’s water