Social-Cultural, Economic and Environmental Impact of Travel and Tourism

Question 1

Economic Impacts

Answer 1

Positive:

• Foreign exchange earnings
• Contribution to government revenues
• Generation of employment
• Balance of payment
• Stimulation of infrastructure investment
• Contribution to local economies

Negative:
-Balance of payments unbalanced- increase in imports/loss of tourism
money to other countries
-Loss of jobs- fewer people employed due to less domestic tourists
-Reduction in tourism income/spend- less tax/tourism organisations
struggle

Question 2

Socio-Cultural Impacts

Answer 2

Positive:

• Preservation and restoration of cultural heritage
• Revival of traditional arts and crafts
• Cultivational of cultural pride and sense of identity
• Cross-cultural exchange

Negative:

• Demonstration Effect- can lead to the erosion of traditional culture and values as the local population adopts visitor behaviour and this is often a major cause of tension within sections of local society
• Commodification- Tourism can turn local cultures into commodities when religious rituals, traditional ethnic rites and festivals are reduced to conform to tourist needs and expectations
• Staged authenticity- Adapting cultural activities or performing shows for tourists as if they were real life

Question 3

Environmental Impacts

Answer 3

Positive:

• contributes to environmental protection
• conservation and restoration of biological diversity
• preservation of wildlife

Negative:

• Littering– items dropped on the beach
• Noise pollution– use of heavy machinery/traffic congestion
• Visual pollution – buildings unsightly
• Water pollution– building/hotel waste in sea or oil spills from pleasure craft
• Marine wildlife disruption– habitat lost
• Tidal changes– construction in the sea
• Beach/reef destruction– clear disruption to the existing ecosystem