benefit of mass tourism

10 Pros and Cons of Mass Tourism

Pros And Cons Of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism has been a topic of debate for years. While it brings in revenue and boosts the economy, it also has its drawbacks. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of mass tourism.

On one hand, mass tourism creates job opportunities for locals, generates income for businesses and promotes cultural exchange between visitors and hosts. It can also attract investments in infrastructure such as airports, roads and hotels which benefits both tourists and residents alike.

However, on the other hand, mass tourism can lead to overcrowding which puts pressure on natural resources like water and landfills. It also contributes to environmental degradation as well as social problems such as crime, noise pollution and cultural erosion.

This article aims to provide an objective analysis of these positive and negative aspects of mass tourism so that readers can make informed decisions about their travel choices.

Table of Contents

Pros of Mass Tourism

• Economic Boost: Mass tourism can contribute significantly to the local economy by generating employment opportunities and attracting investments in infrastructure development. It creates jobs in various sectors, such as hospitality, transportation, and retail, which can help alleviate unemployment and boost local businesses.
• Revenue Generation: Mass tourism brings in a substantial influx of revenue through tourist expenditures, including accommodation, dining, shopping, and recreational activities. This revenue can be used to fund public services, improve local amenities, and support community development initiatives.
• Cultural Exchange: Mass tourism facilitates cultural exchange and promotes understanding between different cultures. Visitors from diverse backgrounds can learn about the local customs, traditions, and heritage, while locals have the opportunity to share their cultural practices, art, and cuisine. This interaction can foster mutual respect and appreciation among people from different parts of the world.
• Infrastructure Development: To accommodate the growing number of tourists, destinations often invest in infrastructure development, including transportation networks, hotels, and entertainment facilities. These improvements can benefit both tourists and local residents, enhancing accessibility, connectivity, and overall quality of life.
• Conservation Awareness: Mass tourism can raise awareness about environmental and conservation issues. Visitors experiencing natural wonders or protected areas firsthand may develop a greater appreciation for the need to preserve these resources. This increased awareness can lead to support for conservation efforts and sustainable practices, promoting the long-term protection of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Cons of Mass Tourism

• Overcrowding and Congestion: Mass tourism can lead to overcrowding and congestion, particularly in popular destinations during peak seasons. This can strain local infrastructure, overwhelm public services, and create an unpleasant experience for both tourists and residents. Overcrowding can also result in the degradation of natural sites and cultural heritage.
• Environmental Impact: Mass tourism can have a significant environmental impact, including increased energy consumption, water usage, waste generation, and pollution. The development of tourism infrastructure may involve the destruction of natural habitats, deforestation, and disruption of ecosystems. Additionally, the carbon emissions from transportation associated with mass tourism contribute to climate change.
• Loss of Authenticity: The influx of mass tourism can lead to the commodification and commercialization of local cultures and traditions. In an attempt to cater to tourists’ preferences, destinations may sacrifice their authentic character, leading to a loss of cultural identity and heritage. This can result in a homogenized experience and reduce the uniqueness of the destination.
• Unequal Distribution of Benefits: The benefits of mass tourism are often unevenly distributed among the local population. Large tourism corporations and international chains may dominate the industry, limiting the economic benefits flowing to local businesses and communities. This can lead to income inequality and wealth disparity, exacerbating social issues within the destination.
• Risk of Dependency: Overreliance on mass tourism can make a destination vulnerable to economic downturns and fluctuations in travel trends. If a destination becomes overly dependent on tourism as its primary source of income, it can face challenges during periods of crisis, such as economic recessions, natural disasters, or pandemics. Diversification of the local economy becomes crucial to mitigate such risks.

Job Creation And Economic Benefits

As the saying goes, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’

This adage perfectly captures the essence of sustainable tourism that mass tourism can bring.

Mass tourism creates jobs in various sectors such as hospitality, transportation, retail, and entertainment. These job opportunities not only benefit the locals but also provide economic growth for the community.

In addition to job creation, mass tourism can lead to local empowerment.

The influx of tourists means an increase in demand for local products and services which allows small businesses to thrive.

Local entrepreneurs now have more opportunities to showcase their crafts or culinary skills through souvenir shops or food stalls. As a result, they have better chances of achieving financial stability within their communities.

Sustainable tourism is crucial in maintaining long-lasting benefits from mass tourism.

It ensures that natural resources are conserved while cultural heritage is preserved.

By implementing sustainable practices like using renewable energy sources or promoting eco-friendly activities, it can help minimize the negative impact on the environment and promote responsible travel behaviors among visitors.

In doing so, we create a win-win situation where both tourists and locals can enjoy the beauty of tourist destinations without compromising its future existence.

Cultural Exchange And Infrastructure Development

Promoting diversity is one of the positive outcomes of mass tourism. With millions of people travelling to different parts of the world, cultural exchange becomes an inevitable result.

Tourists get exposed to new cultures and traditions while locals have a chance to showcase their heritage. This interaction leads to a better understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures around the globe.

Infrastructure development is another benefit that comes with mass tourism. As more tourists visit a destination, there’s increased demand for better transportation networks, accommodation facilities, restaurants, hospitals, and other services.

Governments invest in such infrastructure improvements since they create job opportunities and boost economic growth. However, balancing commercialization with environmental sustainability remains crucial to avoid overdevelopment which can lead to negative effects like pollution.

While there are many advantages associated with mass tourism, its drawbacks should not be ignored either. Overcrowding at popular destinations during peak seasons can cause inconvenience to both tourists and locals alike.

Additionally, it can put undue pressure on natural resources leading to environmental degradation. Careful planning must be done by governments and stakeholders involved in the industry so that sustainable practices are implemented to mitigate these challenges.

Mass tourism has undoubtedly brought about significant changes across the world through promoting diversity and encouraging infrastructural development. Nevertheless, striking a balance between commerce and protecting our environment requires careful consideration from all parties involved as we continue exploring new destinations around the globe without compromising on future generations’ ability to do so too!

Overcrowding And Pressure On Natural Resources

Having explored the benefits of cultural exchange and infrastructure development brought about by mass tourism, it is important to acknowledge the potential negative impacts on the environment.

As more tourists flock to popular destinations, overcrowding becomes a major issue. The pressure placed on natural resources such as water, energy sources and land can ultimately lead to environmental degradation.

Overcrowding can also lead to increased waste production which puts a strain on local waste management systems. This coupled with unsustainable practices such as overfishing or hunting endangered species threatens ecosystems and biodiversity in general.

Fortunately, many destinations have started implementing sustainability measures such as reducing single-use plastics and encouraging eco-friendly transportation options.

Another solution that could alleviate these issues is destination diversification. By promoting lesser-known areas that are off-the-beaten-path, tourist numbers would be distributed more evenly across different regions. This not only reduces overcrowding but also encourages visitors to explore new places while spreading economic benefits throughout the region. Moreover, this approach promotes sustainable tourism practices by protecting the environment from excessive damage caused by high traffic areas.

In conclusion, while mass tourism has its advantages such as cultural exchange and improved infrastructure; overcrowding and pressure on natural resources cannot be ignored. Sustainability measures must be put in place alongside initiatives like destination diversification so that we may continue enjoying travel without compromising our planet’s well-being for future generations.

Environmental Degradation And Social Problems

Environmental degradation is one of the most significant problems associated with mass tourism. The influx of tourists puts pressure on natural resources, leading to deforestation and destruction of ecosystems. Additionally, waste disposal becomes a major issue as tourist activities generate large amounts of refuse that often end up in landfills or oceans.

Community empowerment can be an effective strategy for minimizing environmental damage from mass tourism. By involving local residents in decision-making processes, communities can create sustainable tourism opportunities that benefit both visitors and locals. For example, community-based ecotourism projects allow travelers to experience nature while supporting local economies without harming the environment.

Effective waste management strategies are also crucial in mitigating the negative impacts of mass tourism. Governments and private sector entities must work together to develop recycling programs, reduce plastic usage, and encourage responsible behavior among tourists. Education campaigns aimed at promoting eco-friendly practices such as littering prevention should also be implemented.

By implementing community empowerment initiatives and effective waste management strategies, we can minimize the negative effects of mass tourism on both the environment and society. These efforts will help ensure that future generations can enjoy travel experiences that are both enjoyable and sustainable without compromising natural resources or disrupting local communities’ way of life.

Making Informed Travel Decisions

When it comes to traveling, there are ethical considerations that should be taken into account. One of the most important is the impact mass tourism has on local communities and the environment. Before booking a trip, consider whether your destination promotes sustainable tourism practices or if it relies heavily on mass tourism. If you’re unsure, do some research beforehand to ensure your travel dollars support responsible and sustainable alternatives.

Another factor to consider when making informed travel decisions is the type of accommodations you choose. Instead of staying at large chain hotels, opt for locally-owned bed and breakfasts or eco-friendly resorts that prioritize sustainability. Not only will this help reduce your carbon footprint, but it also supports small businesses in the community.

Transportation also plays a significant role in sustainable travel. Instead of renting a car or taking taxis everywhere, try using public transportation or biking/walking whenever possible. This not only reduces emissions but also allows you to experience the local culture firsthand.

Lastly, remember that being an informed traveler doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or enjoyment during your travels – it simply means being mindful of how your actions affect others and the planet. By choosing ethical alternatives and supporting sustainable practices, you can contribute positively to the places you visit while still having a fulfilling travel experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does mass tourism impact local communities.

Mass tourism can have significant social implications and environmental impacts on local communities.

The influx of visitors can lead to overcrowding, increased traffic congestion, and higher levels of pollution. This can affect the quality of life for residents and even damage natural habitats.

Additionally, mass tourism can create economic imbalances, where large corporations benefit at the expense of small businesses in the community. Local cultures may also be diluted or commodified for tourist consumption.

Despite these concerns, some argue that mass tourism brings much-needed revenue to struggling economies and provides job opportunities for locals. Ultimately, it is important to carefully consider both the positive and negative effects of mass tourism on local communities before promoting further growth in this industry.

Can Mass Tourism Lead To A Loss Of Authenticity In A Destination?

Oh, the authenticity of a destination! That elusive quality that makes us feel like we’ve stumbled upon something special.

But wait, what’s this? Mass tourism is threatening to rob us of our precious authentic experiences? Well isn’t that just peachy.

We can add ‘sustainability concerns’ and ‘balancing tourism growth’ to the list of buzzwords used by those who want to pretend they care about preserving local cultures while simultaneously profiting from their destruction. How convenient.

It seems like every time we turn around there’s another tour bus barreling down some narrow street or a new chain restaurant popping up where once there was a charming little mom-and-pop shop.

So much for being able to escape the homogenization of modern life, right?

What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Mass Tourism On A Destination’s Economy?

The long-term effects of mass tourism on a destination’s economy can be both positive and negative.

On one hand, it can provide a significant boost to the local economy through job creation and increased revenue from visitor spending.

However, over-reliance on tourism can lead to economic instability in times of crisis or downturns in the industry.

To mitigate these risks, destinations should implement sustainability measures and focus on economic diversification by promoting other industries such as agriculture or manufacturing.

This will help ensure long-term stability and resilience for the local community beyond just relying on tourism alone.

How Does Mass Tourism Affect The Cultural Heritage Of A Destination?

When we think of mass tourism, we often consider the economic impact on a destination. However, it’s important to also examine how this form of travel affects cultural heritage.

On one hand, tourism promotion can help raise awareness and appreciation for local traditions and customs. But on the other hand, the commodification of culture can lead to its dilution or even loss over time.

It’s crucial that destinations strike a balance between promoting their unique cultural heritage while also preserving it for future generations through meaningful education initiatives and responsible tourism practices.

What Steps Can Be Taken To Mitigate The Negative Impacts Of Mass Tourism?

To mitigate the negative impacts of mass tourism, sustainable tourism practices must be implemented with community involvement.

This includes developing infrastructure that supports responsible travel behavior and reducing carbon emissions.

Local communities should also have a say in the development of tourist activities to ensure their cultural heritage is respected and preserved.

Additionally, education programs can inform tourists about local customs and traditions while encouraging them to minimize their impact on the environment.

By working together towards these goals, destinations can balance economic growth with environmental conservation and cultural preservation for a more sustainable future.

So, there you have it folks – the pros and cons of mass tourism!

On one hand, we can enjoy cheap flights and easy access to exotic destinations. But on the other hand, we risk destroying local communities and cultures in our quest for a perfect Instagram photo.

Of course, as responsible travelers, we should always do our best to mitigate the negative impacts of mass tourism.

This might mean supporting locally-owned businesses or avoiding popular tourist traps altogether. And who knows?

Maybe one day we’ll even find a way to travel sustainably without sacrificing any of the fun. Until then, happy travels (but please don’t forget your reusable water bottle)!

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Jordon Layne

Mass Tourism: History, Types, Advantages & Disadvantages, Destinations and Its Impacts

Mass tourism is a form of tourism that involves the movement of large numbers of people to popular holiday destinations. It is often associated with package holidays, all-inclusive resorts, and organized tours. Mass tourism aims to provide travellers with a hassle-free vacation experience, where everything from transportation to accommodation and activities is planned and delivered by a single operator.

While mass tourism has been a boon for many destinations, it has also been criticized for its negative impact on local cultures, economies, and environments. The sheer number of tourists can overwhelm local infrastructure and resources, leading to overcrowding, pollution, and strain on natural resources. In addition, mass tourism can also lead to the commodification of local cultures, where traditional practices and customs are adapted to suit the needs and expectations of tourists. This can result in the loss of cultural authenticity and homogenization of local cultures.

Despite its drawbacks, mass tourism remains a popular form of travel for many people. It offers convenience, affordability, and the opportunity to visit popular destinations without worrying about the logistics of planning a trip. However, it is essential to consider the impact of mass tourism on local communities and the environment and to make responsible travel choices whenever possible.

Table of Contents

History of mass tourism.

Mass tourism has a long and exciting history from the 19th century. The growth of leisure travel and its importance resulted from increased spending power, personal mobility, the development of public transport, and internationalization in modern communities.

Mass tourism began in 1851 when Thomas Cook led a mass of tourists to the Great Exhibition in London. A British entrepreneur, Cook is the father of modern tourism. He organized the first package tour , which involved people travelling together on a pre-planned itinerary. Cook’s innovation made travel affordable and accessible to the masses and quickly became popular.

The introduction of paid holidays in the early 20th century further fueled the growth of mass tourism. Workers were given time off from work to travel and explore new destinations. The concept of paid holidays was first introduced in the UK in 1938, and it quickly spread to other parts of the world. This increased the number of people travelling, creating a new market for the tourism industry .

The post-World War II period saw a significant increase in mass tourism. The airline industry’s growth , the development of new destinations, and the introduction of new technologies, such as the jet engine, made travel faster, cheaper, and more comfortable. This led to an explosion in the number of people travelling, creating a new industry that catered explicitly to mass tourism.

In conclusion, mass tourism has a rich and fascinating history that dates back to the 19th century. The growth of leisure travel, the introduction of paid holidays, and the development of new technologies have all contributed to the growth of mass tourism. Today, mass tourism is a significant industry that generates billions of dollars in revenue and employs millions worldwide.

Types of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism refers to the movement of a large number of organized tourists to popular holiday destinations for recreational purposes. It is a phenomenon which is characterized by the use of standardized package products and mass consumption. Here are some types of mass tourism:

• Cultural Tourism : This type of mass tourism involves visiting historical and cultural sites, museums, art galleries, and other places of cultural significance. Cultural tourism is popular among tourists who want to learn about a particular region or country’s history, traditions, and customs.
• Adventure Tourism : This type of mass tourism involves activities such as trekking, hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities. Adventure tourism is popular among tourists seeking excitement and thrill during their holidays.
• Beach Tourism : This type of mass tourism involves visiting coastal areas, beaches, and islands. Beach tourism is popular among tourists who want to relax, sunbathe, swim, and engage in water sports.
• Ecotourism : This type of mass tourism involves visiting natural areas, wildlife reserves, and national parks. Ecotourism is popular among tourists who want to experience nature, observe wildlife, and learn about conservation efforts.
• Medical Tourism : This type of mass tourism involves travelling to another country for medical treatment. Medical tourism is popular among tourists who want to access medical treatments that are not available in their home country or are too expensive.
• Sports Tourism : This type of mass tourism involves travelling to attend or participate in sports events such as football matches, cricket matches, tennis tournaments, and other sporting events.
• Cruise Tourism : This type of mass tourism involves travelling on a cruise ship to visit multiple destinations. Cruise tourism is popular among tourists who want to relax, socialize, and enjoy onboard entertainment while visiting various destinations.

Mass tourism has positive and negative impacts on the environment, economy, and society. It is important to manage mass tourism sustainably and responsibly to minimize its negative effects and maximize its benefits.

Advantages of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism has several advantages, making it an essential part of the tourism industry. Here are some of the benefits of mass tourism:

Boosts Local Economy

Mass tourism can significantly boost the local economy of a tourist destination. It generates much revenue for local businesses, such as hotels , restaurants, and souvenir shops. This, in turn, creates job opportunities for the locals and helps improve their living standards. Mass tourism can also contribute to infrastructure development, such as roads, airports, and public transportation, which can benefit the local community even after the tourists have left.

Increases Cultural Exchange

Mass tourism can increase cultural exchange between tourists and locals. Tourists can learn about the local customs, traditions, and way of life, while locals can learn about the visitors’ culture. This cultural exchange can help to promote understanding and tolerance between different cultures and can also help to preserve the local culture by promoting it to a wider audience.

Provides Affordable Travel Options

Mass tourism provides affordable travel options for people who may not have the means to travel otherwise. The package deals offered by mass tourism companies can be significantly cheaper than individual travel arrangements. This makes travel more accessible to a wider range of people, including those on a budget.

Supports Conservation Efforts

Mass tourism can also support conservation efforts in tourist destinations. The revenue generated by mass tourism can be used to fund conservation projects, such as wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. This can help preserve the destination’s natural beauty and protect it for future generations.

Mass tourism has several advantages, making it an important part of the tourism industry. It can boost the local economy, increase cultural exchange, provide affordable travel options, and support conservation efforts. However, it is important to balance the advantages of mass tourism with its potential negative impacts, such as overcrowding, environmental degradation, and cultural homogenization.

Disadvantages of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years but has drawbacks. Here are some of the disadvantages of mass tourism:

1. Environmental Impact

One of the most significant disadvantages of mass tourism is the environmental impact. Mass tourism can lead to pollution, degradation of natural resources, and damage to ecosystems. The large number of tourists can put a strain on local resources, such as water and energy, and contribute to climate change.

2. Overcrowding

Mass tourism can lead to overcrowding in popular tourist destinations, which can cause inconvenience and discomfort for tourists and locals. Overcrowding can also lead to safety concerns and increase the risk of accidents and incidents.

3. Cultural Impact

Mass tourism can have a negative impact on local cultures and traditions. The influx of tourists can lead to a loss of cultural authenticity and homogenization of local cultures. This can also lead to losing traditional ways of life and displacement of local residents.

