Understanding the World of Tourism: Impacts on Economy, Environment, Society and Culture

This essay focuses on understanding the world of tourism, its impacts on economy, environment, society and culture. Contemporary tourism refers to the international approach that presents new approaches to study the world of tourism. Impacts that tourism industry have on economy, environment, society and culture are also being discussed in brief.

Understanding the world
of Tourism

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Understanding the World of Tourism..............................................................................................1
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Tourism refers to a set of activities undertaken by human beings, in order to pursue
relaxation in their leisure time. Tourism enables the individuals to spend some quality time with
their loved ones without any worries. Thus, it is an important activity, performed by human
beings, by visiting places away from their home (Lubowiecki-Vikuk and Sousa, 2021). Tourism
is the biggest industry of the world. Entertainment, family trip, business trip, etc., may be the
intention of such a tour. Tourism is a vast concept that covers activities of travelling and staying
in places other than their surroundings. This essay focuses on understanding the world of tourism
(Gunesch, 2020). There is a discussion on the development of contemporary tourism with its
significant factors. Impacts that tourism industry have on economy, environment, society and
culture are also being discussed in brief.
Understanding the World of Tourism
Contemporary tourism refers to the international approach that presents new
approaches to study the world of tourism. There is a gradual rise in the tourism sector, at present.
All these figures can be studied with the help of contemporary tourism. Contemporary tourism
cover issues such tourism ethics, changing world order, destination marketing, pro – poor
tourism and so on (Keskin and Ucal, 2021). Contemporary tourism also talks about the ongoing
threats of terrorism as well as issues related with heath that affect the tourism industry.
Environment has a dynamic nature and thus, keeps on changing (Bosak and McCool, 2019).
Thus, the tourism sector too keeps on changing as it is dependent on environment. Contemporary
tourism ensures that the tourists are provided with proper facilities & resources and places to
enjoy. But the tourists should not misuse and exploit the resources as it can cause trouble to the
local community residing there (Kubickova and Campbell, 2020). Regular research and analysis
must be done identify the problems so that they could be solved. The concept of green tourism is
the solution to the issues related with tourism. Being the largest industry in the world, tourism is
a great source of revenue for the country. Tourism is a package of services rendered by
individuals known as tourist agents. Understanding the needs of the tourists and fulfilling them is
their goal. The package varies according to the amount paid by the tourists. These agents
convince the tourists to visit different places. They often advertise about the weather, nature and
the belongings. Individuals desire for rest, adventure, social interaction, relaxation, etc. This
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motivates them to go on a tour. Tourist industry can grow by adopting new and refreshing
approaches.
There are various impacts drawn by tourism on the economy of a country. These impacts
may be positive or negative, direct or indirect and are known as economic impacts of tourism
over the economy. Demand for local food and crafts increases with an increase in the tourism
sector. This is one of the positive impacts that tourism has on the economy of a country. Increase
in tourism helps in enhancing the standard of living of local community. When the tourists visit
any place, they generate revenue for the people residing there by increasing the demand for the
local products (Stors, 2019). This increases per capita income of the local community which
enables the individual give a better life to their families. For instance, the demand for Damask
weaving in UK increases with an increase in the visit of tourists. The Government can provide
better facilities to the citizens of the country. For example, infrastructural facilities, timely
supply of water, proper electricity facilities, etc. Thus, tourism is proved quite beneficial for the
economy of the country, especially the developing ones (De Albuquerque Meneguel, Mundet
and Aulet, 2019). Everything has its own pros and cons and so do the tourism have. UK is
famous for its beautiful places which are the major tourist attractions (Dimitriou and
AbouElgheit, 2019). As there are various tourist spots maintained by UK, the country is quite
dependent on the tourism industry for the supply of funds. Tourists are generally, wealthy as
compared to the local citizens. As mentioned above, tourism industry increases the demand for
local products (Teixeira and Ferreira, 2020). This may lead to an increase in the prices of
products in local shops, the burden of which falls on the local community residing there. This is
one of the negative drawbacks that tourism leads to. Rise in prices of Damask weaving during
the visit of tourists is an example. Increased tourism also increases the population in a region
thereby causing overcrowding which results in traffic jams. Increased prices of the local
products gives a tint of inflation in the economy. For example, during summer vacations
Manchester gets overcrowded.
Environment of a country highly affect the visit of tourists. Hence, tourism also have
impacts on the environment of a country which may be positive as well as negative.
Conservation of trees is one of the positive impacts that tourism has on the nature and
environment (Sedarati, Santos and Pintassilgo, 2019). Tourists like to visit places with beautiful
weather and amazing scenes. This motivates the Government as well as the public to preserve
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their belongings. Government take effective measures for the same such as implementation of
various rules and regulations. These rules must be for everyone weather the local public or the
tourists. It is the duty of the Government to ensure that these rules are complied with. For
example, government of UK imposed various restrictions on cutting down of trees in Sheffield.
As a result, it is the city with the highest greenery. Strict and necessary actions must be taken
when the regulations are not followed. Every month plants must be planted, promoting
afforestation. This will also be beneficial for the health of citizens. Conservation of trees and
afforestation must take place in every country (Seyitoğlu and Ivanov, 2020). Preservation of
nature is very important for attracting tourists. Wild creatures are protected for the new
generation. For instance, every year Edinburgh plants new trees to spread greenery. Depletion of
natural resources is one of the negative consequences that tourism industry have on
environment. Natural resources, such as petroleum, tend to diminish with an increase in the
