Tourism is a modern form of colonialism.It distorts local economies,
causes environmental damage and ruins the places it exploits. To what
extent would you support or reject this idea?
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| Ielts Essay - Is Tourism Neocolonialism? |
Nowadays, tourism is becoming a Pan global phenomena that is spreading to the various corners the world, giving people an oppurtiunity to interact with the civilizations that were considered aliens a little while ago. It is becoming a potent industry that is fueling growth in the nations that are being explored by the tourists.
There is no similarity to be cited between the colonialism and the Tourism, because colonialism was by force and made slaves, whereas tourism is creating an interaction between people and creating bonds. Tourism is turning into a profitable source of funds for the economies. It helps the governments to generate huge revenues, which are channelized to preserve the Monuments and locations in their originality. Tourism also creates awareness and respect among the local populace for their Heritage.
Besides this, enormous potential for new employment opportunities and the growth and development of the infrastructure are generated thus fueling the components of the economies. For e.g. the site that is promoted attract a constant flow of the tourists, which brings along improvements in various basic and infrastructural facilities, right from transportation, Hotels, Health, Communications etc.
However, although there are strong critics to tourism, their perceptions make them purists and forbid intermingling. For e.g. in the orthodox society of the Middle east, feels that this factor is damaging their Society, as when the travelers arrive from west, they bring along their culture and mannerisms, which are unacceptable. There is one more factor that aids the point of contention of the detractors of tourism, as some irresponsible tourists do behave irrational and go around littering and defacing the Monuments.
In conclusion, I think, whatever critics feel, the dynamics of tourism is a commendable source of Inspiration for the economies and the people world over, in commercial as well as the Cultural.