4. Economic Impact

While mass tourism can bring economic benefits to a destination, it can also have negative economic impacts. The reliance on tourism can lead to an unstable economy, and the profits from tourism may not benefit local communities. In some cases, tourism can also lead to inflation and increased living costs for locals.

5. Sustainability

Mass tourism is often unsustainable in the long term. The strain on local resources and ecosystems can lead to irreversible damage, and focusing on short-term profits can lead to neglecting long-term sustainability goals.

While mass tourism can bring economic benefits and opportunities for travellers, it is essential to consider its negative impacts on the environment, local communities, and cultures.

Mass Tourism Destinations

Mass tourism has become popular for people to explore new destinations and experience different cultures. The most popular mass tourism destinations include beaches, mountains, national parks, and historical sites. Here are some examples of popular mass tourism destinations:

Beaches are a popular destination for mass tourism. Some popular beaches include Goa in India, Santorini in Greece, and the Harbor Islands in Boston. These destinations offer beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, and a variety of activities for tourists to enjoy.

Mountains are another popular destination for mass tourism. Central Massachusetts and the Greater Merrimack Valley are popular destinations for tourists who want to experience the beauty of the mountains. These destinations offer breathtaking views, hiking trails, and other outdoor activities.

National Parks

National parks are also popular destinations for mass tourism. Cape Cod National Seashore is a popular destination for tourists who want to explore the area’s natural beauty. The park offers hiking trails, beaches, and other outdoor activities.

Historical Sites

Historical sites are also popular destinations for mass tourism. The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and the North of Boston are popular destinations for tourists who want to explore the history of the area. These destinations offer a glimpse into the past and a chance to learn about different cultures.

Overall, there are many popular mass tourism destinations for tourists to explore. Whether you are looking for a beach vacation, a mountain retreat, or a chance to explore historical sites, there is something for everyone.

Impact on Local Communities

Mass tourism significantly impacts local communities, and the effects can be positive and negative. While tourism can bring economic benefits to a region, it can also negatively impact the local culture, jobs, infrastructure, local businesses, gentrification, and over-tourism.

One of mass tourism’s most significant negative impacts on local communities is the erosion of local culture. As more tourists flock to a destination, the local culture can become homogenized, and the unique traditions and ways of life can be lost. This can lead to a loss of identity for the local community and a decline in cultural heritage.

Another negative impact of mass tourism is the effect on jobs. While tourism can create jobs in the hospitality and service industries, it can also lead to a decline in traditional industries. For example, in some regions, farming and fishing have been replaced by tourism, leading to a loss of traditional jobs and a decline in local economies.

Infrastructure can also be negatively impacted by mass tourism. As more tourists visit an area, the demand for infrastructure such as roads, airports, and hotels increases. This can lead to overcrowding, traffic congestion, and strain on local resources.

Local businesses can also be impacted by mass tourism. While some businesses may benefit from increased tourism, others may struggle to compete with larger international chains. This can lead to a decline in local businesses and a loss of economic diversity in the region.

Gentrification is another issue that can arise from mass tourism. As more tourists visit an area, property prices can rise, leading to the displacement of local residents. This can lead to social and economic inequality, as the local community is pushed out of its own neighbourhood.

Finally, mass tourism is a growing concern in many popular tourist destinations. When the number of tourists visiting a destination exceeds the region’s carrying capacity, it can lead to overcrowding, environmental degradation, and a decline in the quality of life for local residents.

In conclusion, while mass tourism can bring economic benefits to a region, it is essential to consider the impact on local communities. The negative impacts of mass tourism can be significant, and it is crucial to find a balance between economic growth and sustainable tourism practices.

Economic Aspects of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism can have a significant impact on the economy of a destination. It can generate income and create employment opportunities, but it can also put a strain on resources and infrastructure.

One of the main benefits of mass tourism is the income it generates for local economies. Tourists spend money on accommodation, food, transportation, and activities, which can contribute to the local economy. According to a report by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, travel expenditures in Massachusetts in 2018 generated over $24 billion in direct spending, which supported over 150,000 jobs and generated $1.6 billion in state and local taxes.

However, mass tourism can also put a strain on resources and infrastructure. Popular tourist destinations may struggle to accommodate the influx of visitors during peak season, leading to overcrowding and strain on local resources such as water and energy. Additionally, the increased demand for goods and services can drive up prices, making it harder for locals to afford basic necessities.

Another economic aspect of mass tourism is profit. Large tourism companies may benefit from the high volume of tourists by making significant profits. However, smaller local businesses may struggle to compete with larger companies, leading to a concentration of wealth in the hands of a few.

Overall, the economic impact of mass tourism is complex and multifaceted. While it can generate income and create employment opportunities, it can also strain resources and infrastructure and concentrate wealth in the hands of a few.

Tourist Behavior and Expectations

Tourist behaviour and expectations play a crucial role in the mass tourism industry. Tourists are individuals who travel to different places for leisure, business, or other purposes. They have certain expectations and requirements from their travel experience, which can influence their behaviour during their stay.

One of the primary expectations of tourists is to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience. They expect high-quality accommodations, transportation, food, and entertainment options. Tourists also expect to be treated with respect and hospitality by the locals and the service providers. They want to feel welcomed and appreciated during their stay.

Another important aspect of tourist behaviour is their spending habits. Tourists tend to spend significant money on their travel, which can boost the local economy. However, they also expect value for their money and are likely to avoid places that are overpriced or do not meet their expectations.

Family tourists are a significant segment of the mass tourism industry. They have unique expectations and requirements, such as child-friendly accommodations, entertainment options, and safety measures. Family tourists also tend to plan their trips well in advance and are likely to choose destinations that offer a variety of activities for all members of the family.

Responsible tourism is another emerging trend in the mass tourism industry. Responsible tourists are conscious of their impact on the environment and the local communities. They expect the destinations and service providers to follow sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprint. Responsible tourists will likely choose eco-friendly accommodations, participate in local conservation efforts, and support local businesses.

Overall, understanding tourist behaviour and expectations is essential for the success of the mass tourism industry. Service providers and destinations that meet and exceed these expectations will likely attract more visitors and generate higher revenues.

Role of Media and Internet

The role of media and the internet has greatly influenced the rise of mass tourism. With the advent of social media platforms such as Instagram, travellers are constantly exposed to images of exotic destinations and experiences, which can influence their travel decisions. In fact, a study suggests that social media has a significant impact on tourists’ choices of travel components, with most studies focusing on the impact of social media on behavioural intention.

The media has also played a vital role in promoting tourism, especially in countries where tourism is a major source of revenue. The media is often used to showcase a destination’s natural beauty, culture, and attractions, which can attract tourists. For example, television shows such as Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” and Samantha Brown’s “Places to Love” have helped to promote off-the-beaten-path destinations to a wider audience.

The internet has also revolutionized the way people plan and book their travel. Travellers can now easily research and book flights, accommodations, and activities through online travel agencies and booking platforms. This has led to increased independent travel, where travellers can plan their own itineraries and customize their travel experiences.

However, the internet has also brought about challenges for the tourism industry. With the ease of access to information, travellers are now more aware of the negative impacts of tourism, such as overcrowding, environmental degradation, and cultural commodification. This has led to a rise in sustainable and responsible tourism practices, where travellers seek to minimize their impact on the environment and local communities.

Overall, the role of media and the Internet in mass tourism cannot be overstated. While it has brought about challenges, it has also opened up new opportunities for travellers to explore the world and for destinations to promote themselves to a wider audience.

Tour Operators and Travel Agents

Tour operators and travel agents play a significant role in mass tourism. They are intermediaries between the tourists and the service providers, such as hotels, airlines, and transportation companies. Their main function is to package and sell tours to holiday destinations, including flights, accommodation, and other services.

Travel agents are professionals who provide travel-related services to clients. They offer advice on travel destinations, make reservations for flights, hotels, and other services, and provide information on travel insurance, visas, and other travel-related documents. They earn a commission from the service providers for the services they sell.

On the other hand, tour operators specialize in organizing and selling packaged tours to holiday destinations. They create tour packages that include transportation, accommodation, meals, and other services. They work with travel agents to sell their tour packages to clients. Tour operators profit by buying services from service providers at a discounted rate and selling them to clients at a higher price.

Mass tourism has led to the growth of travel agents and tour operators. They have become essential players in the tourism industry, providing clients with a wide range of services. They have also contributed to the growth of the tourism industry by promoting tourism destinations and creating new tourism products.

One of the main advantages of using travel agents and tour operators is convenience. They provide a one-stop shop for all travel-related services, making it easy for clients to plan their holidays. They also offer expert advice on travel destinations and provide assistance in case of any problems during the trip.

However, there are also some disadvantages to using travel agents and tour operators. One of the main disadvantages is the cost. Travel agents and tour operators charge a commission for their services, which can add up to a significant amount. Moreover, some travel agents and tour operators may not provide accurate information or may misrepresent the services they offer.

In conclusion, travel agents and tour operators are essential players in the mass tourism industry. They provide clients with a wide range of services, including packaged tours, flights, accommodation, and other travel-related services. While they offer convenience and expert advice, they also have disadvantages, such as cost and potential misrepresentation of services.

Environmental Concerns

Mass tourism has been associated with a wide range of environmental concerns. One of the most significant environmental concerns is the impact of tourism on the natural environment. The increase in tourist activities has resulted in a higher demand for natural resources, such as water, energy, and land. This has led to the degradation of natural habitats, deforestation, and soil erosion in some areas.

Another environmental concern is the amount of waste generated by mass tourism. Tourists generate significant waste, including plastic bottles, food packaging, and disposable items. This waste often ends up in landfills or littered in the environment, leading to pollution and negative impacts on wildlife.

Sustainable travel is an approach that seeks to minimize the negative impact of tourism on the environment. This includes promoting green tourism practices, such as using renewable energy sources, reducing waste, and conserving natural resources. Sustainable travel also involves educating tourists about the importance of responsible tourism practices and encouraging them to participate in environmentally friendly activities.

Carrying capacity is another important concept in mass tourism. It refers to the maximum number of tourists a destination can accommodate without causing negative impacts on the environment. When the number of tourists exceeds the carrying capacity of a destination, it can lead to overcrowding, pollution, and damage to natural habitats.

Finally, carbon emissions associated with transportation and accommodation significantly contribute to climate change. Mass tourism is responsible for significant carbon emissions contributing to global warming. Sustainable travel practices, such as using public transportation, choosing eco-friendly accommodations, and offsetting carbon emissions, can help reduce the impact of tourism on climate change.

Future of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism has been a significant contributor to the global economy for decades. However, recent events have highlighted the need for a more sustainable and responsible approach to tourism. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant decline in mass tourism, leading to the closure of many businesses and job losses. The future of mass tourism is uncertain, and it will likely require significant changes to adapt to the new reality.

One of the most significant challenges facing mass tourism is sustainability. The industry significantly impacts the environment, and there is a growing awareness of the need to reduce this impact. Governments and tourism organizations increasingly focus on sustainable tourism practices, such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and protecting natural resources. The future of mass tourism will depend on its ability to adapt to these new practices and become more sustainable.

Another challenge facing mass tourism is the changing preferences of travellers. Many people are now looking for more authentic and immersive travel experiences rather than traditional mass tourism offerings. This trend will likely continue, and mass tourism must adapt to meet these changing preferences.

Technology is also likely to play a significant role in the future of mass tourism. Advances in technology are making travel more accessible and convenient, and this trend will likely continue. For example, virtual reality technology is already used to provide immersive travel experiences, which will likely become more widespread.

In conclusion, the future of mass tourism is uncertain, but it is clear that significant changes will be required to adapt to the new reality. Sustainability, changing traveller preferences, and technology will likely be the key drivers of change in the industry. The industry’s challenge will be adapting to these changes while continuing to provide high-quality travel experiences for its customers.

In conclusion, mass tourism is a significant part of the tourism industry, associated with package holidays, popular tourist attractions, and well-known resorts. However, the growth of mass tourism has led to several challenges, including over-tourism, environmental degradation, and cultural homogenization.

The future of mass tourism is uncertain, with several factors influencing its growth and development. The rise of sustainable tourism, technological advancements, and changing consumer preferences will likely impact mass tourism’s future.

Despite the challenges, mass tourism continues to provide economic benefits to many destinations. However, balancing economic benefits with environmental and social sustainability is essential to ensure the industry’s long-term viability.

Overall, the future of mass tourism is complex and multifaceted, with several challenges and opportunities. It is crucial to adopt a holistic approach to tourism development, taking into account the economic, social, and environmental impacts of mass tourism.

The "Good Tourism" Blog

For diverse perspectives on sustainable tourism & responsible travel ... because travel & tourism is everyone's business., what is ‘mass tourism’ and what’s the problem.

What is ‘mass tour­ism’? How do we think about it and talk about it? Do we con­sider all of its con­texts, costs, and benefits?

Does mass tour­ism con­trib­ute to good lives? Or do ‘the masses’ only rep­res­ent threat?

Does leis­ure travel for the many have its place in a ‘green’ future for us all? Or will it remain the priv­ilege of a few?

Vil­helmi­ina Vain­ikka shared this “Good Tour­ism” Insight at the invit­a­tion of Tour­is­m’s Hori­zon: Travel for the Mil­lions , a “GT” Part­ner. (You too can write a “GT” Insight .)

Table of contents

What is ‘mass tourism’ .

Why would any­one ask such a ques­tion? Isn’t the answer obvious? 

Pre­sum­ably every­one using the term — in industry, aca­demia, and in gen­er­al — has some idea of what mass tour­ism might be. After all, it’s likely we have been tour­ists ourselves, many of us live in places that attract tour­ists, and many work in tourism. 

Mass tour­ism is integ­ral to our cul­ture. But, as Ray­mond Wil­li­ams argued in rela­tion to the term ’cul­ture’ itself, its ubi­quity masks a range of con­tested understandings. 

Don’t miss oth­er “GT” posts tagged ‘Car­ry­ing capa­city, mass tour­ism, & overtourism’

Research­ers of tour­ism have prob­ably had to define mass tour­ism in their pub­lic­a­tions. Tour­ism stu­dents have prob­ably had to learn one or more defin­i­tions. We can say that most people — aca­dem­ics too, des­pite claimed expert­ise and author­ity — hold socially-con­struc­ted views of mass tourism. 

There are many dif­fer­ent defin­i­tions of and per­spect­ives on mass tour­ism. My own doc­tor­al research con­cen­trated on the dif­fer­ent ways pro­fes­sion­als — aca­dem­ic research­ers, pack­age tour agents, and tour guides — think of mass tourism. 

What is ‘mass tourism’? Quantitative vs qualitative definitions

When we define some­thing, we are sim­ul­tan­eously part of cre­at­ing that phe­nomen­on. Lan­guage con­veys mean­ing, but also con­structs it. Defin­i­tions make some­thing an under­stand­able entity, draw­ing lines where it ends and some­thing else begins. 

One way to define mass tour­ism is as a quant­it­at­ive notion. ‘Mass’ implies a large scale, involving many people (in rela­tion to the glob­al, region­al, or loc­al con­text in which mass tour­ism is perceived). 

This quant­it­at­ive notion is often tied to qual­it­at­ive char­ac­ter­ist­ics. Large num­bers of tour­ists may be under­stood in a pos­it­ive, neut­ral, or neg­at­ive way. Today it is often under­stood as prob­lem­at­ic, for example in the debates on ’over­tour­ism’.

Mass tour­ism can also be approached in oth­er, more qual­it­at­ive ways:

• It can refer to a mode of production/consumption . So, for example, we might think of Ford­ist mass pro­duc­tion, or eco­nom­ies of scale of mass production. 
• It can refer to spa­tial spe­cial­isa­tion . The resort as a space for mass tour­ism is an example of this. 
• It can also carry a strong asso­ci­ation with demo­crat­isa­tion , such as access to tour­ism by sec­tions of soci­ety; by social class , for example. 

All of the cat­egor­ies men­tioned above have changed — none are stat­ic — adding to the real­ity that mass tour­ism really needs think­ing through. 

Equally, mass tour­ism can also be under­stood as a ’super-umbrella term’ for tour­ism for ’the masses’, which com­bines the afore­men­tioned per­spect­ives. This sug­gests that num­bers of tour­ists, the mode of pro­duc­tion, the polit­ics of con­sump­tion, phys­ic­al mani­fest­a­tions such as the resort, and demo­crat­isa­tion, are all part of a wider ideo­lo­gic­al and polit­ic­al infra­struc­ture that we might call ’mass soci­ety’ or ’mass culture’. 

The super-umbrella approach con­nects tour­ism to all of its his­tor­ic­al, eco­nom­ic, and polit­ic­al con­texts: the devel­op­ment of indus­tri­al soci­ety, polit­ic­al change, growth, (in)equality, tech­no­lo­gic­al advances, and infrastructures. 

Not­ably in this fram­ing, the niche modes of tour­ism (eco­tour­ism, for example), which are often aes­thet­ic­ally and cul­tur­ally coun­ter­posed to mass tour­ism, can be seen as being part of the mass phe­nomen­on of tour­ism, just like the resort. This under­lines the com­plex­ity of the phe­nomen­on today.

Also read Sudip­ta K Sarkar’s “Good Tour­ism” Insight ‘Eco­tour­ism for the masses, not the elite classes!’

Contexts for mass tourism: The ‘good life’

Con­text is import­ant. Mass tour­ism is con­tex­tu­al­ised on spa­tial, tem­por­al, and scal­ar terms; we exper­i­ence it in space, time, and at a scale. There­fore, it is neces­sary to zoom in on dif­fer­ent loc­al, region­al, and nation­al con­texts in which mass tour­ism is tak­ing place. The his­tor­ies of dif­fer­ent com­munit­ies with mass tour­ism, wheth­er as des­tin­a­tions or as sources of tour­ists, are mean­ing­ful in under­stand­ing con­tem­por­ary life­styles and ideas of what con­sti­tutes a ’good life’.

Is mass tourism a singularity or a plurality?

The ‘mass’ in mass tour­ism is both a sin­gu­lar and a plur­al . The rela­tion­ship between the two is key. In dis­cus­sions of mass tour­ism, char­ac­ter­isa­tions of the sin­gu­lar mass, or ’the masses’, can obscure the plur­al­ity of indi­vidu­als, and indi­vidu­al­ity itself. 

I have argued in my research that the use­ful­ness of mass tour­ism as a concept is embed­ded in address­ing this very rela­tion; reflect­ing on what the ‘mass’ sym­bol­ises and what con­sequences it has for how we see our fel­low humans. 

Erik Cohen has urged more research on mass tour­ist exper­i­ences and under­lined the pos­sib­il­ity for both col­lect­ive and indi­vidu­al exper­i­ences. We should allow space for both the sin­gu­lar­ity and the plur­al­ity in the dis­cus­sions we have of mass tourism.

Are the masses a threat?

See­ing large num­bers of people as a threat is not new, nor is it only a fea­ture of debates about tour­ism. Chris­ti­an Borch noted that crowds have often been per­ceived more as a threat than a solu­tion in soci­ety .  

