TWO SIDES OF TOURISM

1. Read the text and choose True or False 2. Read the text and answer the questions:
statements: Is Tourism Profitable?
Tourism Today We know that tourism is very important for the revenue
People travel all over the world and attend a lot of of some countries. Economically, tourism can create jobs
interesting places. The effect of travelling of large for local people and bring money into the country.
amount of people sometimes is incredible. Here are Tourism development usually starts with the construc-
some examples of it. tion of hotels, resorts and other places for tourists to
Large number of people coming to one place once at a stay. In addition there may be restaurants, night clubs,
time can have less comfortable accommodation as it and recreation facilities such as golf courses, tennis
was in Scotland where only 40% of tourists were of- courts, swimming pools, and marinas. Whenever possible,
fered hotels. tourism developers prefer to build on the coast, where
Tourism is one of the principal contributions of pollu- the hotel will front on a beach and perhaps a coral reef,
tion in the Mediterranean Sea and as the number of yet the coast is the most fragile and vulnerable area on
people increase, the problem worsen. Several laws and an island.
initiatives have been implemented in order to protect Building roads, airports and docks may be positive as
the Mediterranean Sea from further degradation. well as negative. Such facilities benefit local people as
The rapid tourism development of Bali has had a great well as tourists, reducing the isolation of remote areas
effect on its natural environment, affecting water and increasing the convenience of travel within the coun-
resources, increasing pollution and localized flooding, as try and overseas. Tourism development can thus support
well as putting pressure on the island's infrastruc- useful expenditures that could not be justified for the
ture. local people alone.
In Cancun, Mexico, tourism has "extensively dam- The social impacts of tourism may also be important.
aged the lagoon, obliterated sand dunes, led to the ex- People can have jobs. Most jobs for local people in the
tinction of varying species of animals and fish, and tourist industry are as servants, house maids, waiters,
destroyed the rainforest which surrounds" the island. gardeners and other menial work. There also appear a lot
It was only twenty years after it was developed, that of shops and small cafes where people can buy something
the government of Mexico decided to limit projects unusual made by local people or have a snack. These and
along the coast to prevent further damage to the is- other social effects may be among the most important
land's environment. long-term impacts of tourism development.
In Trinidad and Tobago there are shortages of water Improvements that help tourism, like better transporta-
due to the overpopulation of tourists on the island. tion, tree planting, restoration of historic sites, urban
The most damaging effect of tourism has been the beautification and cleanliness, also improve the environ-
destruction of coral reefs, as they are harvested for ment for the local population. Tourism development can
sale to tourists and destroyed by tourists stepping on help to stimulate general community improvement.
them as they enter the water. (adapted from www.1.american.edu) (adapted from http://islands.unep.ch)
True or False statements: Questions:
1. The effect of tourism is only positive. 1. Why is tourism very important for some countries?
2. Tourism is responsible for pollution of the Mediter- 2. What facilities appear with the development of tour-
ranean Sea. ism?
3. There are shortages of water in Trinidad and Toba- 3. What do these facilities reduce?
go. 4. Is social impact of tourism positive or negative?
4. Tourism made no damage in Cancun, Mexico. 5. Can tourism improve environment?

3. What places do tourists usually choose to 4. Your experience:

visit? Do you like to travel? Where do you like to travel
Universities Shops Ballet with your parents? What month do you usually
Cafes Bars Rivers choose for travelling? What places have you visit-
Museums Theatres Resorts ed? Are these places beautiful? What is your fa-
Churches Cathedrals Bridges vourite place? Have you seen a lot of tourists
Schools Markets Hospitals there? Is this place clean? Do the tourists throw
Cinemas Castles Zoos litter on the ground? Are there good facilities for
Palaces Restaurants Hotels tourists there? Are local people polite there? Were
Mountains Parks Pools there any conflicts with local people? Would you
Stadiums Caves Airports recommend your friends to visit this place?

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