However, it’s criticised for the way in which most of the money goes to companies abroad rather than local people. Tourism is the world’s largest industry and the only source of rapid development for many small developing countries. The debate is increasingly framed in terms of whether global tourism levels should be reduced.ĭo the economic benefits outweigh the costs? On the against side, some people question whether ‘ethical’ tourism is ever really possible. On the for side there are those who argue all tourism is beneficial and that we shouldn’t make moralising distinctions between different types of holiday. There is disagreement about whether ethical tourism provides the answer, and it has its critics on both sides of the debate. But tourism has many critics who accuse it of three main forms of exploitation: economic, environmental and cultural. The post-war expansion of air travel kick started the era of international mass travel, which today, with the increase in cheap flights, includes many more short breaks alongside annual summer holidays. The overall impact of tourism therefore needs to be reassessed, and the question remains: is the holiday over for mass tourism?įor further reading use the menu bar on the right hand side.įrom 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. They ask on what basis people claim a right to tell others how to enjoy themselves. 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. There has, however, been a backlash against the war on tourism, with renewed arguments for the economic and social benefits tourism brings. Gap years have also come in for criticism, with warnings that they may do more harm than good. Carbon offsetting services, which seek to cancel out the carbon dioxide produced by flying, are increasingly popular. Even the editors of backpackers’ bibles Lonely Planet and Rough Guide have sought to discourage ‘casual flying’. The Bishop of London has argued that it’s selfish and sinful to contribute to climate change by flying on holiday, and that we should ‘walk more lightly upon the earth’. The increase in cheap flights is a particular focus of controversy. However, recently the focus has switched from whether we should travel more responsibly to whether we should actually travel less. A debate about whether mass tourism is exploitative has been going on for some time, leading to the rise of related ideas like ethical (dead link), or eco tourism. Tourism has traditionally been a way of escaping the cares of the world, but mounting fears about the impact of mass tourism mean that tourists are now encouraged not to leave their consciences at home.
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