Clas­sic­al crowd the­or­ies hold that indi­vidu­al agency and indi­vidu­al­ity are lost in the mass mind, and that crowds threaten the social order. These the­or­ies emerged in part as an elite fear of unrest among the urb­an work­ing masses. One could argue that these fears are sus­tained through con­tem­por­ary prejudices. 

Also read Jim Butcher­’s “GT” Insight ‘Was this the European sum­mer of ter­rible tour­ists? Give us a break, media!’

These ideas, and their mod­ern mani­fest­a­tion, are often reduct­ive. Rather than threat­en­ing, the crowd can be the very thing that is attract­ive about tour­ism exper­i­ences. For example, Jill­ian Rickly reminds us that part of the appeal in tour­ism are the events in which crowds gath­er and cre­ate an authen­t­ic experience. 

Cer­tainly, tour­ism is a form of com­pet­it­ive con­sump­tion. Often we wish there were no oth­er tour­ists, and cer­tainly no crowds, at the places we wish to admire and enjoy. But equally, in oth­er con­texts, crowds can be excit­ing, fun, human; the very essence of what anthro­po­lo­gists refer to as com­munitas .

Let’s talk about mass tourism … deterministically or flexibly?

Wheth­er we are research­ers, author­it­ies, or tour­ism industry pro­fes­sion­als, it mat­ters how we dis­cuss mass tour­ism . If we use a determ­in­ist­ic dis­course, we liken mass tour­ism to a mould. Into that mould we pour the exper­i­ences of mil­lions, but turn out a single, uni­form entity: ste­reo­typ­ic­al mass tourism. 

How­ever, if we use a flex­ible dis­course on mass tour­ism, we recog­nise that the phe­nomen­on, includ­ing its pro­duc­tion and con­sump­tion, changes over time and as tech­no­lo­gies and know­ledge are developed. This acknow­ledge­ment requires us to take a more dynam­ic con­cep­tu­al­isa­tion and wider per­spect­ive on mass tour­ism. As a res­ult, we get a more real­ist­ic por­tray­al of the phe­nomen­on, which can lead to more fruit­ful dis­cus­sions on its status and future.

Mass tourism vs the green transition

When we fol­low the dis­cus­sion on the green trans­ition for a sus­tain­able future, we are chal­lenged by the issue of ’qual­ity over quant­ity’; a bet­ter type of tour­ism . It sounds reas­on­able because, of course, we wish tour­ism stand­ards to be high in rela­tion to the envir­on­ment and loc­al communities. 

But as des­tin­a­tions seek to optim­ise bene­fits from tour­ism, ’qual­ity over quant­ity’ can mean in prac­tice ’the upper classes versus the masses’; ’qual­ity’ tour­ism for the rich and bet­ter edu­cated; ’quant­ity’ for the less enlightened ’mass tour­ist’ stereotype.

Also read Peter Smith’s “GT” Insight ‘For the sake of the world’s poor, might the risk of over­tour­ism be worth it?’

Per­haps we should invest more in find­ing ways to accom­mod­ate as many as pos­sible, while con­sid­er­ing that tour­ism could be some­thing dif­fer­ent from what we have prac­ticed so far. This may also make it easi­er to win sup­port from ‘the masses’ — indi­vidu­als seek­ing their own ver­sions of the ‘good life’ — for redu­cing car­bon emis­sions and address­ing envir­on­ment­al concerns. 

Ulti­mately, the masses vote, pro­duce, and con­sume. Pro­gress­ive, sus­tain­able change needs to come through them. Cari­ca­tures of mass tour­ism are unlikely to win friends and influ­ence people.

Mass mobilities

Finally, research­ers have begun to invest­ig­ate how cli­mate change influ­ences the mobil­it­ies of people, nam­ing it ‘ cli­mate mobil­it­ies ’. It is likely that we will face a blur­ring of the pre­vi­ous cat­egor­ies of mobility.

Cli­mate change, and the impacts it has on dif­fer­ent places, will likely increase migra­tion and affect tour­ism. Cat­egor­ies of travel — voluntary/involuntary, leisure/residential, migration/refugee, short-ter­m/long-term, etc — will be fur­ther complicated. 

There­fore, we need to dis­cuss how soci­et­ies and mobil­it­ies will be con­struc­ted and for whom. Through it all we should remem­ber that ‘the masses’ are the ’we’ and the ’us’; the ‘you’ and ‘I’; the pro­spect­ive bene­fi­ciar­ies of true sus­tain­able development.

What do you think? 

What is ‘mass tour­ism’ to you? Share your own thoughts   in a com­ment below. Or  write a deep­er “GT” Insight .  The “Good Tour­ism” Blog  wel­comes diversity of opin­ion and per­spect­ive about travel & tour­ism, because travel & tour­ism is everyone’s busi­ness .

“GT” is where free thought travels.

About the author

Vil­helmi­ina Vain­ikka is a post-doc­tor­al research fel­low at Tampere Uni­ver­sity , Fin­land. She is work­ing on the HUMANE-CLIMATE pro­ject (2022 – 2026), “the civic poten­tial of cli­mate mobil­ity”, which is fun­ded by the Academy of Finland.

Dr Vain­ikka con­trib­uted this “Good Tour­ism” Insight at the invit­a­tion of  Tourism’s Hori­zon: Travel for the Mil­lions , a “GT” Partner.

Featured image (top of post)

What is ‘mass tour­ism’? Is it, as this graf­fiti asserts, “human pol­lu­tion”? Image by Mark de Jong (CC0) via Unsplash . “GT” cropped the image and added the dangling ‘?’.

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What is overtourism and how can we overcome it? 

The issue of overtourism has become a major concern due to the surge in travel following the pandemic. Image:  Reuters/Manuel Silvestri (ITALY - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

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• Overtourism has once again become a concern, particularly after the rebound of international travel post-pandemic.
• Communities in popular destinations worldwide have expressed concerns over excess tourism on their doorstep.
• Here we outline the complexities of overtourism and the possible measures that can be taken to address the problem.

The term ‘overtourism’ has re-emerged as tourism recovery has surged around the globe. But already in 2019, angst over excessive tourism growth was so high that the UN World Tourism Organization called for “such growth to be managed responsibly so as to best seize the opportunities tourism can generate for communities around the world”.

This was especially evident in cities like Barcelona, where anti-tourism sentiment built up in response to pent-up frustration about rapid and unyielding tourism growth. Similar local frustration emerged in other famous cities, including Amsterdam , Venice , London , Kyoto and Dubrovnik .

While the pandemic was expected to usher in a new normal where responsible and sustainable travel would emerge, this shift was evidently short-lived, as demand surged in 2022 and 2023 after travel restrictions eased.

Have you read?

Ten principles for sustainable destinations: charting a new path forward for travel and tourism.

This has been witnessed over the recent Northern Hemisphere summer season, during which popular destinations heaved under the pressure of pent-up post-pandemic demand , with grassroots communities articulating over-tourism concerns.

Concerns over excess tourism have not only been seen in popular cities but also on the islands of Hawaii and Greece , beaches in Spain , national parks in the United States and Africa , and places off the beaten track like Japan ’s less explored regions.

What is overtourism?

The term overtourism was employed by Freya Petersen in 2001, who lamented the excesses of tourism development and governance deficits in the city of Pompei. Her sentiments are increasingly familiar among tourists in other top tourism destinations more than 20 years later.

Overtourism is more than a journalistic device to arouse host community anxiety or demonize tourists through anti-tourism activism. It is also more than simply being a question of management – although poor or lax governance most definitely accentuates the problem.

Governments at all levels must be decisive and firm about policy responses that control the nature of tourist demand and not merely give in to profits that flow from tourist expenditure and investment.

Overtourism is often oversimplified as being a problem of too many tourists. While that may well be an underlying symptom of excess, it fails to acknowledge the myriad factors at play.

In its simplest iteration, overtourism results from tourist demand exceeding the carrying capacity of host communities in a destination. Too often, the tourism supply chain stimulates demand, giving little thought to the capacity of destinations and the ripple effects on the well-being of local communities.

Overtourism is arguably a social phenomenon too. In China and India, two of the most populated countries where space is a premium, crowded places are socially accepted and overtourism concerns are rarely articulated, if at all. This suggests that cultural expectations of personal space and expectations of exclusivity differ.

We also tend not to associate ‘overtourism’ with Africa . But uncontrolled growth in tourist numbers is unsustainable anywhere, whether in an ancient European city or the savannah of a sub-Saharan context.

Overtourism must also have cultural drivers that are intensified when tourists' culture is at odds with that of host communities – this might manifest as breaching of public norms, irritating habits, unacceptable behaviours , place-based displacement and inconsiderate occupation of space.

The issue also comes about when the economic drivers of tourism mean that those who stand to benefit from growth are instead those who pay the price of it, particularly where gentrification and capital accumulation driven from outside results in local resident displacement and marginalization.

Overcoming overtourism excesses

Radical policy measures that break the overtourism cycle are becoming more common. For example, Amsterdam has moved to ban cruise ships by closing the city’s cruise terminal.

Tourism degrowth has long been posited as a remedy to overtourism. While simply cutting back on tourist numbers seems like a logical response, whether the economic trade-offs of fewer tourists will be tolerated is another thing altogether.

The Spanish island of Lanzarote moved to desaturate the island by calling the industry to focus on quality tourism rather than quantity. This shift to quality, or higher yielding, tourists has been mirrored in many other destinations, like Bali , for example.

Dispersing tourists outside hotspots is commonly seen as a means of dealing with too much tourism. However, whether sufficient interest to go off the beaten track can be stimulated might be an immoveable constraint, or simply result in problem shifting .

Demarketing destinations has been applied with varying degrees of success. However, whether it can address the underlying factors in the long run is questioned, particularly as social media influencers and travel writers continue to give attention to touristic hotspots. In France, asking visitors to avoid Mont Saint-Michelle and instead recommending they go elsewhere is evidence of this.

Introducing entry fees and gates to over-tourist places like Venice is another deterrent. This assumes visitors won’t object to paying and that revenues generated are spent on finding solutions rather than getting lost in authorities’ consolidated revenue.

Advocacy and awareness campaigns against overtourism have also been prominent, but whether appeals to tourists asking them to curb irresponsible behaviours have had any impact remains questionable as incidents continue —for example, the Palau Pledge and New Zealand’s Tiaki Promise appeal for more responsible behaviours.

Curtailing the use of the word overtourism is also posited – in the interest of avoiding the rise of moral panics and the swell of anti-tourism social movements, but pretending the phenomenon does not exist, or dwelling on semantics won’t solve the problem .

Solutions to address overtourism

The solutions to dealing adequately with the effects of overtourism are likely to be many and varied and must be tailored to the unique, relevant destination .

The tourism supply chain must also bear its fair share of responsibility. While popular destinations are understandably an easier sell, redirecting tourism beyond popular honeypots like urban heritage sites or overcrowded beaches needs greater impetus to avoid shifting the problem elsewhere.

Local authorities must exercise policy measures that establish capacity limits, then ensure they are upheld, and if not, be held responsible for their inaction .

Meanwhile, tourists themselves should take responsibility for their behaviour and decisions while travelling, as this can make a big difference to the impact on local residents .

Those investing in tourism should support initiatives that elevate local priorities and needs, and not simply exercise a model of maximum extraction for shareholders in the supply chain.

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National tourist offices and destination management organizations must support development that is nuanced and in tune with the local backdrop rather than simply mimicking mass-produced products and experiences.

The way tourist experiences are developed and shaped must be transformed to move away from outright consumerist fantasies to responsible consumption .

The overtourism problem will be solved through a clear-headed, collaborative and case-specific assessment of the many drivers in action. Finally, ignoring historical precedents that have led to the current predicament of overtourism and pinning this on oversimplified prescriptions abandons any chance of more sustainable and equitable tourism futures .

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Tourism’s Importance for Growth Highlighted in World Economic Outlook Report

• All Regions
• 10 Nov 2023

Tourism has again been identified as a key driver of economic recovery and growth in a new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). With UNWTO data pointing to a return to 95% of pre-pandemic tourist numbers by the end of the year in the best case scenario, the IMF report outlines the positive impact the sector’s rapid recovery will have on certain economies worldwide.

According to the World Economic Outlook (WEO) Report , the global economy will grow an estimated 3.0% in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024. While this is higher than previous forecasts, it is nevertheless below the 3.5% rate of growth recorded in 2022, pointing to the continued impacts of the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and from the cost-of-living crisis.

Tourism key sector for growth

The WEO report analyses economic growth in every global region, connecting performance with key sectors, including tourism. Notably, those economies with "large travel and tourism sectors" show strong economic resilience and robust levels of economic activity. More specifically, countries where tourism represents a high percentage of GDP   have recorded faster recovery from the impacts of the pandemic in comparison to economies where tourism is not a significant sector.

As the report Foreword notes: "Strong demand for services has supported service-oriented economies—including important tourism destinations such as France and Spain".

Looking Ahead

The latest outlook from the IMF comes on the back of UNWTO's most recent analysis of the prospects for tourism, at the global and regional levels. Pending the release of the November 2023 World Tourism Barometer , international tourism is on track to reach 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Prospects for September-December 2023 point to continued recovery, driven by the still pent-up demand and increased air connectivity particularly in Asia and the Pacific where recovery is still subdued.

Related links

• Download the News Release on PDF
• UNWTO World Tourism Barometer
• IMF World Economic Outlook

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Debating Matters

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Tourism benefits the world

View a PDF version of this topic guide here .

INTRODUCTION

Tourism has traditionally been seen as a way of showing appreciation for different places, peoples and cultures, but mounting fears about the impact of mass tourism have led many to question whether tourists are actually ruining the places they love. A debate about the effects of tourism on tourist destinations has been going on for some time [Ref:  Telegraph ], leading to the rise of related ideas like ethical tourism [Ref:  Tourism Concern ] or eco-tourism [Ref:   International Ecotourism Society ].

Most recently, there has been a renewed focus on the impact that tourism has on major or historic cities. Scottish authors Ian Rankin [Ref:  Times ] and Val McDermid [Ref:  Edinburgh News ] have clashed on whether tourism is ‘killing’ Edinburgh. Barcelona is widely considered to have been ‘ruined’ by tourism [Ref:  The Guardian ], and Venice has considered taking radical steps including banning sitting down in key areas to alleviate the supposed problems of overtourism [Ref:  Telegraph ]. Moreover, the short-stay rental service Airbnb – used by many tourists – has been accused of driving up rents for locals, turning residential areas into unofficial hotels [Ref:  BBC ] and even robbing cities of their individuality [Ref:  The Verge ].

There has, however, been a backlash against the war on tourism, with renewed arguments for the economic and social benefits tourism brings. Critics detect snobbery against mass tourism, moral posturing and hypocrisy, with people bemoaning the effects of tourism while continuing to take full advantage of its many benefits. They ask on what basis people claim a right to tell others how to enjoy themselves. The overall impact of tourism therefore needs to be reassessed, and the question remains: is the holiday over for mass tourism?

DEBATE IN CONTEXT

This section provides a summary of the key issues in the debate, set in the context of recent discussions and the competing positions that have been adopted.

Does tourism ruin cities?  From the time that the father of mass tourism, Thomas Cook, organised the world’s first package tour in 1841, tourism has been more than the preserve of a privileged few [Ref:  Wikipedia ]. The postwar expansion of air travel started the era of international mass tourism, which today, with the increase in cheap flights, includes many more short breaks alongside annual summer holidays. Ever since this expansion, critics have accused masses of tourists of destroying picturesque towns and cities by littering and drinking but also by replacing businesses aimed at local needs with kitschy tourist-traps and foreign restaurants [Ref:  Independent ]. But has there always been an elitist undercurrent in such criticisms? [Ref:   Stuff Magazine ]. The same papers that carry criticisms of mass-tourism [Ref:  Guardian ] carry articles on the next ‘unspoilt’ destination for middle-class travellers to visit [Ref:  Guardian ]. Moreover, the criticism of mass-tourism and chain hotels has directly fed the popularity of Airbnb and the image of ‘living like a local’, the very thing critics are now decrying. But, when concerns about tourism come from locals, is it not wiser to listen?

Do the economic benefits outweigh the costs? Tourism is the world’s largest industry, a vitally important source of rapid development for many small developing countries [Ref:  Financial Times ], and a lifeline for those hit by crises [Ref:  NYT ]. However, many are concerned that money goes to companies abroad rather than local people [Ref:  Guardian ]. One side points to the benefits from employment and associated opportunities for small family businesses like cafes and handicrafts [Ref:  Medium ], while the other points to foreign companies creating resorts or excluding locals.

Does tourism damage or improve the environment? Environmentalists argue flying is the fastest growing cause of climate change, although it is currently responsible for only three per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions [Ref:  The Conversation ]. There are calls, often successful, for increased taxes on aviation to discourage flying [Ref:   Financial Times ]. Budget airlines are a focus of criticism, but they argue that they are more efficient than other carriers. Furthermore, whilst the economic effects of tourism are benefiting historical sites and areas of natural beauty, the dramatic – and often unchecked – rise in the number of tourists goes hand in hand with increased damage, conservation and restoration issues, and the destruction of a way of life for ordinary people.

Whose city is it anyway? Locals in high tourism areas often feel that their city has been overrun by tourists who don’t care about local culture, but are more concerned with getting a selfie in front of a famous landmark [Ref:  Guardian ] or gaining the credibility on instagram from being seen in trendy Berlin clubs or Norwegian mountains [Ref:  Spiegel ;   National Geographic ]. Moreover, locals feel their rents are increasing and neighbourhoods are changing because of Airbnb [Ref:  Curbed ]. In response, they have organised protests and campaigned for new laws [Ref:  Guardian ]. Many cities now have restrictions on Airbnb [Ref:  BBC ], and Amsterdam is seeking to restrict the sale of marijuana to tourists in response to locals’ complaints about stoned and disoriented tourists [Ref:  Travel and Leisure ] . Yet, many locals feel that restrictions on tourists are restrictions on their own freedom: in Venice, locals organised a guerrilla campaign to destroy barriers and checkpoints designed to keep tourists to designated areas, saying that they ‘own the city, not the mayor or tourists’ [Ref:  Independent ].

Should we travel less?  After years of demonisation, travel seems very much to be in vogue again. Being ‘well travelled’ is social currency in an interconnected world that values cosmopolitanism, yet when such status is as much about avoiding ‘touristy’ areas or being seen in the ‘right’ cities like trendy Berlin [Ref:  NYMag ]  as it is about valuing travel as such [Ref:  CNN ], we are hardly seeing a defence of mass tourism. At any rate, it is relatively rare to see tourism defended on traditional terms such as the value of experiencing new cultures and engaging with great works of world civilisation [Ref:  NYT ]. Nonetheless, environmental concerns have not gone away, and even if Tourism Concern, the leading ethical tourism charity, was forced to close from a lack of donations [Ref:  Guardian ], people are increasingly mindful of being a ‘good tourist’. Moreover, global tourist numbers are due to increase exponentially as more people in the global south become able to afford to see the world [Ref:  Telegraph ]. Will these increased numbers be harmful, or should we celebrate the expansion of travel?

