Nowadays, international tourism is the biggest industry in the world. Unfortunately, international tourism creates tension rather than understanding between people from different cultures. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Tourism industry across different countries has given people the opportunity to expand their horizons and create new experiences beyond borders. While in some cases, this has created a collaborative effort for the hosts and visitors to enrich the experience of each other, multiple sections of the demography believe that it could also be counterproductive. This topic needs a deeper analysis.
In contemporary times, a trend being observed is the resurgence of a nomadic culture for travelers. This pattern is complemented by the empathetic nature of tourists which often includes living, sharing and most importantly, caring for the natives of the host countries they are visiting, creating opportunities for the guests to naturally blend into a new cultural environment. The locals, who draw economic, as well as cultural enrichment, also reciprocate by offering a receptive atmosphere, in which those visiting feel at home. In a recent survey by Travel digest, it has been observed that 70% of host countries make it a cultural priority to ensure tourists feel welcome which helps create a strong and long-lasting bond with the native residents.
Nevertheless, the critics, as always, cite instances, despite these being sporadic, where there have been tourists who have blatantly disregarded regional practices in a country even though such behavior stems from the entrants being completely oblivious of native ways of life. The disrespectful approach, as this lobby alleges, could occasionally create a sour experience for the hosts who often carry an incorrect impression of aliens. Another reason often cited for disgruntlement is the expansion of carbon footprint due to tourist activity: to cater to tourists, various services are established for which natives are made to bear taxes.
In conclusion, the exaggeration of some inconsequential events to tarnish the image of this industry seems quite irrational and lacking in substance. Like every coin has two sides, tourism also has some darker shades, but it is surely doing a commendable task of creating bonds along with employment and business.