tourism industry. Being the largest industry in the world, tourism consumes a significant amount
of these resources. For example, UK has a shortage of coal and phosphorus. Consumption of
transport vehicles and tourists have a positive relation. Increase in tourists, increases the
consumption of transport vehicles. Over consumption of these vehicles deplete the natural
resources inherited by a country (Boluk and Rasoolimanesh, 2022). Tourists, sometimes, do not
throw the garbage in the dustbin. Instead, they make the place messy with garbage. Thus,
tourism have its own pros and cons on the environment. For example, London is a major tourist
city in UK and is also considered as the city with the most waste in UK.
Society plays a significant role in the life of an individual. Sometimes, tourists may
interfere in the society and culture of the citizens, residing there. The impacts that tourism have
on socio-cultural activities, of the local community, can be positive or negative. It is for the visit
of tourists that the Government is maintain the heritages more sincerely. Historic places and
the stories behind them are attractive enough to convince tourists visit the place. Archaeologists
love to visit such places. Further, to preserve these heritages, necessary rules are imposed by the
Government (Kandampully and Solnet, 2019). This also helps in preserving the tradition and
culture of the country. For example, maintenance of Canterbury by the government.
Strengthening communities by promoting brotherhood among different classes of people is
the positive impact of tourism on a country's society and culture. Tourism also helps in
promoting brotherhood that strengthens different communities together. All the travellers or
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tourists are treated equally everywhere, for instance, transports, hotels, theme parks, etc. They do
not discriminate between high and low castes. This makes everyone feel welcomed in the new
surroundings. For example, UK has some social groups with the members of different castes.
Tourists like to know about the tradition and culture of the regions they visit. Tourists often
appreciate the traditional art of the local communities. This motivates the local public to keep
them alive. When the arts are praised and the tourists take away the local products, the public
feels proud. These products reflect the memory that the tourists shared with the place and its
citizens. But all this may lead to exploitation of cultural resources of a country. This is a
negative impact that tourism industry have on the society and culture of a country (Litvin, 2020).
For example, tourism leads to a depletion in silica and rock salt. Tourism, indirectly, promotes
prostitution and cases of human trafficking. This is a serious issue and must be addressed by
the Government. Tourists visit particular places to pursue their desires. Rich ones offer a good
amount for which the girls are forced into the sphere of prostitution (McCool, 2019). Young girls
are traded for satisfying the desires of tourists. This is a harsh truth of the society and is the worst
effect that tourism can have on humanity. For example, Doncaster in UK is considered as the
most unsafe city in the country.
CONCLUSION
From the above essay, it has been concluded that tourism sector has changed rapidly in
the past years. After the pandemic, the contemporary tourism has developed a lot. It helps to
study the tourism sector thoroughly. Tourism impacts the economy, environment, society and
culture in various ways. Government should take measures to control the pollution and maximise
the use of solar energy. Improved tax revenue, conservation of trees, strengthening of
communities, increase in the demand for local products, promotion of tradition and culture,
better infrastructural facilities, etc., are the positive consequences that tourism have on a country.
The government should set a reasonable price for the local products. On the other hand, negative
effects include rise in prices for the local products, traffic jams, increase in the crime rate, etc.
Thus, tourism is beneficial for the country. But the Government should take necessary measures
to minimise its negative effects by imposing strict laws, especially on the society.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Boluk, K. A. and Rasoolimanesh, S. M., 2022. Introduction to the special issue on “Deepening
our understandings of the roles and responsibilities of the tourism industry towards the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. Tourism Management
Perspectives, 41, p.100944.
Bosak, K. and McCool, S. F., 2019. A research agenda for sustainable tourism: Some ideas
worth pursuing. A research agenda for sustainable tourism.
De Albuquerque Meneguel, C. R., Mundet, L. and Aulet, S., 2019. The role of a high-quality
restaurant in stimulating the creation and development of gastronomy
tourism. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 83. pp.220-228.
Dimitriou, C. K. and AbouElgheit, E., 2019. Understanding generation Z’s travel social decision-
making. Tourism and hospitality management. 25(2). pp.311-334.
Gunesch, K., 2020. Slow Tourism Joining New Media in Global Sustainability and
Environmental Communication: Inspiring Individual and Industry Travel Practices and
Media Expressions. In Understanding Media and Society in the Age of
Digitalisation (pp. 73-100). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Kandampully, J. and Solnet, D., 2019. Competitive advantage through service in hospitality and
tourism: a perspective article. Tourism Review.
Keskin, K. and Ucal, M., 2021. A dynamic game theory model For tourism supply
chains. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 45(2), pp.304-324.
Kubickova, M. and Campbell, J. M., 2020. The role of government in agro-tourism development:
a top-down bottom-up approach. Current Issues in Tourism, 23(5), pp.587-604.
Litvin, S. W., 2020. Review and commentary tourism and peace: a review and
commentary. Tourism Review International. 23(3-4). pp.173-181.
Lubowiecki-Vikuk, A. and Sousa, B., 2021. Tourism business in a vuca world: Marketing and
management implications. Journal of Environmental Management & Tourism. 12(4).
pp.867-876.
McCool, S. F., 2019. Information needs for building a foundation for enhancing sustainable
tourism as a development goal: An introduction. In A research agenda for sustainable
tourism. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Sedarati, P., Santos, S. and Pintassilgo, P., 2019. System dynamics in tourism planning and
development. Tourism Planning & Development, 16(3), pp.256-280.
Seyitoğlu, F. and Ivanov, S., 2020. Understanding the robotic restaurant experience: a multiple
case study. Journal of Tourism Futures.
Stors, N., 2019. Living with guests: Understanding the reasons for hosting via Airbnb in a
mobile society. In Tourism and Everyday Life in the Contemporary City (pp. 112-138).
Routledge.
Teixeira, S. J. and Ferreira, J. J., 2020. Introduction to the Multilevel Approach to
Competitiveness in the Global Tourism Industry. In Multilevel Approach to
Competitiveness in the Global Tourism Industry (pp. 1-8). IGI Global.
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