ESSENTIAL READING

It is crucial for debaters to have read the articles in this section, which provide essential information and arguments for and against the debate motion. Students will be expected to have additional evidence and examples derived from independent research, but they can expect to be criticised if they lack a basic familiarity with the issues raised in the essential reading.

Airbnb in Berlin Airbnb Airbnb 5 December 2018

In defense of tourism Peter Jon Lindberg Peter Jon Lindberg 3 September 2018

Anti-tourism gets ugly Jim Butcher Spiked 22 August 2018

In defense of being a tourist Lilit Marcus CNN 19 July 2017

Dear ‘Citizens of nowhere’ you are not alone James Shackell  The Journal 18 January 2017

In defense of the three-week vacation Jynne Dilling New York Times 9 June 2016

When climate change is the reality, our grandchildren will look back in horror at how we travel Greg Dickinson The Telegraph 30 August 2018

Residents in tourism hotspots have had enough. So what’s the answer? Elle Hunt The Guardian 9 July 2018

I don’t mean to ruin your holiday, but Europe hates tourists – and with good reason Suzanne Moore The Guardian 16 August 2017

Airbnb vs. the city Megan Barber Curbed 10 November 2016

Welcome to airspace Kyle Chayka The Verge 3 August 2016

Six reasons why mass tourism is unsustainable Anna Pollock The Guardian 23 August 2013

A timeline of overtourism: key moments in the global battle between locals and travellers Greg Dickinson The Telegraph 5 May 2019

How Berlin is fighting back against growing anti-tourist feeling in the city Oliver Stallwood The Guardian 4 December 2018

Venice locals tear down turnstiles amid fury after they are segregated from tourists Julia Bucley Independent 29 April 2018

Living Next Door to Tourism in Berlin Various DW 22 November 2017

First Venice and Barcelona: now anti-tourism marches spread across Europe Will Coldwell The Guardian 10 August 2017

In Berlin, a Grass-Roots Fight Against Gentrification as Rents Soar Charly Wilder New York Times 18 March 2017

Here’s exactly what Airbnb does to rent in popular cities Jim Edwards Business Insider 20 October 2016

How have our travel habits changed over the past 50 years? Colin Pooley The Conversation 21 October 2015

Definitions of key concepts that are crucial for understanding the topic. Students should be familiar with these terms and the different ways in which they are used and interpreted and should be prepared to explain their significance.

A history of package holidays Adam Lusher Independent 8 June 2015

BACKGROUNDERS

Useful websites and materials that provide a good starting point for research.

Thomas Cook Wikipedia 14 November 2018

Ghana after aid Various authors Financial Times 8 October 2018

‘Overtourism’ Is driving europeans crazy Jessica Loudis The Nation 12 September 2018

Your choice of holiday destination is a political act Brendan Canavan The Independent 6 August 2018

The backlash against Airbnb Charlemagne The Economist 19 July 2018

The holiday destinations that are saving the planet Oliver Smith The Telegraph 5 June 2018

Traveller vs tourist: The worst thing about being a travel snob Ben Groundwater Stuff Magazine 22 May 2018

Tourism creates thorny ethical dilemmas: isn’t that the point? Akshat Rathi Quartzy 12 April 2018

I did nothing all over the world Kate Manser Medium 5 March 2018

In defence of the ‘tourist trail’ Jessica Lee Lonely Planet 18 February 2018

Does your holiday pass the human rights test? Rebecca Seales BBC 7 February 2018

The ‘new’ Gap Year: Is it worth it, and what should I do during my year before university? Flora Carr The Telegraph 16 August 2017

Ethical Tourism and travelling off the beaten path Tobias Roberts HuffPost 6 July 2017

In Defense Of Chinese Tour Groups Panpan Wang Huffington Post 2 May 2017

It’s time to wake up to the devastating impact flying has on the environment Roger Tyers The Conversation 17 January 2017

No, tourism is not an act of ‘white privilege’ Jim Butcher Spiked 29 September 2016

IN THE NEWS

Relevant recent news stories from a variety of sources, which ensure students have an up to date awareness of the state of the debate.

Majority of residents in favour of tourists Various Visit Reykjavik 5 November 2018

Almost half of UK holidaymakers want tourism tax – survey Various ITV 4 November 2018

Leading ethical tourism charity forced to close Antonia Wilson The Guardian 28 September 2018

Will you soon have to pay a tourist tax to visit the Scottish Highlands? Greg Dickinson The Telegraph 27 September 2018

How is overtourism impacting travel to popular destinations? Johnny Jet Forbes 20 August 2018

Selfies and sweat stains: bad holidays and bored tourists – in pictures Laurence Stephens The Guardian 31 July 2018

Airbnb Drives Up Rent Costs in Manhattan and Brooklyn, Report Says Luis Ferré-Sadurní New York Times 3 May 2018

The Netherlands isn’t as weed-friendly as it used to be Natasha Bach Fortune 17 April 2018

The unstoppable rise of the Chinese traveller – where are they going and what does it mean for overt Oliver Smith The Telegraph 11 April 2018

Cancún: from tourist beach paradise to hotbed of Mexico’s drug violence David Agren The Guardian 14 March 2018

12 destinations travellers might want to avoid in 2018 Joe Minihane CNN 3 February 2018

Where to go on holiday in 2018 – the hotlist Various The Guardian 6 January 2018

Tourists have turned Oxford into ‘hell’, locals claim Natalie Paris The Telegraph 8 August 2017

‘Tourism kills neighbourhoods’: how do we save cities from the city break? Elle Hunt The Guardian 4 August 2017

Stats: millennials 5x more well-traveled than their grandparents Various Travel Agent Central 27 July 2017

Why Amsterdam’s coffeeshops are closing Various The Economist 10 January 2017

Airbnb faces worldwide opposition. It plans a movement to rise up in its defence Shane Hickey and Franki Cookney The Guardian 29 October 2016

High Line neighbours hate “High Line tourists” Garth Johnston Gothamist 24 May 2016

Barcelona declares war on stag and hen party binge drinkers with ban on Happy Hour Telegraph 15 October 2009

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Six reasons why mass tourism is unsustainable

"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." -- Buckminster Fuller

Despite the slow but steady increase in the number of enterprises claiming to be responsible or green, the fact remains that the current system of mass international tourism is utterly unsustainable.

Thanks to the application of the same industrial model developed for cars, houses and consumer goods, international tourism has exploded in size since the 1950s and swept into virtually every nook and cranny of the planet, washing up cash, jobs, golf courses, airports and enormous amounts of real estate.

Claimed by the UN World Tourism Organisation as a stimulant of economic recovery, tourism is, undoubtedly, a force to be reckoned with. It generates more than $2.1tn in annual revenues. In many countries and regions of the world, tourism is now the primary source of foreign exchange, employment and cash.

The to 1.8 billion travelers within the next 17 years, yet many remain in denial that the industry is based on a finite and limited supply of attractions, or accessible places rich in scenic beauty or culture.

The industry resembles a high-speed train, crammed with passengers with cheap tickets, racing toward a cliff edge. So it's worth asking why this challenge generates so little debate in the press and in general business literature.

Ending the unsustainable travel addiction

Clearly the media makes a lot of money from advertising holiday locations around the world, but on a broader level, perhaps providers, customers and regulators have each become so addicted to the promise and pleasures of cheap and frequent travel that the prospect of going without is simply too much to contemplate. Perhaps a form of "willful blindness" has infected us all.

The challenge turns out to be far more complex than just the prospect of run-away volume growth on a finite planet. Many sectors are running themselves into the ground financially as margins dwindle to razor thin. Meanwhile, thanks to congestion or overuse of scarce water and land resources, many destinations are destroying the landscapes and attractions, both natural and cultural, on which they depend.

I have come up with six key reasons why the current tourism model is way past its prime and why more of us need to focus on creating alternatives:

1. Mass industrial tourism is based on the assembly, distribution and consumption of packaged products and, as a consequence, one product is substitutable for another. The commodification of what should be revered as unique is further aggravated by the application of industrial cost cutting strategies of homogenisation, standardisation and automation that further strip out any remaining vestiges of difference, let alone mystique. Tourists "do" places and rarely get the chance to stand in awe and wonder.

2. In most youthful destinations, low barriers of entry and zero regulation encourage rapid growth and speculation. Both local politicians and often not-so-local developers benefit enormously from this growth, but rarely stay put long enough to have to cope with the crises caused by overcapacity and volatile demand.

3. The product is perishable - it's a time-based service - and can't be stocked. So when capacity goes up and demand declines, price discounting is the adaptive tactic of choice.

4. Technological connectivity and price comparison engines have shifted purchasing power to consumers, who have been convinced, by repeated discounting, that cheap travel is now a right - not a privilege. This accelerates the downward pressure on prices and yields.

5. Residents of tourism hotspots, who may have welcomed the first influx of visitors, soon find that cheap travel doesn't reduce their costs. Visitors cause land, food, water, housing and infrastructure prices to increase at a rate closely correlated with the decline in tourism operators' margins. Sadly, more tourism often means less benefit to the host communities.

6. Having fought so hard to be recognised as an industry, the tourism community fragments back into its specific sectors when issues of waste, carbon, water scarcity and other "externalities" are raised. Airlines don't pay taxes on aviation fuel and have fought carbon-related charges for decades.

What's to be done

We need to develop the idea of conscious travel and start to imagine a better alternative. Unfortunately, there is no magic wand or silver bullet; change will need to occur at the grassroots level, one destination at a time.

It will first and foremost require hosts to wake up and see their world differently - not as a resource to be exploited, but as a sacred place to be protected and celebrated for its uniqueness.

Second, it is important they start to view their customers not as mere units of consumption, but as guests seeking to be healed and transformed. Our conscious or mindful alternative is about less volume, congestion, hassle, destruction and harm and about more meaning, purpose, value, peace and fulfillment. In short, not more but better.

Tomorrow, on Guardian Sustainable Business, I will explore how we can start to move in this direction .

Anna Pollock has 40 years experience working as a strategist, analyst and change agent for travel destinations around the world. She is the founder of Conscious Travel .

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Cruise Culture: Thoughts On The Nature Of Mass Tourism

Published: October 18, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Elenore Henn

Introduction

Mass tourism, a phenomenon that has gained immense popularity in recent decades, has significantly impacted the global travel industry. With its growth, cruise culture has emerged as a prominent player, attracting millions of travelers each year. This article delves into the nature of mass tourism and its implications for local communities, the environment, and alternative forms of tourism.

Mass tourism refers to the travel trend where large numbers of people visit popular destinations, often characterized by organized group tours and all-inclusive packages. It is fueled by the desire for convenience, affordability, and the opportunity to explore renowned landmarks and immerse oneself in different cultures.

Cruise culture, which has seen exponential growth in recent years, plays a significant role in mass tourism. These floating cities offer a unique way to explore multiple destinations in a single trip, providing travelers with a plethora of onboard amenities and entertainment options.

While mass tourism has several advantages, it also comes with certain drawbacks that need to be addressed. On one hand, it stimulates economic growth by generating employment opportunities and increasing revenue for local businesses. Furthermore, it allows individuals from diverse backgrounds to experience new cultures, fostering cross-cultural understanding.

On the other hand, the influx of tourists can place immense strain on local communities. Popular destinations often face issues such as overcrowding, increased cost of living, and loss of cultural authenticity. Moreover, the environmental impact of mass tourism, particularly in coastal regions, raises concerns about sustainability and the preservation of natural ecosystems.

That being said, it is crucial to explore alternative forms of tourism that mitigate the negative impacts of mass tourism. Sustainable tourism practices that prioritize the well-being of local communities and the environment are gaining traction. Community-based tourism, ecotourism, and responsible travel are examples of such alternatives that promote authentic experiences and foster a deeper connection with the destinations.

This article aims to provide insights into the nature of mass tourism and its effects on local communities and the environment. By understanding the complexities of cruise culture and the broader travel industry, we can work together to promote responsible and sustainable tourism practices that benefit both travelers and the destinations they visit.

Definition of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism, sometimes referred to as mainstream tourism or package tourism, is a form of travel characterized by the mass movement of people to popular destinations. It involves organized group tours, all-inclusive packages, and standardized accommodations and activities. The focus of mass tourism is on providing convenience, affordability, and accessibility to a wide range of travelers.

At the heart of mass tourism is the concept of volume. Large numbers of tourists visit these destinations simultaneously, leading to crowded attractions, bustling hotels, and long queues. This form of tourism is driven by the desire to see and experience famous landmarks, cultural sites, and natural wonders.

One of the defining features of mass tourism is its appeal to a broad demographic. It caters to various budget ranges and offers a range of activities, from sightseeing tours to adventure sports and entertainment options. This inclusivity makes mass tourism accessible to families, groups, and solo travelers of diverse backgrounds.

Mass tourism is often associated with popular tourist spots such as iconic cities, historical sites, and coastal areas that offer scenic beauty. These destinations have developed infrastructure and services specifically tailored to accommodate large numbers of visitors, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, and transportation networks.

Although the term “mass tourism” has a somewhat negative connotation, it is important to note that it has positives aspects as well. It stimulates economic growth by generating revenue and employment opportunities for local businesses. Additionally, it brings people from different cultures together, fostering cross-cultural understanding.

However, the high volume of tourists can have detrimental effects on both the host communities and the environment. Overcrowding can strain local infrastructure, lead to increased costs of living for residents, and lead to the loss of cultural authenticity in popular destinations. Moreover, the environmental impact of mass tourism, including pollution, resource depletion, and carbon emissions, poses significant challenges in terms of sustainability.

Overall, mass tourism is a dominant force in the travel industry that has both positive and negative impacts. Recognizing its characteristics and understanding its implications is crucial for finding sustainable solutions that balance the economic benefits with the preservation of local cultures and the natural environment.

The Growth of Cruise Culture

In recent years, cruise culture has experienced exponential growth, becoming a significant component of mass tourism. The allure of traveling on a floating city, combined with the convenience of visiting multiple destinations in a single trip, has captured the imaginations of millions of travelers worldwide.

Cruise ships have evolved from mere vessels to luxurious floating resorts, offering a wide range of amenities, entertainment options, and dining experiences. From onboard theaters and casinos to spas and water parks, these floating cities aim to provide a multitude of activities to cater to the diverse interests of passengers.

The growth of cruise culture can be attributed to various factors. Firstly, the affordability and accessibility of cruising have made it an attractive option for travelers. With discounted prices, all-inclusive packages, and flexible payment plans, cruising has become a more attainable vacation choice for many.

Additionally, the appeal of convenience plays a significant role in the popularity of cruising. Travelers can unpack once and wake up in a new destination each morning, eliminating the need for constant packing and unpacking or long travel times between locations. This hassle-free experience allows passengers to relax and enjoy the journey as well as the destinations.

Furthermore, cruise lines have actively marketed their offerings to cater to a diverse range of demographics. Whether it’s family-friendly ships with kid’s clubs and activities, luxury vessels with high-end amenities, or adventure-focused cruises to remote destinations, there is a cruise experience tailored to almost every traveler’s preferences.

The growth of cruise culture has also been fueled by the development of new ports and destinations. Cruise lines continually seek out new and exciting locations to entice travelers, offering unique itineraries that encompass both popular destinations and off-the-beaten-path locales. This expansion has opened up opportunities for local economies to benefit from cruise tourism.

It is worth noting, however, that the rapid growth of cruise culture has not been without its challenges. As cruise ships become larger and carry more passengers, concerns have arisen regarding overcrowding at popular ports of call and the environmental impact of these floating cities. Efforts are being made by the industry to address these issues through the implementation of sustainable practices and the use of cleaner technologies.

Overall, the growth of cruise culture showcases the enduring appeal of this unique form of travel. With its combination of convenience, affordability, and diverse experiences, cruising continues to attract a wide range of travelers and cement its position as a key component of mass tourism.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism, with its widespread popularity, offers both advantages and disadvantages that need to be carefully considered. Understanding the pros and cons of this form of travel is essential in order to develop strategies that maximize the benefits while mitigating the negative impacts. Let’s explore some of the key advantages and disadvantages of mass tourism.

Advantages:

• Boost to the local economy: Mass tourism can provide a significant economic boost to destinations. The influx of tourists stimulates various sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and retail, leading to increased job opportunities and revenue generation.
• Cultural exchange: Mass tourism allows people from different cultures to interact and learn from one another. Travelers have the opportunity to experience new customs, traditions, and cuisines, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
• Infrastructure development: Popular tourist destinations often experience infrastructure development to cater to the needs of visitors. This includes the construction of hotels, restaurants, transportation networks, and the improvement of public facilities, which can benefit both tourists and locals.
• Preservation of heritage: Mass tourism can contribute to the preservation of cultural and historical heritage. The revenue generated from tourism often goes towards the maintenance and conservation of significant landmarks, ensuring their longevity for future generations.
• Employment opportunities: The growth of mass tourism creates job opportunities in various sectors, providing income for local communities. This can help alleviate poverty and improve the overall standard of living in the destination.

Disadvantages:

• Overcrowding: One of the biggest challenges of mass tourism is overcrowding. Popular tourist spots can become crowded, leading to long queues, limited access to attractions, and a decline in the quality of the visitor experience.
• Loss of cultural authenticity: With the influx of tourists, there is a risk of losing the authentic charm of a destination. The commercialization of culture, the proliferation of souvenir shops, and the catering of services to tourist demands can erode the local character and traditions.
• Overtourism: Mass tourism can lead to overtourism, where the number of visitors exceeds the carrying capacity of a destination. This can result in strained resources, increased pollution, and heightened pressure on local communities.
• Environmental impact: The environmental consequences of mass tourism are a growing concern. Increased air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and waste generation can have long-term negative effects on ecosystems and contribute to climate change.
• Social and economic inequality: The benefits of mass tourism are not always evenly distributed within a destination. There can be a growing gap between the rich and poor, with limited economic benefits reaching local communities and exacerbating social and economic inequalities.

It is important to strike a balance between reaping the benefits of mass tourism and mitigating its negative impacts. Adopting sustainable practices, managing visitor numbers, and involving local communities in decision-making processes are crucial steps towards ensuring that mass tourism remains a force for positive change rather than a detriment to destinations.

Impact on Local Communities

The impact of mass tourism on local communities is significant and complex. While tourism can bring economic opportunities and cultural exchange, it can also create challenges for residents. It is crucial to examine both the positive and negative effects to ensure the well-being and sustainable development of local communities.

Positive Impacts:

• Economic growth: Tourism can serve as a catalyst for economic development, creating jobs and generating income for local businesses. The influx of tourists stimulates various sectors such as accommodation, restaurants, transportation, and handicrafts, providing employment opportunities and boosting local economies.
• Infrastructure development: Popular tourist destinations often experience infrastructure improvements to accommodate visitors. This can include the development of airports, roads, public transportation, and utilities, which can benefit not only tourists but also local residents by enhancing their quality of life.
• Cultural preservation: Tourism can contribute to the preservation and promotion of local cultural heritage. Cultural sites, traditions, and art forms can gain increased attention and support, leading to their preservation and passing down to future generations. Additionally, tourism revenue can be invested in conservation efforts and cultural programs.
• Enhanced community pride: The recognition and positive feedback from tourists can foster a sense of pride and identity within local communities. When residents see their culture and natural wonders appreciated by visitors, it can boost community morale and encourage the preservation of local traditions and environment.

