Importance of Tourism in the World

Importance of Tourism in the World

1. Source of foreign exchange
2. Source of employment in hotels, guiding section, game parks and travelling agents
3. Improvement of infrastructure
4. Promotes international relations
5. Source of government revenue
6. Conservation of wildlife and environment and protection of historical sites
7. Economic use of marginal lands
8. Preservation of culture

Impact of Tourism in the World

Positive Impacts of Tourism

1. It helped in foreign exchange
2. It leads to job creation in rural areas, thereby reducing rural-urban migration
3. Tourism has led to creation of job opportunities. Many people have been employed in the tourist sector, a fact that has helped improve their quality of life
4. It brings together people of different colors, cultures and religions
5. It has led to diversification of economies of countries involved in the sector. For example, tourism is now earning more revenue than agriculture and other sectors of the economy in Tanzania
6. Tourism has enabled sustainable conservation of wildlife and the environment and preservation of cultural heritage and historical sites
7. It influences development of infrastructure in host countries. In Tanzania, for example, roads to national parks such as Serengeti National Park have been improved

Negative Impact of Tourism

1. Bad behavior and overcrowding to the host community
2. The tourists can lead to erosion of traditional cultures and values
3. Tourism poses a threat to natural and cultural resources such as water supply, beaches, coral reefs and pollution
4. High expenditure towards improvement of social services
5. Jobs created by tourism are often seasonal and poorly paid
6. Tourism can cause events such as terrorism, natural disasters and economic recession

Ways of Addressing the Negative Impact of Tourism

1. Diversification of revenue sources such that when the tourism industry collapses they do not suffer economic difficulties
2. Laws and policies should be put in place that ensures the revenue accrued from tourism benefits the local community and the government in general
3. Tourists should be directed to obey the culture and traditions of the host communities
4. Promotion to conserve and preserve the environment
5. The laws, rules and regulations should be enacted and enforced to combat criminal incidences, child labor, drug abuse, and prostitution
6. New tourist attractions should be established and developed to reduce pressure exerted to already established attractions
7. The local people should be involved in tourism activities so that they benefit in conserving the tourist attractions like wildlife conservation areas, etc
8. There should be integration of tourist activities with the protection of the environmental condition through the eco-tourism approach