ESP For Tourism: Travel and Tourism

Travel and Tourism

Posted in Label: Travel and Tourism | di 18.44

Ann Rowe, John D. Smith

and Fiona Borein

What is travel and tourism? To use the example of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) – affiliated to the United Nations and recognised as the leading international body on global tourism – tourism is:

the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside

their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for

leisure, business and other purposes.

World Tourism Organisation, 1993

Therefore the people who are considered to be ‘tourists’, are those who are :

Away from their normal place of residence for a period of up to one year (but will return home);
Taking part in activities that would normally be associated with leisure and tourism;
On a visit that is temporary and short term;
Not necessarily away from home overnight as they could be on a day trip or excursion;
Away from home but not necessarily on holiday, as they could be away on business.

There are three main types of tourism: domestic tourism, incoming or inbound tourism and outbound tourism.

In order to assist people with their travel arrangements, there are specialist travel service providers. These include travel agencies who retail travel products direct to the individual or groups and business travel agencies who specialise in providing travel for the business customer or promoting conference trade. Tour operators provide a package for the individual and principals provide the basic services required by the travel and tourism industry. It is possible to divide the components of the travel and tourism industry into six key areas, as represented in Figure 1.

Social, Cultural, Economic and Environmental Impacts of Travel and Tourism

Social and cultural impacts of tourism

Tourism may have many different effects on the social and cultural aspects of life in a particular region or area, depending on the cultural and religious strengths of that region. The effect can be positive or negative on the host community.

Positive impacts on an area include such benefits as:

★ Local community can mix with people from diverse backgrounds with different lifestyles which through ‘demonstration effect’ may lead to the development of improved lifestyles and practices from the tourists’ examples;

★ There can be an improvement in local life through better local facilities and infrastructure (developed to sustain tourism) which could lead to better education, health care, employment opportunities and income;

★ More cultural and social events available for local people such as entertainment, exhibitions etc.

However, tourism may have negative effects on an area, such as:

★ The infrastructure (roads, railways, health care provision) may not be able to cope with the greater numbers created by tourism;

★ Poor sanitation may lead to diseases for both tourists and local population;

★ Local population’s activities and lifestyles may suffer intrusion from tourists leading to resentment towards tourists;

Economic impacts of tourism

The major benefit of tourism for a region or country is economic as it provides an opportunity for job creation and generation of revenue at international, national, regional and local levels. Tourism can also benefit economies at regional and local levels, as money comes into urban and rural areas which in turn stimulates new business enterprises and promotes a more positive image in an area.

Environmental impacts of tourism

An attractive environment appeals to tourists, whether natural or built, and the development of tourism in a locality will relate to the surrounding area. The term ‘environment’ refers to the physical setting in which tourism takes place – this could be coastal resorts, historic cities, mountain ranges, picturesque villages, sites of cultural interest including museums and national monuments – and which provides the stimulus for travel.

Tourism itself will affect the environment in both positive and negative ways. The following lists summarise these effects:

The positive effects may include:

★ Increased investment in the area (may improve facilities, access and enable development);

★ Conservation of features encouraged (buildings, wildlife, countryside);

★ Increased income for upkeep and preservation of facilities.

On the other hand, negative aspects could include:

★ Appealing environment spoilt by over-development;

★ Local people displaced due to development of coastal resorts;

★ Damage to natural flora and fauna;

★ Scarcity or reduction in water supply/quality to meet tourism demands;

★ Increased litter and waste disposal problems;

★ Greater air pollution and noise from overcrowded facilities/increased air traffic

Register Word :

Leisure : waktu luang
Hire : sewa

Temporary : sementara
Resort : tempat beristirahat

Excursion : darmawisata
Cottage : pondok

Domestic : dalam negeri
Occupant : penghuni

Inbound : perjalanan pulang
Departure : keberangkatan

Insurance : asuransi
Convenience : kenyamanan

Sustain : mendukung
Exhibition : pameran

Swap : menukar
Provision : perbekalan

Appeal : menarik
Coastal : pantai

Picturesque : indah
Wildlife : margasatwa

Source :

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Discuss these question :

1.      What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in your region?
2.   Do you agree if your region be one of the place that the tourist like to visit it? Why?

Answer these question based on the text :
1.   What is tourism?
2.   What is travel agencies?
3. What is the negative and positive impact of tourism to the environment?