Negative Impacts:

• Overcrowding and strain on resources: Popular destinations can become overcrowded during peak tourism seasons, placing a strain on local infrastructure and resources. This can result in increased traffic congestion, longer wait times, and limited access to amenities and attractions for both residents and tourists.
• Rise in cost of living: As tourism grows, the cost of living can rise for local residents. Prices of goods and services may increase to cater to the demands of tourists, making it harder for residents to afford basic necessities. Gentrification can also occur, displacing long-time residents due to rising property values.
• Cultural commodification: The commercialization of local culture can occur as tourism demands drive the creation of stereotypical or inauthentic experiences. Tourist-oriented businesses may prioritize profit over local traditions, resulting in the loss of cultural authenticity and the commercialization of traditions and customs.
• Social and cultural impacts: The influx of tourists can disrupt local communities. Cultural norms and values may be challenged, leading to conflicts and changes in social dynamics. Additionally, the influence of tourism can lead to the erosion of traditional societal structures and the homogenization of local culture.

In order to maximize the positive impacts of tourism while mitigating the negative effects, it is essential to involve local communities in decision-making processes and ensure that they have a voice in the development of tourism policies. Sustainable tourism practices, such as promoting community-based tourism and supporting local businesses, can help distribute the benefits of tourism more equitably and ensure the long-term well-being of local communities.

Environmental Concerns

The rapid growth of mass tourism has raised significant environmental concerns. The increasing number of tourists, particularly in popular destinations, can have a detrimental impact on the natural environment if not managed sustainably. It is essential to address these concerns to preserve fragile ecosystems and ensure a more sustainable future for the tourism industry.

Overconsumption of resources:

The high volume of tourists can strain local resources such as water, energy, and food. The demand for these resources increases as more tourists visit a destination, potentially leading to scarcity, higher costs, and negative impacts on local communities and ecosystems.

Climate change and carbon emissions:

The transportation sector, including air travel and cruise ships, contributes to carbon emissions and climate change. The increase in global tourism means more flights and larger ships, resulting in a significant carbon footprint. Additionally, the energy consumption of hotels and resorts can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Habitat destruction and biodiversity loss:

Unchecked tourism activities can lead to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. Overdevelopment of coastal areas for resorts and infrastructure, destruction of coral reefs and marine habitats through snorkeling and diving, and disruption of wildlife habitats can all have long-lasting negative effects on ecosystems and species.

Waste generation and pollution:

The influx of tourists often leads to increased waste production and pollution. Improper waste management practices can result in littering, water pollution, and damage to marine life. Cruise ships, in particular, generate a significant amount of waste, including sewage and grey water, which can harm marine ecosystems if not properly treated and disposed of.

Overtourism and habitat degradation:

Overtourism, the situation when the number of tourists exceeds the carrying capacity of a destination, can lead to habitat degradation. The trampling of vegetation, disturbance of wildlife, and increased pollution can degrade natural habitats and disrupt ecosystems, threatening the very attractions that drew tourists in the first place.

To address these environmental concerns, sustainable tourism practices should be embraced. Some initiatives that can be implemented include:

• Promoting responsible travel behavior, such as minimizing waste, conserving water and energy, and respecting wildlife and natural habitats.
• Encouraging the use of environmentally-friendly transportation options, such as public transportation or eco-friendly modes of transport.
• Supporting and promoting protected areas and wildlife conservation projects.
• Implementing waste management strategies, including recycling programs and reducing single-use plastics.
• Investing in renewable energy sources to mitigate the carbon footprint of tourist facilities.
• Setting limits on the number of visitors allowed in sensitive areas, and implementing sustainable tourism practices to preserve fragile ecosystems.

By taking these steps, we can reduce the negative environmental impacts of mass tourism and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the beauty and wonder of our planet.

Exploring Alternative Forms of Tourism

As the impacts of mass tourism become increasingly evident, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative forms of tourism that prioritize sustainability, authenticity, and the well-being of local communities and the environment. These alternative forms of tourism offer unique and engaging experiences while striving to mitigate the negative impacts associated with mass tourism.

1. Ecotourism:

Ecotourism focuses on responsible travel that promotes the conservation of natural environments and supports local communities. It aims to minimize negative impacts on the environment while providing educational and immersive experiences for travelers. Ecotourism destinations often offer activities such as wildlife tours, nature hikes, and cultural exchanges that foster a deeper connection with the natural and cultural heritage of a place.

2. Community-based tourism:

Community-based tourism involves engaging local communities in the tourism experience, empowering them to be active participants and beneficiaries. Travelers have the opportunity to interact with local residents, learn about their customs and traditions, and contribute to the local economy by supporting small businesses. This form of tourism encourages cultural preservation, fosters mutual respect and understanding, and allows travelers to have more authentic and immersive experiences.

3. Adventure tourism:

Adventure tourism appeals to travelers seeking thrilling and active experiences in natural settings. This form of tourism often involves activities such as hiking, trekking, rock climbing, and wilderness exploration. Adventure tourism promotes sustainable practices and respect for the environment, ensuring that these activities have minimal impact while providing an adrenaline-filled and memorable experience.

4. Voluntourism:

Voluntourism combines travel with meaningful volunteer work. Travelers can contribute their skills and time to support local communities through activities such as environmental conservation, community development projects, or teaching and mentoring. This form of tourism allows travelers to make a positive impact while gaining a deeper understanding of the local culture and social issues.

5. Slow tourism:

Slow tourism emphasizes a more relaxed and mindful approach to travel. It encourages travelers to immerse themselves in the local culture, explore at a leisurely pace, and connect with the destination on a deeper level. Slow tourism promotes sustainable transportation options such as walking, cycling, or using public transportation, allowing travelers to experience a place more authentically and reduce their carbon footprint.

These alternative forms of tourism offer opportunities to create a more inclusive and sustainable tourism industry. They prioritize the well-being of local communities, the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, and the authentic experiences of travelers. By embracing these alternative forms of tourism, we can move towards a more responsible and sustainable approach to travel that benefits both current and future generations.

Mass tourism and the rise of cruise culture have revolutionized the travel industry, making travel more accessible and convenient for millions of people around the world. However, it is essential to critically examine the impacts of mass tourism and explore alternative forms of tourism that prioritize sustainability, authenticity, and the well-being of local communities and the environment.

While mass tourism brings economic benefits, stimulates cultural exchange, and drives infrastructure development, it also presents challenges. Overcrowding, loss of cultural authenticity, and strain on resources are among the negative impacts that need to be addressed.

Environmental concerns, such as overconsumption of resources, climate change, habitat destruction, and waste generation, are pressing issues that require immediate attention. These issues demand the adoption of sustainable practices, responsible waste management, and the promotion of renewable energy sources.

Exploring alternative forms of tourism, such as ecotourism, community-based tourism, adventure tourism, voluntourism, and slow tourism, offers a path forward. These forms of tourism prioritize sustainability, authenticity, and meaningful experiences, ensuring that local communities benefit and natural and cultural heritage are preserved for generations to come.

By implementing sustainable tourism practices, involving local communities in decision-making, and promoting responsible travel behavior, we can strike a balance between the economic benefits of tourism and the preservation of the environment and local cultures.

As travelers, it is our responsibility to be mindful of our choices and impact. By supporting sustainable tourism initiatives, respecting local customs and traditions, and minimizing our environmental footprint, we can contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive tourism industry.

In conclusion, mass tourism and cruise culture have transformed the way we travel, but to ensure a bright future, we must embrace sustainable practices, support local communities, and explore alternative forms of tourism. By doing so, we can foster responsible and authentic travel experiences that not only benefit travelers but also protect and preserve the destinations we love.

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Can ‘voluntourism’ outgrow the white saviour stereotype and make a positive change post-pandemic ?

Senior Lecturer, Massey University

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Sharon McLennan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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As the tourism industry emerges from pandemic shutdowns and border closures, so too is “voluntourism”, the sometimes controversial combination of overseas volunteer work and more traditional tourist experiences.

Although hard to measure, pre-pandemic estimates suggest voluntourism was worth US$2 billion annually , with up to ten million volunteers globally. While COVID shut the practice down for the duration, it remains a multi-billion-dollar industry , now poised to return and rebuild .

But volunteer tourism has met with considerable criticism. Voluntourists have been accused of putting vulnerable people at risk ( including children ), commodifying volunteer work , perpetuating neo-colonialism and reinforcing a “white saviour” complex.

Voluntourism is also largely unregulated , raising important ethical questions about who it really aims to serve – travellers or hosts. These issues are now being felt in the Pacific, where voluntourism is a relatively new but growing industry. As Simone Kaho wrote of her experience in Tonga:

In many cases, voluntourism asks the local community to stand back, and allow themselves to be helped. It turns helping into a business model.

My research in Fiji has also highlighted the problems associated with the commercialisation and commodification of volunteering. These are real and important issues that need close examination as tourism in general picks up.

Behind the ‘bula smile’

The Fiji case study – conducted with an international, for-profit, specialist voluntourism agency – tells a complex story about the benefits and downsides of voluntourism.

Volunteers are hosted by local families and included in household life, attending church or religious functions, learning to cook Fijian food, and spending time with children and other family members. Through this, they gain an understanding of life behind the famous “bula” smile. As one staff member said:

The host may get angry with you if you leave the light on, you may feel like you are back living with mum and dad because they may give you a lunch box, things like that. But it’s important that they see the person who is paid to smile at the Hilton, what they are like at home with their kids, how they make ends meet, how they eat.

Read more: COVID-19 has devastated the popular but flawed volunteer tourism business – here's what needs to be done

Hosts often put considerable energy into sharing their way of life and teaching volunteers Fijian culture. Most hosts and staff took pride in helping travellers find their way around and teaching them Fijian ways. In turn, this helped Fijian staff build knowledge and pride in their own culture.

Also the good thing is that we keep up with our culture. Because if you are talking about it every day and you show them and try to talk about it, then the history remains […] Now when we go to the village we do the sevusevu [kava ceremony] and all those things, and we go with the elders. It was our mothers that did that, but now we are doing it, the next generation. When we have volunteers in a Fijian village we will go to any lengths to give them what they want, to try and serve them […] But of course then the volunteers change to become more Fijian!

A chance to improve voluntourism

The growth of voluntourism in Fiji follows half a century of mass tourism , in which contact between Fijians and tourists has been largely limited and manufactured. Hosts embrace the opportunity to interact with tourists more directly and to build connections across the globe.

However, the commercial nature of the encounter has the potential to significantly undermine these connections. The large fees paid by voluntourists mean they – like any tourist – are consumers.

Volunteers have certain expectations, ranging from the mundane (internet access, good food and logistical support) to the more profound (a sense of accomplishment, a feeling they’ve made a difference). They will complain if these expectations aren’t met.

The pandemic also raised questions about the sustainability of voluntourism. The organisation I studied cut its global workforce significantly. In Fiji it had provided jobs for about a dozen Fijian staff, as well as home-stay income for many households.

Read more: Volunteer tourism: what's wrong with it and how it can be changed

While there is evidence that reliance on customary knowledge, systems and practices helped tourism workers to survive and even thrive during the pandemic, the future for many is uncertain.

COVID-19 has been something of a wake-up call that we need to move beyond voluntourism as a pseudo-development practice or as a commodified, profit-making experience. This is an opportunity for the industry to take on board the criticisms, examine past practice and reassess the role and impact of volunteering.

Rather than rush back to business as usual, this is the perfect moment to look at reconfiguring the industry in line with the principles of sustainability and regenerative tourism . In the process, perhaps voluntourism’s strengths – building cross-cultural relationships, learning and solidarity – can contribute more to meaningful social and environmental change.

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What is the difference between mass tourism and ecotourism?

Mass tourism and ecotourism are two very different types of tourism that offer contrasting travel experiences. Mass tourism is often characterized as ‘traditional tourism’ and involves large groups of people visiting popular destinations, often for short periods. On the other hand, ecotourism is a responsible, sustainable form of tourism that promotes responsible travel to natural areas while simultaneously minimizing the negative impacts on the environment and engaging in the conservation of local communities.

Mass tourism primarily focuses on seeking entertainment and relaxation in an easy and popular way. It normally involves traveling to well-known destinations with the intention of visiting popular tourist attractions. Mass tourism is often linked to large chain hotels, luxury resorts, and cruise ships, which lead to economic benefits for businesses and local communities. However, it also has many negative impacts on the environment and local culture. The massive influx of tourists can cause over-crowding, littering, air and noise pollution, and the depletion of natural resources. Mass tourism seldom supports the local economy as most of the revenue generated by large hotel chains and tour operators goes back to their home countries, leaving the local community with very little profit.

In contrast, ecotourism emphasizes the cultural, social, and environmental interaction with the host community. It encourages travelers to immerse themselves into nature and engage with local people, thus forging connections with the local culture and better understanding the customs and traditions of the places they visit. Ecotourism aims to reduce the negative impacts on not only the physical environment but also on the local communities and indigenous cultures. It promotes responsible and sustainable tourism, with an emphasis on leaving no trace or minimal impact on the environments visited. Ecotourism fosters a respect for nature and the promotion of sustainable development, which leads to a conservation of the human, natural, and cultural resources of the destinations visited.

Overall, the core difference between mass tourism and ecotourism is that the former focuses on hedonistic consumer satisfaction and immediate reward, while the latter seeks out cultural and environmental enrichment and long-term sustainability. A significant challenge for the tourism industry is to move towards sustainable tourism and recognize the benefits of ecotourism. By doing so, tourists and the local communities are guaranteed a better future and a more harmonious relationship between people and nature.

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What are the main characteristics of mass tourism, and how do they differ from those of ecotourism?

Mass tourism is a type of tourism that involves the movement of large groups of people to a particular destination for leisure and recreational purposes. This type of tourism is characterized by its focus on providing standardized and pre-packaged experiences for visitors, which can often result in overcrowding at popular destinations. Mass tourism also tends to be driven by commercial interests, with the main goal being to generate profit.

In contrast, ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism that focuses on responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local communities. Ecotourism emphasizes on educating travelers about the natural and cultural environment, as well as promoting conservation efforts. The main characteristics of ecotourism are low-impact travel, small group sizes, and a focus on environmental and cultural preservation. Ecotourism emphasizes the importance of minimizing the negative impacts of tourism while maximizing the positive impacts, including development opportunities for local communities.

The main differences between mass tourism and ecotourism lie in their objectives and approaches. While mass tourism is driven by commercial interests and focuses on providing standardized experiences, ecotourism seeks to create more authentic experiences while promoting the conservation and well-being of the natural environment and local communities. Additionally, ecotourism is more sustainable and responsible, striving to minimize negative impacts on the environment and society while maximizing the positive.

In what ways does ecotourism benefit local communities and the natural environment, compared to mass tourism?

Ecotourism is a sustainable and responsible way of travelling that minimizes the impact of tourism on the environment and maximizes the benefits of tourism on local communities. It is a type of tourism that emphasizes the conservation of nature and the preservation of the natural environment. Compared to mass tourism, ecotourism benefits local communities and the natural environment in various ways.

Firstly, ecotourism generates income for the local community by providing opportunities for locals to participate in tourism activities such as guiding, food service, and handicrafts. The revenue generated from ecotourism is often spent locally, which creates jobs and stimulates the local economy. This contributes to poverty alleviation and enables local communities to improve their standard of living.

Secondly, ecotourism promotes conservation and preservation of the natural environment. By introducing visitors to the natural environment, ecotourism educates tourists about the environment. This enables tourists to cultivate an appreciation for the natural environment and understand the importance of protecting it. In turn, this encourages conservation efforts and leads to the preservation of natural habitats.

In conclusion, ecotourism benefits local communities and the natural environment by providing sustainable economic opportunities and promoting the conservation of nature. Ecotourism is a responsible way of travelling that should be encouraged and practiced by all those who are interested in travelling and exploring our beautiful planet.

How do tourists’ expectations and behaviors differ between mass tourism destinations and ecotourism destinations?

Tourists who visit mass tourism destinations generally have a lower level of cultural sensitivity and are less interested in local traditions and customs. As the emphasis is on consumption and entertainment, they often expect a lot of luxury and entertainment options. Tourists in mass tourism destinations are usually part of large groups or tour packages, which makes it difficult for them to have a unique and personalized experience. Their behavior can often be characterized by a lack of respect for the local environment, cultural insensitivity, and a disregard for the local community.

On the other hand, in ecotourism destinations, tourists tend to have a higher level of environmental awareness and an interest in sustainable tourism practices. Visitors to ecotourism destinations often have a strong interest in nature and adventure, and want to explore authentic local experiences. They usually seek out smaller group sizes and personalized experiences that allow them to learn about the local culture and environment while minimizing their impact on the ecosystem. The behavior of eco-tourists is characterized by their willingness to learn and respect the environment and the local customs and traditions, as well as contribute to the local economy.

In summary, tourists’ expectations and behaviors differ greatly between mass tourism and ecotourism destinations. Mass tourism destinations often offer a superficial and standardized experience, while ecotourism destinations offer a unique and authentic experience that prioritizes environmental sustainability and cultural sensitivity. By understanding these differences, tourism operators and destinations can better align their offerings with the expectations and behaviors of their visitors, and create a more sustainable and satisfying travel experience for everyone involved.

What challenges do destinations face in transitioning from mass tourism to ecotourism, and how can these challenges be overcome?

The growing concern over the environmental impact of mass tourism has led to a shift towards ecotourism as a more sustainable alternative. However, many destinations face challenges when trying to transition to ecotourism, particularly in developing countries. One of the biggest challenges is a lack of infrastructure. Developing ecotourism often requires investments in eco-friendly accommodations, transportation, and tourist facilities. These investments can be costly and may require support from the government or private investors. In addition, local communities may not have the necessary skills or knowledge to manage eco-tourism businesses, which can result in insufficient service quality and safety standards.

Another challenge is the perception of ecotourism as expensive and inaccessible to most travelers, as mass tourism has made travel more affordable and convenient. A shift to ecotourism means that destinations must cater to travelers who are looking for more authentic, nature-based experiences, rather than just traditional tourist attractions. This requires the development of unique and interesting eco-tourism products and services, which can compete with mass tourism offerings. It is also important to promote ecotourism as an affordable and accessible tourism option for all travelers.

To overcome these challenges, destinations can consider forming partnerships with local communities, NGOs, and private sector businesses to pool resources and share knowledge and experiences. Developing sustainable tourism strategies can also help to overcome the challenges of transitioning to eco-tourism by clearly outlining the steps needed to transition from mass tourism, outlining priorities for investment in infrastructure, and communication and partnerships. Finally, governments can incentivize private investments by creating favorable policies towards ecotourism development, such as tax incentives, land grants, and financial support. With the right approach and mindset, destinations can successfully transition from mass tourism to sustainable ecotourism benefiting locals, the environment and visitors alike.

