A remarkable number of third-world countries are currently developing their tourism industries because they are believed to be a pivotal part of the economy. Personally, it has both pros and cons, and this essay will explain my opinion.
To begin with, one might argue that tourism industry has a tremendous impact on cultural diversity. This seems reasonable since by travelling abroad or somewhere far away, tourists are given the opportunity to experience different cultures and traditions and have a deeper insight into other traditions. Moreover, foreign vacationers from various parts of the world bring new perspectives, promote cultural exchange and understanding between different communities. As a result, this will build a multicultural environment and a greater appreciation of traditional diversity. However, this line of reasoning fails to mention the loss of traditional cultures deriving from tourism promotion. This is due to the fact that when hordes of travellers from too many parts of the world flock to famous tourist destinations, both local residents and tourists have to embrace cultural diversities, leading to cultural assimilation. Consequently, traditional culture will gradually be eroded and fade away, requiring protection of cultural heritage.
Granted, we can see that tourism expansion plays an important role in boosting the economy of a developing country. In other words, expanding tourism attracts millions of tourists, providing local inhabitants with different kinds of jobs. In effect, the standard of living of people will be improved, stimulating economic growth. On the contrary, some people subscribe to the viewpoint that tourism advancement puts heavy pressure on the environment. Particularly, to accommodate increasing numbers of tourists, some businesses enlarge the travelling space, overexploit the land to build skyscrapers where there are tourist traps. Eventually, this may cause damage to native wildlife such as marine environment, bringing endangered species to the brink of collapse.
To recapitulate, nowadays there are many countries concentrate on developing tourism as it is a fertile market to stimulate economic growth. This both positive effects on economy and negative impacts on the environment.