In fact, contact among people became better and better with the help of increased air travel and developed telecommunication in the 20th century. I partly agree with the idea that this phenomenon came along with numerous benefits for not only people but also countries in many respects regarding businesses and tourism.
From one angle, the connectedness through increased air travel and communication can have detrimental consequences. Although the developments in air travel and means of telecommunication brought about positive changes in people’s lives, this trend also led to environmental issues. When an increased number of people fly to various tourist destinations from one country to another, they are found to contribute to what is known as environmental degradation, as the fuel needed for planes to travel harms nature, especially plant species, triggering pollution in vast areas, which eventually poses a threat to public health. Loss of cultural identity can be another worrying concern about these rapid developments. Put simply, as many people move to different countries and have close contact with people in different parts of the world, the individuals may unintentionally cause globalisation, a term used to describe the connectedness of the world, which exposes diverse cultural practices. As a result, some tourist-hosting countries, including the UAE and the US, tend to lose a sense of cultural and traditional identity, which may also lead to the extinction of local languages and cultural practices because of the tourism industry.
From another angle, there are far more important benefits that not only society but also the whole country can get from the close relationships with foreigners brought by international tourism and business. In the first place, increased contact with people from other cultures or countries usually has an immense impact on the economy. To be precise, when many tourists flock to go sightseeing in a particular country, the local economy can be fueled by a variety of tourist services, and thanks to some figures that offer visitors valuable experience. Take the example of New Zealand, a country famous for its significantly beautiful nature. Many people back in the past knew less, or were even unaware, about this country, tourist destinations local dishes, and cultures. But the flights to this country increased thanks to the fast and easy information exchange through telecommunications, making New Zealand one of the most popular places to visit, to see nature in particular. Moreover, people can also increase their cultural awareness thanks to increased contact with foreigners. We can see this happening in many multicultural cities, such as New York, a state of the US, and Istanbul, one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey. With diverse cultures and traditions brought by people living in the same society can teach people respect other nations’ religions, cultures and traditions, improving contact with people from all over the world.
In conclusion, taking all negative aspects into account, I believe society can benefit from closer contact and relationships owing to improvements in air travel and more recent communication means with people from other parts of the world in tourism and business industries, including the boosted economy and cultural awareness.