How can travelers make informed decisions about choosing ecotourism options over mass tourism offerings?

As global attention focuses more on sustainability, travelers are becoming increasingly interested in eco-tourism options and seeking out more responsible, sustainable travel choices. With the growth of the travel industry, it is important for travelers to become more informed in their decision making by evaluating the options and choosing eco-tourism alternatives over mass tourism offerings. The best way to do that is by taking into consideration several factors such as the company’s mission statement, the tour activities, the location’s eco-footprint and culture preservation efforts, and environmental impact as well as the type of travel transportation chosen.

When choosing an eco-tourism option, travelers must take a keen interest in studying the mission and values of the company. They must research the company’s policy on reducing its environmental impact as well as their ethics and commitment to the local community. The second factor to consider is activities of the tour. The activities should be eco-friendly and sustainable, such as animal watching, hiking, and supporting local communities through purchasing local products and experiencing local culture. Finally, travelers should consider the location’s eco-footprint, the preservation efforts of the environment and culture and look for ways they can reduce their environmental footprint by traveling through sustainable transportation options.

In conclusion, for travelers to make informative decisions about eco-tourism options over mass tourism offerings, they must be interested in understanding the company’s mission and values, tour activities, location’s eco-footprint and culture preservation efforts, and environmental impact as well as choosing responsible transport options. Travelers can also support eco-friendly tourism options by sharing their experiences and encouraging others to do the same and creating a positive impact when traveling.

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Home Essay Examples Geography Tourism

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Mass Tourism

• Category Geography
• Subcategory Travelling
• Topic Tourism

Today, people are being more sensibility for the natural environment because tourism industry is the only economical sector that uses destinations natural environment as a very important of its product. Tourism has developed in many places. Tourism sector has been considered as a key factor contributing in the development of countries. Tourists have flocked to various tourist destination and during the first eight months in 2013, there were 747 million visitors traveling worldwide with a growth rate of 5% compared with the previous period (UNWTO, 2014).

Mass tourism has always been the subject of criticism for its negative impacts around the world. Many sources point out mass tourism’s potentially destructive impacts on societies, culture and environment.

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This assignment will look at the contribution of mass tourism on its economic development and its negative consequences on the environment and society from both global and Cambodian perspectives.

I. Introduction to mass tourism

Mass tourism is the act of visiting a leisure destination with large amounts of people at one time. The development of mass tourism is parallel to the development and improvement of technology. Transportation and internet has evolved so much in time, making communication fast and easy, this allows tourist to research, find out and book and even pay for their holiday online, this contributing to the rise of mass tourism, besides that the improvement in technology in the transportation industry also helps in the transport of large number of people in a short space of time to places of leisure interest, so that greater numbers of people could begin to enjoy the benefits of leisure time.

• When and why mass tourism happens?

Mass tourism appears after the World War II, it was initiated in the back street of the industrial town and cities in the north of England. The development of mass tourism in the world was linked to the economic development of society and as a matter of fact to the incorporation of a more powerful middle and lower class inside the tourist market. This expansion has been based on the external factors such as generalization of paid holidays, rising standard of living and a rapid improvement in the means of transportation such as the increase in air travel.

II. The benefits of mass tourism

Mass tourism is one of the key contributors to economic development as it stimulates capital investment and creates job opportunities for local people. A boost in the number of visitors to tourist destinations has driven demands for hotels, restaurants, transportation and administration processes which spur local and foreign direct investments in this industry, as well as related industries. In 2001, Travel & Tourism was estimated to attract 650 billion dollars in capital investment (Turner & Sears, 2013) and in Cambodia, it comprised 15% of total national investment (Turner, 2013). Employment growth has an inextricable relation with the flow of investments. Globally, over 98 million people are directly employed in the tourism industry, which is equivalent to 3% of the total employment (Turner & Sears, 2013) while in Cambodia in 2012, it accounted for 9.7% of the total country’s employment (Turner, 2013).

III. Disadvantages of mass tourism

Although there is undoubtedly an enormous number of positives that come along with tourism, unfortunately in many cases, the impacts of mass tourism can often be rather negative.

• Environmental Destruction

Unfortunately for our beautiful earth, tourism can sadly cause a lot of devastation to its surface. As more and more people visit a destination, the demand continues to rise and land is constantly being destroyed to create more hotels, restaurants and appealing landmarks. With such a large increase in tourism and recreational facilities, deforestation is one of the largest issues. This sadly results in excessive land clearing and loss of ecosystems for wood collection, which also leads to wildlife loss too.

• Loss of Culture

Losing the countries original culture often comes with a rise in tourism, as the industry tends to form around what the tourists enjoy. By constantly supporting major chains and staying in the westernized areas, these destinations will follow what we support; temples, landmarks, places of worship and local stores continue to be destroyed. In many cases, their culture had been manipulated by the influence of tourists.

• Pollution

With a mass amount of people comes a mass amount of rubbish. The more and more people that visit a destination with a care-free attitude; the more people, the ocean and these beautiful destinations suffer. Not to mention the sheer volume of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere through the process of travel alone.

• Excessive Crowds

Popular destinations get a whole lot of people. Now, this isn’t necessarily a terrible thing, as tourism is a leading source of income in many countries around the world, and without people that simply wouldn’t be possible. However, when tourists swarm a destination, a lot of destruction is caused; locals suffer from excessive noise, famous landmarks become annoying to visit, and the way of life for millions of locals is severely impacted.

In 2007, Vencie welcomed twenty-one million tourists while there were only 60,000 Venetian residents. They filled up the city and Venetian people could not even find a space on the boats they rely on for daily transport (Maclntyre, 2013). Similarly, local residents in Siem Reap are also encountering this problem, especially in Pub Street where a lot of foreigners’ dance along the road with loud music from pubs.

• Economic Impact

For the most part, tourism drastically supports a countries economy and supplies jobs to millions of people all around the world. In many destinations, however, the money we bring doesn’t always support the local communities. Instead of supplying support to the local people in these countries, the government directs their money into things that support tourism; hotel chains, restaurant chains and often the big international companies as known as the places that tourists will always visit. This, of course, doesn’t directly lie in the hands of the tourist, but it’s something that we should always be conscious of while travelling to certain countries.

IV. Solution for mass tourism

Nobody likes an annoying tourist. So how can you avoid being one? There a few key things to consider regarding your travel style first. Some points may be obvious, but others you probably haven’t thought of. So, I will pick up five solutions for mass tourism that will help you to be more mindful and responsible tourist.

• Educated People how to respect the local environment

The first solution to the impact of mass tourism is starting with the government. Since there are a lot of people travelling to the same destination, it might be a lot of waste that not in keep properly. The government should manage strict rule and also educate people how to manage their own waste in order to reduce pollution and also keep the place clean.

• Obey the local road rules & parking regulations

If you’re driving around in a new country make sure you know the local road rules and any parking regulations. It’s never a good idea to park illegally, making it difficult for locals go about their business. Moreover, for such a small town, it has designated parking areas and simply cannot sustain the numbers of illegally parked cars.

• Travel during off-peak periods

Travelled during the off-season or shoulder season is not only a great solution to over tourism. It not only can help us to save a little money for ourselves, but it’s also brought tourism dollars to locals at times when they actually need it. During these times, hotels and flights cost less and crowds are also much smaller than during major public holidays. It’s one of the most important over tourism solutions.

• Respect local culture

As a tourist, we should learn how to respect local culture because Each culture is unique and has its own significance in the world. What if we end up turning all places into the same ordinary mono-culture? When the local etiquette, language and cuisine are slowly eroded away by over tourism and replaced by a barrage of the same stuff you see everywhere else? What if the unique cultural differences that attracted us to a destination eventually disappeared? Sometimes, some tourists can be pretty demanding folk and expect things to be the same as home when they travel. Alternatively, we should do what we can to help preserve what makes each destination exceptional, and it starts by respecting the local culture.

• Travel for YOURSELF, not for validation from others

These days, it’s so easy to be influenced by the highlight reels of social media. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t inspired to visit somewhere because I saw it on Facebook, Instagram and so on. Sure, social media can inspire us to travel, but it should be only used as a starting point for researching the destination further, not be the sole focus of travel. Make sure you go someplace because it interests you, you’re intrigued by the history and culture. Not just because people you know went there or you want to showcase the same shots on your Instagram as everyone else to keep up appearances.

V. Conclusion

The negative effects of over tourism have only begun to surface. From the solutions I’ve listed above, I hope I’ve inspired you adopt some of them to avoid contributing to over tourism on your next trip. There are now all too many examples in popular destinations of what happens if we don’t embrace local culture and the differences to our own.

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• Open access
• Published: 31 March 2023

The benefits of tourism for rural community development

• Yung-Lun Liu 1 ,
• Jui-Te Chiang 2 &
• Pen-Fa Ko 2  

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume  10 , Article number:  137 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

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• Business and management
• Development studies

While the main benefits of rural tourism have been studied extensively, most of these studies have focused on the development of sustainable rural tourism. The role of tourism contributions to rural community development remains unexplored. Little is known about what tourism contribution dimensions are available for policy-makers and how these dimensions affect rural tourism contributions. Without a clear picture and indication of what benefits rural tourism can provide for rural communities, policy-makers might not invest limited resources in such projects. The objectives of this study are threefold. First, we outline a rural tourism contribution model that policy-makers can use to support tourism-based rural community development. Second, we address several methodological limitations that undermine current sustainability model development and recommend feasible methodological solutions. Third, we propose a six-step theoretical procedure as a guideline for constructing a valid contribution model. We find four primary attributes of rural tourism contributions to rural community development; economic, sociocultural, environmental, and leisure and educational, and 32 subattributes. Ultimately, we confirm that economic benefits are the most significant contribution. Our findings have several practical and methodological implications and could be used as policy-making guidelines for rural community development.

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Introduction

In many countries, rural areas are less developed than urban areas. They are often perceived as having many problems, such as low productivity, low education, and low income. Other issues include population shifts from rural to urban areas, low economic growth, declining employment opportunities, the loss of farms, impacts on historical and cultural heritage, sharp demographic changes, and low quality of life. These issues indicate that maintaining agricultural activities without change might create deeper social problems in rural regions. Li et al. ( 2019 ) analyzed why some rural areas decline while others do not. They emphasized that it is necessary to improve rural communities’ resilience by developing new tourism activities in response to potential urban demands. In addition, to overcome the inevitability of rural decline, Markey et al. ( 2008 ) pointed out that reversing rural recession requires investment orientation and policy support reform, for example, regarding tourism. Therefore, adopting rural tourism as an alternative development approach has become a preferred strategy in efforts to balance economic, social, cultural, and environmental regeneration.

Why should rural regions devote themselves to tourism-based development? What benefits can rural tourism bring to a rural community, particularly during and after the COVID pandemic? Without a clear picture and answers to these questions, policy-makers might not invest limited resources in such projects. Understanding the contributions of rural tourism to rural community development is critical for helping government and community planners realize whether rural tourism development is beneficial. Policy-makers are aware that reducing rural vulnerability and enhancing rural resilience is a necessary but challenging task; therefore, it is important to consider the equilibrium between rural development and potential negative impacts. For example, economic growth may improve the quality of life and enhance the well-being index. However, it may worsen income inequality, increase the demand for green landscapes, and intensify environmental pollution, and these changes may impede natural preservation in rural regions and make local residents’ lives more stressful. This might lead policy-makers to question whether they should support tourism-based rural development. Thus, the provision of specific information on the contributions of rural tourism is crucial for policy-makers.

Recently, most research has focused on rural sustainable tourism development (Asmelash and Kumar, 2019 ; Polukhina et al., 2021 ), and few studies have considered the contributions of rural tourism. Sustainability refers to the ability of a destination to maintain production over time in the face of long-term constraints and pressures (Altieri et al., 2018 ). In this study, we focus on rural tourism contributions, meaning what rural tourism contributes or does to help produce something or make it better or more successful. More specifically, we focus on rural tourism’s contributions, not its sustainability, as these goals and directions differ. Today, rural tourism has responded to the new demand trends of short-term tourists, directly providing visitors with unique services and opportunities to contact other business channels. The impact on the countryside is multifaceted, but many potential factors have not been explored (Arroyo et al., 2013 ; Tew and Barbieri, 2012 ). For example, the demand for remote nature-based destinations has increased due to the fear of COVID-19 infection, the perceived risk of crowding, and a desire for low tourist density. Juschten and Hössinger ( 2020 ) showed that the impact of COVID-19 led to a surge in demand for natural parks, forests, and rural areas. Vaishar and Šťastná ( 2022 ) demonstrated that the countryside is gaining more domestic tourists due to natural, gastronomic, and local attractions. Thus, they contended that the COVID-19 pandemic created rural tourism opportunities.

Following this change in tourism demand, rural regions are no longer associated merely with agricultural commodity production. Instead, they are seen as fruitful locations for stimulating new socioeconomic activities and mitigating public mental health issues (Kabadayi et al., 2020 ). Despite such new opportunities in rural areas, there is still a lack of research that provides policy-makers with information about tourism development in rural communities (Petrovi’c et al., 2018 ; Vaishar and Šťastná, 2022 ). Although there are many novel benefits that tourism can bring to rural communities, these have not been considered in the rural community development literature. For example, Ram et al. ( 2022 ) showed that the presence of people with mental health issues, such as nonclinical depression, is negatively correlated with domestic tourism, such as rural tourism. Yang et al. ( 2021 ) found that the contribution of rural tourism to employment is significant; they indicated that the proportion of nonagricultural jobs had increased by 99.57%, and tourism in rural communities had become the leading industry at their research site in China, with a value ten times higher than that of agricultural output. Therefore, rural tourism is vital in counteracting public mental health issues and can potentially advance regional resilience, identity, and well-being (López-Sanz et al., 2021 ).

Since the government plays a critical role in rural tourism development, providing valuable insights, perspectives, and recommendations to policy-makers to foster sustainable policies and practices in rural destinations is essential (Liu et al., 2020 ). Despite the variables developed over time to address particular aspects of rural tourism development, there is still a lack of specific variables and an overall measurement framework for understanding the contributions of rural tourism. Therefore, more evidence is needed to understand how rural tourism influences rural communities from various structural perspectives and to prompt policy-makers to accept rural tourism as an effective development policy or strategy for rural community development. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap.

The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: the section “Literature review” presents the literature review. Our methodology is described in the section “Methodology”, and our results are presented in the section “Results”. Our discussion in the section “Discussion/implications” places our findings in perspective by describing their theoretical and practical implications, and we provide concluding remarks in the section “Conclusion”.

Literature review

The role of rural tourism.

The UNWTO ( 2021 ) defined rural tourism as a type of tourism in which a visitor’s experience is related to a wide range of products generally linked to nature-based activity, agriculture, rural lifestyle/culture, angling, and sightseeing. Rural tourism has been used as a valid developmental strategy in rural areas in many developed and developing countries. This developmental strategy aims to enable a rural community to grow while preserving its traditional culture (Kaptan et al., 2020 ). In rural areas, ongoing encounters and interactions between humans and nature occur, as well as mutual transformations. These phenomena take place across a wide range of practices that are spatially and temporally bound, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, farm tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and country life (Hegarty and Przezbórska, 2005 ). To date, rural tourism in many places has become an important new element of the regional rural economy; it is increasing in importance as both a strategic sector and a way to boost the development of rural regions (Polukhina et al., 2021 ). Urban visitors’ demand for short-term leisure activities has increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic (Slater, 2020 ). Furthermore, as tourists shifted their preferences from exotic to local rural tourism amid COVID-19, Marques et al. ( 2022 ) suggested that this trend is a new opportunity that should be seized, as rural development no longer relies on agriculture alone. Instead, other practices, such as rural tourism, have become opportunities for rural areas. Ironically, urbanization has both caused severe problems in rural areas and stimulated rural tourism development as an alternative means of economic revitalization (Lewis and Delisle, 2004 ). Rural tourism provides many unique events and activities that people who live in urban areas are interested in, such as agricultural festivals, crafts, historical buildings, natural preservation, nostalgia, cuisine, and opportunities for family togetherness and relaxation (Christou, 2020 ; Getz, 2008 ). As rural tourism provides visitors from urban areas with various kinds of psychological, educational, social, esthetic, and physical satisfaction, it has brought unprecedented numbers of tourists to rural communities, stimulated economic growth, improved the viability of these communities, and enhanced their living standards (Nicholson and Pearce, 2001 ). For example, rural tourism practitioners have obtained significant economic effects, including more income, more direct sales, better profit margins, and more opportunities to sell agricultural products or craft items (Everett and Slocum, 2013 ). Local residents can participate in the development of rural tourism, and it does not necessarily depend on external resources. Hence, it provides entrepreneurial opportunities (Lee et al., 2006 ). From an environmental perspective, rural tourism is rooted in a contemporary theoretical shift from cherishing local agricultural resources to restoring the balance between people and ecosystems. Thus, rural land is preserved, natural landscapes are maintained, and green consumerism drives farmers to focus on organic products, green chemistry, and value-added products, such as land ethics (Higham and Ritchie, 2001 ). Therefore, the potential contributions of rural tourism are significant and profound (Marques, 2006 ; Phillip et al., 2010 ). Understanding its contributions to rural community development could encourage greater policy-maker investment and resident support (Yang et al., 2010 ).

