Global Tourism: Benefits For The Countries Worldwide
Numerous nations around the world depend heavily on the tourism sector. It does however have both benefits and drawbacks. The expansion of tourism has an effect on people, places and needs to be carefully managed to be sustainable. Many students across the world want to work in the tourism industry because it is a significant part of the country’s economy.
This blog will give you a better understanding of the benefits as well as challenges that tourist sites face as well as the global competition for tourists.
Tourists actively discover and enjoy the geography of a particular location from the landscaped with their distinctive features to the local inhabitants. All while helping the local economy and utilizing its resources. Right from the 1950s, there has been a sudden rise in spending holidays. The global tourism industry is blooming. In 2017, it generated 8 trillion dollars to the economy and accounts for 10% of employment worldwide.
Positive Social and Cultural Impacts of Tourism
- Tourism fosters the interaction among individuals belonging to different cultures and society, promotinga mutual understanding between them and an appreciation for their own culture to which they belong to.
- Economic benefits from tourism often contribute to conservation and restoration of historical sites, monuments and traditions.
- Tourism generates employment opportunities ranging from hospitality and transportation to handicraft production, benefiting local communities.
- Cultural performances, art and craft make experience a resurgence as they become attractions for tourists, helping to preserve and promote local traditions.
- Tourists gain insights into diverse lifestyles, traditions and customs, promoting tolerance and respect for cultural differences.
- Tourism income can empower local communities to invest in education, healthcare and infrastructure, improving residents and quality of life.
- Exposure to tourist interest in local culture can instill a sense of pride among residents, fostering a deeper connection with their heritage.
- Tourism often drives the improvement of local infrastructure, benefiting both residents and visitors with better facilities.
- Communities may embrace and celebrate their cultural diversity as a unique selling point, encouraging positive self-identity.
- Tourism can encourage collaborations between different cultural groups, promoting creativity and innovation in various sectors.
- Improve understanding of different communities.
- Improves quality of life.
- Facilitates meeting visitors.
- Positive change in values and customs.
Environmental Aspects of Tourism
- Preservation of natural environments and further ecological decline.
- Preservation of historical buildings and monuments.
- A clean industry.
- Improvement of areas appearance both visual and aesthetic.
Economic Impacts of Tourism
- It contributes to national income.
- It improves local economy.
- It increases employment opportunities.
- It increases tax revenues.
- It increases public utilities infrastructure and improves transport infrastructure.
- It creates new business opportunities.
- It improves investment, development and infrastructure spending.
Negative socio-cultural impacts of tourism
As more tourists visit a place, more commercial facilities emerge to cater to tourists such as food outlets, travel agencies, souvenir shops, and hotels. While new structures are constructed to support tourism, some older structures may need to be renovated to accommodate tourist activities. The local community is distinct identity will be lost if these commercial facilities force or display some residents to other locations. as a result, the community loses its identity, culture and values.
when the original appearance and functions of the place changes, the culture and local customs of this place gets diluted. Furthermore, tourist may become insensitive to regional customs and practices that may irritate locals. It could be necessary to change religious rituals and cultural events in the area to satisfy the needs of tourists, including giving them time to complete their itinerary or take pictures. The tourists even pay higher amount of money to the villagers to pose for them.
Importance of tourism industry
- Tourism help sell earning foreign exchange.
- It provides employment to the people both direct and indirect.
- It promotes national integration.
- It supports handicraft industry and cottage because foreigners like to purchase these products.
- It helps in developing friendly relations with other countries and promotes international understanding.
- It helps in cultural understanding and knowledge exchange.
- Overall, it contributes to an improved standard of living for local communities, leading to a better healthcare, education and infrastructure development.