Contributions of rural tourism to rural community development

Maintaining active local communities while preventing the depopulation and degradation of rural areas requires a holistic approach and processes that support sustainability. What can rural tourism contribute to rural development? In the literature, rural tourism has been shown to bring benefits such as stimulating economic growth (Oh, 2005 ), strengthening rural and regional economies (Lankford, 1994 ), alleviating poverty (Zhao et al., 2007 ), and improving living standards in local communities (Uysal et al., 2016 ). In addition to these economic contributions, what other elements have not been identified and discussed (Su et al., 2020 )? To answer these questions, additional evidence is a prerequisite. Thus, this study examines the following four aspects. (1) The economic perspective: The clustering of activities offered by rural tourism stimulates cooperation and partnerships between local communities and serves as a vehicle for creating various economic benefits. For example, rural tourism improves employment opportunities and stability, local residents’ income, investment, entrepreneurial opportunities, agricultural production value-added, capital formation, economic resilience, business viability, and local tax revenue (Atun et al., 2019 ; Cheng and Zhang, 2020 ; Choi and Sirakaya, 2006 ; Chong and Balasingam, 2019 ; Cunha et al., 2020 ). (2) The sociocultural perspective: Rural tourism no longer refers solely to the benefits of agricultural production; through economic improvement, it represents a greater diversity of activities. It is important to take advantage of the novel social and cultural alternatives offered by rural tourism, which contribute to the countryside. For example, rural tourism can be a vehicle for introducing farmers to potential new markets through more interactions with consumers and other value chain members. Under such circumstances, the sociocultural benefits of rural tourism are multifaceted. These include improved rural area depopulation prevention (López-Sanz et al., 2021 ), cultural and heritage preservation, and enhanced social stability compared to farms that do not engage in the tourism business (Ma et al., 2021 ; Yang et al., 2021 ). Additional benefits are improved quality of life; revitalization of local crafts, customs, and cultures; restoration of historical buildings and community identities; and increased opportunities for social contact and exchange, which enhance community visibility, pride, and cultural integrity (Kelliher et al., 2018 ; López-Sanz et al., 2021 ; Ryu et al., 2020 ; Silva and Leal, 2015 ). (3) The environmental perspective: Many farms in rural areas have been rendered noncompetitive due to a shortage of labor, poor managerial skills, and a lack of financial support (Coria and Calfucura, 2012 ). Although there can be immense pressure to maintain a farm in a family and to continue using land for agriculture, these problems could cause families to sell or abandon their farms or lands (Tew and Barbieri, 2012 ). In addition, unless new income pours into rural areas, farm owners cannot preserve their land and its natural aspects; thus, they tend to allow their land to become derelict or sell it. In the improved economic conditions after farms diversify into rural tourism, rural communities have more money to provide environmental care for their natural scenic areas, pastoral resources, forests, wetlands, biodiversity, pesticide mitigation, and unique landscapes (Theodori, 2001 ; Vail and Hultkrantz, 2000 ). Ultimately, the entire image of a rural community is affected; the community is imbued with vitality, and farms that participate in rural tourism instill more togetherness among families and rural communities. In this study, the environmental benefits induced by rural tourism led to improved natural environmental conservation, biodiversity, environmental awareness, infrastructure, green chemistry, unspoiled land, and family land (Di and Laura, 2021 ; Lane, 1994 ; Ryu et al., 2020 ; Yang et al., 2021 ). (4) The leisure and educational perspective: Rural tourism is a diverse strategy associated with an ongoing flow of development models that commercialize a wide range of farming practices for residents and visitors. Rural territories often present a rich set of unique resources that, if well managed, allow multiple appealing, authentic, and memorable tourist experiences. Tourists frequently comment that the rural tourism experience positively contrasts with the stress and other negatively perceived conditions of daily urban life. This is reflected in opposing, compelling images of home and a visited rural destination (Kastenholz et al., 2012 ). In other words, tourists’ positive experiences result from the attractions and activities of rural tourism destinations that may be deemed sensorially, symbolically, or socially opposed to urban life (Kastenholz et al. 2018 ). These experiences are associated with the “search for authenticity” in the context of the tension between the nostalgic images of an idealized past and the demands of stressful modern times. Although visitors search for the psychological fulfillment of hedonic, self-actualization, challenge, accomplishment, exploration, and discovery goals, some authors have uncovered the effects of rural tourism in a different context. For example, Otto and Ritchie ( 1996 ) revealed that the quality of a rural tourism service provides a tourist experience in four dimensions—hedonic, peace of mind, involvement, and recognition. Quadri-Felitti and Fiore ( 2013 ) identified the relevant impact of education, particularly esthetics, versus memory on satisfaction in wine tourism. At present, an increasing number of people and families are seeking esthetic places for relaxation and family reunions, particularly amid COVID-19. Rural tourism possesses such functions; it remains a novel phenomenon for visitors who live in urban areas and provides leisure and educational benefits when visitors to a rural site contemplate the landscape or participate in an agricultural process for leisure purposes (WTO, 2020 ). Tourists can obtain leisure and educational benefits, including ecological knowledge, information about green consumerism, leisure and recreational opportunities, health and food security, reduced mental health issues, and nostalgia nurturing (Alford and Jones, 2020 ; Ambelu et al., 2018 ; Christou, 2020 ; Lane, 1994 ; Li et al., 2021 ). These four perspectives possess a potential synergy, and their effects could strengthen the relationship between rural families and rural areas and stimulate new regional resilience. Therefore, rural tourism should be understood as an enabler of rural community development that will eventually attract policy-makers and stakeholders to invest more money in developing or advancing it.

Methodology

The literature on rural tourism provides no generally accepted method for measuring its contributions or sustainability intensity. Although many statistical methods are available, several limitations remain, particularly in terms of the item generation stage and common method bias (CMB). For example, Marzo-Navar et al. ( 2015 ) used the mean and SD values to obtain their items. However, the use of the mean has been criticized because it is susceptible to extreme values or outliers. In addition, they did not examine omitted variables and CMB. Asmelash and Kumar ( 2019 ) used the Delphi method with a mean value for deleting items. Although they asked experts to suggest the inclusion of any missed variables, they did not discuss these results. Moreover, they did not assess CMB. Islam et al. ( 2021 ) used a sixteen-step process to formulate sustainability indicators but did not consider omitted variables, a source of endogeneity bias. They also did not designate a priority for each indicator. Although a methodologically sound systematic review is commonly used, little attention has been given to reporting interexpert reliability when multiple experts are used to making decisions at various points in the screening and data extraction stages (Belur et al., 2021 ). Due to the limitations of the current methods for assessing sustainable tourism development, we aim to provide new methodological insights. Specifically, we suggest a six-stage procedure, as shown in Fig. 1 .

Steps required in developing the model for analysis after obtaining the data.

Many sources of data collection can be used, including literature reviews, inferences about the theoretical definition of the construct, previous theoretical and empirical research on the focal construct, advice from experts in the field, interviews, and focus groups. In this study, the first step was to retrieve data from a critical literature review. The second step was the assessment of omitted variables to produce items that fully captured all essential aspects of the focal construct domain. In this case, researchers must not omit a necessary measure or fail to include all of the critical dimensions of the construct. In addition, the stimuli of CMB, for example, double-barreled items, items containing ambiguous or unfamiliar terms, and items with a complicated syntax, should be simplified and made specific and concise. That is, researchers should delete items contaminated by CMB. The third step was the examination of construct-irrelevant variance to retain the variances relevant to the construct of interest and minimize the extent to which the items tapped concepts outside the focal construct domain. Variances irrelevant to the targeted construct should be deleted. The fourth step was to examine intergroup consistency to ensure that there was no outlier impact underlying the ratings. The fifth step was to examine interexpert reliability to ensure rating conformity. Finally, we prioritized the importance of each variable with the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP), which is a multicriteria decision-making approach. All methods used in this study are expert-based approaches.

Selection of experts

Because this study explores the contributions of rural tourism to rural community development, it involves phenomena in the postdevelopment stage; therefore, a few characteristics are essential for determining the choice of experts. The elements used to identify the experts in this study were (1) the number of experts, (2) expertise, (3) knowledge, (4) diversity, (5) years working in this field, and 5) commitment to participation. Regarding the number of experts, Murphy-Black et al. ( 1998 ) suggested that the more participants there are, the better, as a higher number reduces the effects of expert attrition and rater bias. Taylor-Powell ( 2002 ) pointed out that the number of participants in an expert-based study depends not only on the purpose of the research but also on the diversity of the target population. Okoli and Pawlowski ( 2004 ) recommended a target number of 10–18 experts for such a purpose. Therefore, we recruited a group of 18 experts based on their stated interest in the topic and asked them to comment on our rationale concerning the rating priorities among the items. We asked them to express a degree of agreement or disagreement with each item we provided. We adopted a heterogeneous and anonymous arrangement to ensure that rater bias did not affect this study. The 18 experts had different backgrounds, which might have made it easier for them to reach a consensus objectively. We divided the eighteen experts into three subgroups: (1) at least six top managers from rural tourism businesses, all of whom had been in the rural tourism business for over 10 years; (2) at least six academics who taught subjects related to tourism at three different universities in Taiwan; and (3) at least six government officials involved in rural development issues in Taiwan.

Generating items to represent the construct

Step 1: data collection.

Data collection provides evidence for investigation and reflects the construct of interest. While there is a need to know what rural tourism contributes, previous studies have provided no evidence for policy-makers to establish a rural community strategy; thus, it is essential to use a second source to achieve this aim. We used a literature review for specific topics; the data we used were based on the findings being presented in papers on rural tourism indexed in the SSCI (Social Sciences Citation Index) and SCIE (Science Citation Index Expanded). In this study, we intended to explore the role of rural tourism and its contributions to rural development. Therefore, we explored the secondary literature on the state of the questions of rural development, sustainable development, sustainability indicators, regional resilience, farm tourism, rural tourism, COVID-19, tourist preferences, and ecotourism using terms such as land ethics, ecology, biodiversity, green consumerism, environmentalism, green chemistry, community identity, community integration, community visibility, and development goals in an ad hoc review of previous studies via Google Scholar. Based on the outcomes of this first data collection step, we generated thirty-three subattributes and classified them into four domains.

Step 2: Examine the face validity of omitted variables and CMB

Face validity is defined as assessing whether a measurement scale or questionnaire includes all the necessary items (Dempsey and Dempsey, 1992 ). Based on the first step, we generated data subattributes from our literature review. However, there might have been other valuable attributes or subattributes that were not considered or excluded. Therefore, our purposes for examining face validity were twofold. First, we assessed the omitted variables, defined as the occurrence of crucial aspects or facets that were omitted (Messick, 1995 ). These comprise a threat to construct validity that, if ignored by researchers, might result in unreliable findings. In other words, face validity is used to distinguish whether the researchers have adequately captured the full dimensions of the construct of interest. If not, the evaluation instrument or model is deficient. However, the authors found that most rural tourism studies have not assessed the issue of omitted variables (An and Alarcon, 2020 ; Lin, 2022 ). Second, we mitigated the CMB effect. In a self-report survey, it is necessary to provide a questionnaire without CMB to the targeted respondents, as CMB affects respondent comprehension. Therefore, we assessed item characteristic effects, item context effects, and question response process effects. These three effects are related to the respondents’ understanding, retrieval, mood, affectivity, motivation, judgment, response selection, and response reporting (Podsakoff et al., 2003 ). Specifically, items containing flaws from these three groups in a questionnaire can seriously influence an empirical investigation and potentially result in misleading conclusions. We assessed face validity by asking all the experts to scrutinize the content items that we collected from the literature review and the questionnaire that we drafted. The experts could then add any attribute or subattribute they thought was essential that had been omitted. They could also revise the questionnaire if CMB were embedded. We added the new attributes or subattributes identified by the experts to those collected from the literature review.

Step 3: Examine interexpert consensus for construct-irrelevant variances

After examining face validity, we needed to rule out items irrelevant to the construct of interest; otherwise, the findings would be invalid. We examined the interexpert consensus to achieve this aim. The purpose was to estimate the experts’ ratings of each item. In other words, interexpert consensus assesses the extent to which experts make the same ratings (Kozlowski and Hattrup, 1992 ; Northcote et al., 2008 ). In prior studies, descriptive statistics have often been used to capture the variability among individual characteristics, responses, or contributions to the subject group (Landeta, 2006 ; Roberson et al., 2007 ). Many expert-based studies have applied descriptive statistics to determine consensus and quantify its degree (Paraskevas and Saunders, 2012 ; Stewart et al., 2016 ). Two main groups of descriptive statistics, central tendencies (mode, mean, and median) and level of dispersion (standard deviation, interquartile, and coefficient of variation), are commonly used when determining consensus (Mukherjee et al., 2015 ). Choosing the cutoff point of interexpert consensus was critical because we used it as a yardstick for item retention and its value can also be altered by a number on the Likert scale (Förster and von der Gracht, 2014 ). In the case of a 5-point Likert scale, the coefficient of variation (CV) is used to measure interexpert consensus. Hence, CV ≤ 0.3 indicated high consensus (Zinn et al., 2001 ). In addition, based on the feedback obtained from the expert panel, we used standard deviation (SD) as another measurement to assess the variation in our population. Henning and Jordaan ( 2016 ) indicate that SD ≤ 1 represents a high level of consensus, meaning that it can act as a guideline for cutoff points. In addition, following Vergani et al. ( 2022 ), we used the percentage agreement (% AGR) to examine interexpert consensus. If the responses reached ≧ 70% 4 and 5 in the case of a 5-point Likert scale, it indicated that the item had interexpert consensus; thus, we could retain it. Moreover, to avoid the impact of outliers, we used the median instead of the mean as another measurement. Items had a high consensus if their median value was ≥4.00 (Rice, 2009 ). Considering these points, we adopted % AGR, median, SD, and CV to examine interexpert consensus.

Step 4: Examine intergroup consistency

In this expert-based study, the sample size was small. Any rater bias could have caused inconsistency among the subgroups of experts; therefore, we needed to examine the effect of rater bias on intergroup consistency. When the intergroup ratings showed substantially different distributions, the aggregated data were groundless. Dajani et al. ( 1979 ) remarked that interexpert consensus is meaningless if the consistency of responses in a study is not reached, as it means that any rater bias could distort the median, SD, or CV. Most studies have used one-way ANOVA to determine whether there is a significant difference between the expected and observed frequency in three or more categories. However, this method is based on large sample size and normal distribution. In the case of expert-based studies, the expert sample size is small, and the assessment distribution tends to be skewed. Thus, we used the nonparametric test instead of one-way ANOVA for consistency measurement (Potvin and Roff, 1993 ). We used the Kruskal‒Wallis test (K–W) to test the intergroup consistency among the three subgroups of experts. The purpose of the K–W test is to determine whether there are significant differences among three or more subgroups regarding the ratings of the domains (Huck, 2004 ). The judgment criteria in the K-W test depended on the level of significance, and we set the significance level at p  < 0.05 (Love and Irani, 2004 ), with no significant differences among groups set at p  > 0.05 (Loftus et al., 2000 ; Rice, 2009 ). We used SPSS to conduct the K–W test to assess intergroup consistency in this study.

Step 5: Examine interexpert reliability

Interexpert reliability, on the one hand, is usually defined as the proportion of systematic variance to the total variance in ratings (James et al., 1984 ). On the other hand, interexpert reliability estimation is not concerned with the exact or absolute value of ratings. Rather, it measures the relative ordering or ranking of rated objects. Thus, interexpert reliability estimation concerns the consistency of ratings (Tinsley and Weiss, 1975 ). If an expert-based study did not achieve interexpert reliability, we could not trust its analysis (Singletary, 1994 ). Thus, we examined interexpert reliability in this expert-based study. Many methods are available in the literature for measuring interexpert reliability, but there seems to be little consensus on a standard method. We used Kendall’s W to assess the reliability among the experts for each sample group (Goetz et al., 1994 ) because it was available for any sample size or ordinal number. If W was 1, all the experts were unanimous, and each had assigned the same order to the list of objects or concerns. As Spector et al. ( 2002 ) and Schilling ( 2002 ) suggested, reliabilities well above the recommended value of .70 indicate sufficient internal reliability. In this study, there was a strong consensus when W  > 0.7. W  > 0.5 represented a moderate consensus; and W  < 0.3 indicated weak interexpert agreement (Schmidt et al., 2001 ). To measure Kendall’s W , we used SPSS 23 to assess interexpert reliability.

Step 6: Examine the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

After examining face validity, interexpert consensus, intergroup consistency, and interexpert reliability, we found that the aggregated items were relevant, authentic, and reliable in relation to the construct of interest. To provide policy-makers with a clear direction regarding which contributions are more or less important, we scored each attribute and subattribute using a multicriteria decision-making technique. Fuzzy AHP is a well-known decision-making tool for modeling unstructured problems. It enables decision-makers to model a complex issue in a hierarchical structure that indicates the relationships between the goal, criteria, and subcriteria on the basis of scores (Park and Yoon, 2011 ). The fuzzy AHP method tolerates vagueness and ambiguity (Mikhailov and Tsvetinov, 2004 ). In other words, fuzzy AHP can capture a human’s appraisal of ambiguity when considering complex, multicriteria decision-making problems (Erensal et al., 2006 ). In this study, we used Power Choice 2.5 software to run fuzzy AHP, determine weights, and develop the impact structure of rural tourism on sustainable rural development.

Face validity

To determine whether we had omitted variables, we asked all 18 experts to scrutinize our list of four attributes and 33 subattributes for omitted variables and determine whether the questionnaire contained any underlying CMB. We explained the meaning of omitted variables, the stimuli of CMB, and the two purposes of examining face validity to all the experts. In their feedback, the eighteen experts added one item as an omitted variable: business viability. The experts suggested no revisions to the questionnaire we had drafted. These results indicated that one omitted variable was revealed and that our prepared questionnaire was clear, straightforward, and understandable. The initially pooled 34 subattributes represented the construct of interest, and all questionnaires used for measurement were defendable in terms of CMB. The biasing effects of method variance did not exist, indicating that the threat of CMB was minor.

Interexpert consensus

In this step, we rejected any items irrelevant to the construct of interest. Consensus measurement played an essential role in aggregating the experts’ judgments. This study measured the AGR, median, SD, and CV. Two items, strategic alliance (AGR = 50%) and carbon neutrality (AGR = 56%) were rated < 70%, and we rejected them accordingly. These results are shown in Table 1 . The AGR, median, SD, and CV values were all greater than the cutoff points, thus indicating that the majority of experts in this study consistently recognized high values and reached a consensus for the rest of the 32 subattributes. Consequently, the four attributes and 32 subattributes remained and were initially identified as determinants for further analysis.

Intergroup consistency and interexpert reliability

In this study, with scores based on a 5-point Likert scale, we conducted the K–W test to assess intergroup differences for each subattribute. Based on the outcomes, the K–W test yielded significant results for all 32 subattributes; all three groups of experts reached consistency at p  > 0.05. This result indicated that no outlier or extreme value underlay the ratings, and therefore, intergroup consistency was reached. Finally, we measured interexpert reliability with Kendall’s W . The economic perspective was W  = 0.73, the sociocultural perspective was W  = 0.71, the environmental perspective was W  = 0.71, and the leisure and educational perspective was W  = 0.72. These four groups of W were all ≧ 0.7, indicating high reliability for the ranking order and convergence judged by all subgroup experts. These results are shown in Table 2 .

The hierarchical framework

The results of this study indicate that rural tourism contributions to rural community development comprise four attributes and thirty-two subattributes. The economic perspective encompasses nine subattributes and is weighted at w  = 0.387. In addition, rural tourism has long been considered a possible means of sociocultural development and regeneration of rural areas, particularly those affected by the decline in traditional rural

activities, agricultural festivals, and historical buildings. According to the desired benefits, the sociocultural perspective encompasses nine subattributes and is weighted at w  = 0.183. Moreover, as rural tourism can develop on farms and locally, its contribution to maintaining and enhancing environmental regeneration and protection is significant. Therefore, an environmental perspective can determine rural tourism’s impact on pursuing environmental objectives. Our results indicate that the environmental perspective encompasses seven subattributes and that its weight is w  = 0.237. Furthermore, the leisure and educational perspective indicates the attractiveness of rural tourism from visitors’ viewpoint and their perception of a destination’s value and contributions. These results show that this perspective encompasses seven subattributes and is weighted at w  = 0.193. This specific contribution model demonstrates a 3-level hierarchical structure, as shown in Fig. 2 . The scores for each criterion could indicate each attribute’s importance and explain the priority order of the groups. Briefly, the critical sequence of each measure in the model at Level 2 is as follows: economic perspective > environmental perspective > leisure and educational perspective > sociocultural perspective. Since scoring and ranking were provided by 18 experts from three different backgrounds and calculated using fuzzy AHP, our rural tourism contribution model is established. It can provide policy-makers with information on the long-term benefits and advantages following the completion of excellent community development in rural areas.

The priority index of each attribute and sub-attribute.

Discussion/Implications

In the era of sustainable rural development, it is vital to consider the role of rural tourism and how research in this area shapes access to knowledge on rural community development. This study provides four findings based on the increasing tendency of policy-makers to use such information to shape their policy-making priorities. It first shows that the demand for rural tourism has soared, particularly during COVID-19. Second, it lists four significant perspectives regarding the specific contributions of rural tourism to rural community development and delineates how these four perspectives affect rural tourism development. Our findings are consistent with those of prior studies. For example, geography has been particularly important in the rural or peripheral tourism literature (Carson, 2018 ). In terms of the local geographical context, two contributions could be made by rural tourism. The first stems from the environmental perspective. When a rural community develops rural tourism, environmental protection awareness is increased, and the responsible utilization of natural resources is promoted. This finding aligns with Lee and Jan ( 2019 ). The second stems from the leisure and educational perspective. The geographical context of a rural community, which provides tourists with geographical uniqueness, advances naturally calming, sensory-rich, and emotion-generating experiences for tourists. These results suggest that rural tourism will likely positively impact tourists’ experience. This finding is consistent with Kastenhoz et al. ( 2020 ). Third, although expert-based approaches have considerable benefits in developing and testing underlying phenomena, evidence derived from interexpert consensus, intergroup consistency, and interexpert reliability has been sparse. This study provides such evidence. Fourth, this research shows that rural tourism makes four main contributions, economic, sociocultural, environmental, leisure, and educational, to rural community development. Our results show four key indicators at Level 2. The economic perspective is strongly regarded as the most important indicator, followed by the environmental perspective, leisure and educational perspective, and sociocultural perspective, which is weighted as the least important. The secondary determinants of contributions have 32 subindicators at Level 3: each was identified and assigned a different weight. These results imply that the attributes or subattributes with high weights have more essential roles in understanding the contributions of rural tourism to rural community development. Policy-makers can use these 32 subindicators to formulate rural tourism development policies or strategies.

This study offers the following five practical implications for policymakers and rural communities:

First, we argue that developing rural tourism within a rural community is an excellent strategy for revitalization and countering the effects of urbanization, depopulation, deforestation, and unemployment.

Second, our analytical results indicate that rural tourism’s postdevelopment contribution is significant from the economic, sociocultural, environmental, leisure, and educational perspectives, which is consistent with Lee and Jan ( 2019 ).

Third, there is an excellent opportunity to build or invest more in rural tourism during COVID-19, not only because of the functions of rural tourism but also because of its timing. Many prior studies have echoed this recommendation. For example, Yang et al. ( 2021 ) defined rural tourism as the leading industry in rural areas, offering an output value ten times higher than that of agriculture in China. In addition, rural tourism has become more attractive to urban tourists amid COVID-19. Vaishar and Šťastná ( 2022 ) suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic created a strong demand for rural tourism, which can mitigate threats to public mental health, such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, isolation, and insomnia. Marques et al. ( 2022 ) showed that tourists’ preference for tourism in rural areas increased substantially during COVID-19.

Fourth, the contributions of this study to policy development are substantial. The more focused rural tourism in rural areas is, the more effective revitalization becomes. This finding highlights the importance of such features in developing rural tourism to enhance rural community development from multiple perspectives. This finding echoes Zawadka et al. ( 2022 ); i.e., policy-makers should develop rural tourism to provide tourists with a safe and relaxed environment and should not ignore the value of this model for rural tourism.

Fifth, our developed model could drive emerging policy issues from a supporting perspective and provide policy-makers with a more comprehensive overview of the development of the rural tourism sector, thus enabling them to create better policies and programs as needed. For example, amid COVID-19, rural tourism created a safe environment for tourists, mainly by reducing their fears of contamination (Dennis et al., 2021 ). This novel contribution that rural tourism destinations can provide to residents and visitors from other places should be considered and built into any rural community development policy.

This study also has the following four methodological implications for researchers:

First, it addresses methodological limitations that still impede tourism sustainability model development. Specifically, we suggest a six-stage procedure as the guideline; it is imperative that rural tourism researchers or model developers follow this procedure. If they do not, their findings tend to be flawed.

Second, to ensure that collected data are without extraneous interference or differences via subgroups of experts, the assessment of intergroup consistency with the K–W test instead of one-way ANOVA is proposed, especially in small samples and distribution-free studies.

Third, providing interexpert reliability evidence within expert-based research is critical; we used Kendall’s W to assess the reliability among experts for each sample group because it applies to any sample size and ordinal number.

Finally, we recommend using fuzzy AHP to establish a model with appropriate indicators for decision-making or selection. This study offers novel methodological insights by estimating a theoretically grounded and empirically validated rural tourism contribution model.

There are two limitations to this study. First, we examine all subattributes by interexpert consensus to delete construct-irrelevant variances that might receive criticism for their lack of statistical rigor. Future studies can use other rigorous methods, such as AD M( j ) or rWG ( j ) , interexpert agreement indices to assess and eliminate construct-irrelevant variances. Second, we recommend maximizing rural tourism contributions to rural community development by using the general population as a sample to identify any differences. More specifically, we recommend using Cronbach’s alpha, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the overall reliability and validity of the data and results. It is also necessary to provide results for goodness-of-fit measures—e.g., the goodness-of-fit index (GFI), adjusted goodness-of-fit index (AGFI), comparative fit index (CFI), normed fit index (NFI), Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI), standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), or root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA).

Numerous empirical studies have illustrated how rural tourism can positively and negatively affect the contexts in rural areas where it is present. This study reveals the positive contributions of rural tourism to rural community development. The findings show that using rural tourism as a revitalization strategy is beneficial to nonurban communities in terms of their economic, sociocultural, environmental, and leisure and educational development. The contribution from the economic perspective is particularly important. These findings suggest that national, regional, and local governments or community developers should make tourism a strategic pillar in their policies for rural development and implement tourism-related development projects to gain 32 benefits, as indicated in Fig. 2 . More importantly, rural tourism was advocated and proved effective for tourists and residents to reduce anxiety, depression, or insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this emerging contribution, rural tourism is becoming more critical to tourists from urban areas and residents involved in rural community development. With this model, policy-makers should not hesitate to develop or invest more in rural communities to create additional tourism-based activities and facilities. As they could simultaneously advance rural community development and public mental health, policy-makers should include these activities among their regional resilience considerations and treat them as enablers of sustainable rural development. We conclude that amid COVID-19, developing rural tourism is an excellent strategy for promoting rural community development and an excellent alternative that could counteract the negative impacts of urbanization and provide stakeholders with more positive interests. The proposed rural tourism contribution model also suggests an unfolding research plan.

Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Liu, YL., Chiang, JT. & Ko, PF. The benefits of tourism for rural community development. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 10 , 137 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01610-4

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Mass tourism the advantages and disadvantages

ADVANTAGES 1)  Jobs are generated by tourism in many areas – in the initial construction of the resorts, in travel, in food provision and in other service related industries. 2) Local people benefit directly from employment 3)  Roads, rail, facilities, electricity services etc. all need improving to accommodate the tourists – local people also benefit from these INFRASTRUCTURE developments. 4)  Transport facilities are developed 5)  The local tax base increases so the local government/council can invest in schools, healthcare and social services. 6)  Tourists introduce new values and cultures and learn about new cultures- this causes cultural UNDERSTANDING DISADVANTAGES 1)  TNCs (Trans National Corporations) from rich countries are often involved – this can result in a lot of profits leaving the country. 2  Jobs can be seasonal – especially in beach and skiing based resorts. People can therefore find themselves out of work in the close season. 3)  Tourists consume huge amounts of resources including food and water – this type of tourism is particularly UNSUSTAINABLE in this manner. 4)  Tourists introduce new values and cultures – this causes cultural pollution. 5)  Land is lost from farming to tourist developments.

The case study of mass tourism you have is from Kenya and Benidorm.

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Sustainability Success

What is Geotourism? (and why is important)

Geotourism is a new and exciting way to travel that allows you to explore the world around you in a more intimate and meaningful way. By engaging with the local community and learning about the area’s history and culture, you can have a truly unique and memorable experience. But, what is geotourism and why is important?

What is Geotourism?

Geotourism is a type of ecotourism that involves visiting natural or geological sites. These sites can include anything from mountains and volcanoes to hot springs and caves. It can include activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and visiting geological sites.

Geotourism is a great way to learn about the history and culture of a place while also helping to preserve its unique character.

There are many different reasons why someone might choose to go on a geotourism trip. For some, it may be a way to learn more about the geology of an area. For others, it may be a way to help preserve a geological site. And for others still, it may be a way to increase their awareness of the importance of geology.

Whatever the reason, geotourism can be a great way to see the world in a new and exciting way.

The Principles of Geotourism

The principles of geotourism are designed to encourage sustainable and responsible tourism development that enhances the geographical character of a destination.

Ultimately, geotourism is a form of green tourism based on the triple bottom line of sustainability ( 3 pillars ): environmental, social, and economic. Here are the principles at the base of geotourism:

• Integrity of a location is important to preserve its unique identity and appeal to tourists. This can be done by developing and improving the destination in ways that reflect its natural and cultural heritage.
• Community involvement is key to successful tourism development. Local businesses and civic groups should work together to promote and provide a distinctive and authentic visitor experience, therefore enhancing human and social sustainability .
• The protection and enhancement of the destination’s appeal are essential to maintaining its attractiveness to tourists. This can be done by sustaining natural habitats, heritage sites, and local culture.
• Ensuring that the economic and social benefits of tourism are felt by the local community. This can be done by supporting small businesses and encouraging tourism strategies that alleviate poverty.
• The conservation of resources . Businesses should strive to minimize their impact on the ecosystems and adopt practices that are environmentally sustainable .
• Land use and preservation . Care should be taken to prevent overdevelopment and degradation of the landscape.
• Encourage market diversity to appeal to a wide range of tourists. This can be done by providing a variety of food and lodging options.
• Planning is essential for geotourism. The destination should be developed with an eye to the future, with new communities that themselves constitute a destination enhancement, improving also the local economic sustainability .
• Tourist satisfaction is essential to maintaining a healthy tourism industry. Geotravelers should be excited and enthusiastic about their experiences in order to inspire others to visit the same destination.
• Interactive interpretation is a key element as well. This principle encourages both visitors and hosts to interactively learn about the place they are visiting.
• Evaluation : it is important to establish an evaluation process to be conducted on a regular basis by an independent panel. This will help to ensure that the destination is meeting the needs of its visitors and its residents.
• Be selective in the tourism market segments that are targeted for growth. This principle encourages businesses to focus on market segments that are most likely to appreciate and respect the distinctive assets of the destination.
• Codes of conduct , such as the World Tourism Organization ‘s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, ensure that tourism practices are respectful and responsible.

Why is geotourism important?

As responsible travelers, it’s important that we think about the impact of our trip on the world around us. Traditional tourism can often be damaging to local economies and cultures, but geo-tourism is a new way of travel that seeks to reverse these trends.

By investing in geo-tourism, we can help protect the world’s distinctive places, provide opportunities for local people, and create a future for responsible destination stewardship. So next time you’re planning a trip, keep geo-tourism in mind!

Geotourism is important for a number of reasons:

• Geotourism is a great way to learn about the Earth and its history . By visiting natural or geological sites, you can gain a better understanding of how the Earth was formed and how it has changed over time.
• Geotourism can be a great way to appreciate the natural beauty of the Earth . By visiting sites such as mountains, volcanoes, hot springs, and caves, you can get a better sense of the amazing geological features of our planet.
• Geotourism can also be a great way to support local communities . By engaging with the local community and learning about the area’s history and culture, you can help support the local economy and promote sustainable tourism practices

The geotouristic experience can help to understand that the perception of centrality that one has of oneself on earth is not in contradiction with perceiving ourselves as an integral part of nature.

Finally, geotourism can go even deeper and allow the geotourist to go beyond contemplative, intellectual, or aesthetic enjoyment. In search of a sense of individual responsibility capable of triggering the inner energy to carry out a paradigm shift in human nature.

Geotourism examples

There are many great geotourism destinations around the world, each with its own unique features and attractions. Here are some great examples of geotourism destinations!

1. Rio Tropicales Lodge – Costa Rica

The Rio’s Tropicales Lodge in Costa Rica not only does it offer visitors a chance to enjoy the rainforest, but it also employs and trains locals, teaches business skills, and provides guests with opportunities to learn about the local culture firsthand.

2. Grand Canyon – USA

The Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States, is one of the most popular geotourism destinations. It is known for its vast size and stunning views. Visitors can hike, camp, and raft through the canyon.

3. Three Sisters Adventure Trekking – Nepal

The 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking in Nepal trains and empowers women through adventure tourism, and also promotes responsible trekking across the Himalayan region.

4. Yellowstone National Park – USA

The geysers of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, USA are another popular tourist destination, Yellowstone is home to some of the world’s most impressive geysers. The eco-friendly tourist will find different eco-lodges to stay overnight and will have direct access to admire the beauty of this area.

5. Great Barrier Reef – Australia

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef is a popular geotourism destination. It is home to a huge variety of marine life, including unique species of fish. Visitors can snorkel and scuba dive to explore the reef… and maybe one day will also be possible to explore the Great Barrier Reef on a solar yacht !

6. Mount Fuji – Japan

Mount Fuji in Japan is an active volcano that is also one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. Mount Fuji is a great place to learn about volcanoes and see some incredible views. It is the highest mountain in Japan and is known for its beautiful symmetrical shape. Visitors can hike to the summit or take a cable car.

7. Blue Ventures – Madagascar

Blue Ventures, based in Madagascar, is another organization that is working to promote geo-tourism. They receive guests, teach them to scuba dive, and work with them to conduct research on the populations of fish that local people depend on. This information is then used to form the backbone of local marine conservation efforts.

8. Canadian Rockies – Canada

Another example of geotourism is the Canadian Rockies . There are programs that helps visitors to the Canadian Rockies learn about the unique geology of the area and how it has shaped the landscape. The program also helps to protect the natural heritage of the area by promoting sustainable tourism practices

The Benefits of Geotourism

Geotourism can offer a more intimate and authentic travel experience than traditional tourism. By engaging with the local community, you can learn about the area’s history and culture and get a better understanding of its people and way of life. In addition, geotourism can be a great way to appreciate the natural beauty of the Earth.

Geotourism can also have a positive impact on the local economy . By supporting local businesses and attractions, geotourists can help to create jobs and boost the local economy. In addition, geotourism can help to preserve the natural environment and promote sustainable development .

In addition, geotourism:

• Helps to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of a place.
• Helps to promote sustainable tourism practices.
• Increase public awareness of the importance of preserving the geological heritage of a location.

The disadvantages of geotourism

Here are the main cons of geotourism:

• Geotourism can sometimes be disruptive to the local community and environment. If not managed properly, it can lead to increased traffic and littering, as well as damage to natural resources.
• Geotourism can be expensive , as it often requires special equipment and training.
• It can be dangerous , as some natural sites are located in remote or hazardous areas.

Geotourism vs Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is defined as “tourism that does not have a negative impact on the environment or the societies where it took place” .

In contrast, geotourism is a new concept and it is based on the idea of sustainable tourism. Geotourism focuses more on the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of a destination .

The main difference between the two types of tourism is their focus. Sustainable tourism focuses on the environment, while geotourism focuses on the culture and history of a place. Geotourism is a great way to learn about the history and culture of a place while also helping to preserve its unique character.

The History of Geotourism

The idea of geotourism started with Jost Krippendorf, a professor at the University of Bern. He argued for an alternative to mass tourism, which he called “soft tourism” or “sanfter turismus.” The concept of geotourism is based on the idea of preserving local culture and the environment.

David Weaver, one of the most prominent spokesmen for geotourism, defines it as “the main difference between the old and the new form of tourism is moving the focus from the wellbeing of the tourist to the wellbeing of the host community.”

Geotourism has faced opposition from the tourism industry, which is resistant to any limits on growth. Critics have also accused geotourism of being elitist and expensive.

Despite the challenges, thanks to growing environmental awareness the concept of geotourism is gaining ground as more and more people become aware of the importance of sustainable tourism practices.

The Future of Geotourism

The future of geotourism looks bright as more and more people become interested in sustainable and responsible travel. As awareness of the importance of preserving our natural heritage grows, geotourism will become an increasingly popular way to see the world

There are many ways to get involved in geotourism, such as volunteering at a local geological site, working as a tour guide, or even just spreading the word about the importance of geotourism. Whatever way you choose to get involved, you can help to make the future of geotourism bright

Geotourism is a new and exciting way to travel that allows you to learn about and experience the unique geological features of an area. It is a great way to get off the beaten path and explore the world in a new and exciting way.

If you are interested in exploring the world through geotourism, there are many resources available to help you get started.

The Ecotourism Society is a great place to start, and they offer many resources and trip ideas.

There are also many travel companies that offer geotourism trips, however, make sure to do your research to find the perfect trip for you!

You may also be interested in:

• 10 Sustainable Tourism Examples
• The Magic Of Ecotourism In Belize (Unmissable Experiences!)
• Mexico Ecotourism (Discover 10 Hidden Gems!)

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of mass tourism?

Table of Contents

• 1 What are the advantages and disadvantages of mass tourism?
• 2 What are the advantages of tourism class 9?
• 3 What are the two disadvantages of tourism?
• 4 What are the benefits and disadvantages of tourism?
• 5 How does tourism help the natives of a country?

Economic impacts

What are the positive and negative effects of tourism on society?

Positive and negative economic impacts of tourism There are both positive and negative effects on communities related to the economic impacts of tourism in their communities. A positive impact can refer to the increase in jobs, a higher quality of life for locals, and an increase in wealth of an area.

What are the advantages of tourism class 9?

The advantages of tourism are:

• We can gain knowledge about the place, culture, civilization, life style by the tour.
• We can satisfy our curiosity going to different places.
• Going on tour to religious place we find peace of mind.
• We gain happiness and health improvement by visiting different places.

What are disadvantages of mass tourism?

Disadvantages of Mass Tourism: New infrastructure may bring with it pollution and over-development;. Tourists can be narrow-minded and often prefer familiar food, so much is imported rather than produced locally. Local people may not be able to afford the new facilities put in place for tourists.

What are the two disadvantages of tourism?

Top 8 Cons of Tourism

• Environmental Damage.
• Exploitation of Culture.
• Poor Behavior from Tourists.
• Loss of Jobs.
• Lack of Job Security.
• Unequal Infrastructure Growth.
• Foreign Business Owners.
• Neglect of Other Sectors.

What are the advantages of tourism in India Class 10?

It promotes national integration. It makes us aware of the beauty and rich cultural heritage of our nation.It promote inter-regional relationship. Tourism encourages cultural pursuits and provides support to local handicrafts. It helps in development of international understanding.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of tourism?

How does the tourism industry help the environment?

How does tourism help the natives of a country?

How many countries in the world rely on tourism?

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