World Tourism Organization - Essay Example

Tourism Introduction According to World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism comprises the activities of persons travelling to and staying in placesoutside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes (UNWTO, 2011). Tourism is globally considered as an important revenue generator. The tourism industry offers jobs to a large number of people and it also invites rigor within international exchange. Furthermore, it encourages people to conserve and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of a particular area. However, with all these advantages, there is also a list of disadvantages associated with tourism (Dharmaratne et al, 2000). Therefore, while evaluating tourism as a whole it is imperative to consider its dark and the bright side. Tourism just for the sake of leisure or fun may leave detrimental effects, thus educating tourists about their limits and rights is very important, to provide tourism a healthy form. In the following text some of the pros and cons are discussed with respect to their socio-economic implications. Pros Tourism is involved directly as well as indirectly in economic activity of a place or a country, this is due to demands for services and goods that are needed to be produced and provided (Tribe, 2011). The direct effect of tourism on economics of a place is termed as tourism’s ‘economic contribution’ and it is determined by tourism satellite account or TSA. Meanwhile, the indirect economic impacts of tourism are determined through various models, and this type of modelling helps in determining the overall direct and indirect effects of tourism on the economy of a place. While considering the economic contribution of tourism it is imperative to understand the concept of tourism industries. Tourism industries are activities that typically produce tourism characteristic products. The criteria to characterize tourism product is that the production or availability of a product or service is sufficiently proportional to the extent of tourism, consequently the demand of these services or products develop a direct link with the presence of tourists. Some of the key characteristic tourism products include accommodation services, transport services, recreational services and area specific tourist services. Accommodation services refer to availability and management of hotel, motels and rest houses (Goeldner & Ritchie, 2009). Transport services include air, rail and road transport. Recreational services are usually specific from place to place, but some services are quiet generally found near tourist spots such as bars, theme parks, cinemas and etc. To ensure effective provision of these services it is important to have skilled labor, and this is the reason why tourism industry has the capacity to withhold a large amount personals belonging to the cadre of pink collar or service providers. If a tourist resort is hospitable to its visitors it attracts investors, which in result offer job opportunities to the locals. Moreover, to continue attracting visitors from across the world it is important to establish world class standards of hospitality as well as conservation of natural environment also becomes mandatory, especially if the tourist resort has some biotic or natural significance for example like wild life parks. Conservation of natural habitat and environment requires hosts to implement certain task force to ensure conservation, in this it also open job opportunities for the professionals. Apart from conserving environment, cultural integrity and sustainability is also important, because culture of a place in itself is an attracting force when it comes to tourism. Tourists want to see different and amusing things, some do it for leisure, others do it out of curiosity, and in either way it becomes important for hosts to conserve their culture. Governments, who rely on tourism for the generation of revenue, establish special ministry of culture and tourism to administer and look after this sector. In the present case scenario where world is transforming through massive technological advances, special attention is required to protect cultural and natural heritage. If tourism of a place is linked to its cultural identity, it acts as an added advantage, because people get paid for preserving and conserving their socio-cultural heritage. As a result tourism plays a key role in maintaining cultural diversity all around the globe. Along with cultural heritage it is also important to protect natural habitat, for example tourist who visit tropical regions, their main aim is to visit tropical forest, and this is why natives of tropical forests are asked not to cut down these forest for the sake of agriculture. Therefore, tourism act as conserver as well as a sustenance provider, because it prevents invasive measures and yet produce yield for the natives. Cons To evaluate tourism and its outcomes, it is important to look at both sides of the picture. If tourism provide rigor in the economic activity, it also brings it to halt. This is specially the case with places that are remote and have remained under developed specifically for conserving its culture and natural habitat for the sake of tourism. Remote areas that are often reported for pertaining their identity and simple way of life are often left unattended when it comes to assigning government’s monitory development funds. Furthermore infrastructure of such places is also ignored, people are hired for low wage job and basic rights like education and health are often ignored. Moreover, one must not forget the fact that tourist activity is seriously affected by seasonal variation. People living near tourist resorts are forced to migrate to business centers during non- tourist seasons. This brings instability in their lives and their overall income remains pretty low. The increasing economic stress on locals forces them to get involved in illegal activities. Prostitution is one of the prevailing evils in these tourist resorts. There two major reasons why sex workers are common in tourist resort. First, tourists are usually rich people and they can afford sex workers in these areas, moreover the exchange rate of currency also fortifies this fact (Clift, 2000). Since, natives are under skilled they find prostitution as an easy way of earning, however, they do not have much of the choices either. Along with prostitutes, beggars are also common at such sites. This is because the natives believe that tourists are rich people and they can pay them. All these activities are organized and administered at some scales. Prostitutes have pimps, while beggars are headed by vagabonds. The increase in the tourism affect their activities, there are more cases of kidnapping and abduction to carryout forced labor by their hostages. This eventually result in dismantling social statute of a place, because locals are deprived of their basic rights, further, their family members are forced into unwanted economic activities. Another social problem attributed to tourism is the involvement of foreigners in the lives of the locals. Native people have to sacrifice their routine dealings to accommodate these guests. Tourists add a stress on the natural carrying capacity of the place. Furthermore, the influx of tourists may give rise to several environmental issues. This may be a threat to the natural climate of the place and add burden on the land. Pollution from garbage as well as burning of fossil fuels creates threat for the local environment and disturbs the natural balance (McLaren, 2002). Furthermore, construction for accommodating tourists add physical stress on the land prices, because commercialization of land only benefits the landholders, and poor people do not have the means to build and purchase houses. This may result in forced migration of the locals. Displacements of locals usually results from the intrusion of foreign investors, they not only buy the land from the natives. Since, local work force is not skilled; people are hired from other cities or countries that have the skill to carry out service provision in much efficient manner. Consequently, this establishes discontentment among the natives and give birth to an unwanted social order, where foreigners become the masters of the local people. Conclusion Excess of everything is bad, and same applies to tourism. Tourism remains a healthy economic activity as far as it does not compromise over the rights of the natives. Moreover, there is a need to establish strict monitoring policies to prevent the spread of mischievous activities. The security of locals as well as tourists must be ensured by departments that deal with tourism. Tourist resort must be provided with basic commodities of life, and locals must have access to the high living standards. Tourism is a seasonal economic activity; therefore, some constant source of income should be arranged for the locals. Overall, tourism remains an important contributor towards global economy. Tourism Industry envelops various form service provision and goods production; it channelizes the energy and skills of a large number of people and provides them with income. Tourism also acts as a driving force towards conservation and protection of natural and socio-cultural heritage. References Clift, S. (2000). Tourism and sex: Culture, commerce and coercion. London [u.a.: Pinter. Dharmaratne, G. S., Yee Sang, F., & Walling, L. J. (2000). Tourism potentials for financing protected areas. Annals of Tourism Research, 27(3), 590-610. Goeldner, C. R., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (2009). Tourism: Principles, practices, philosophies. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley. McLaren, D. (2002). Rethinking tourism and ecotravel. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press. Tribe, J. (2011). The economics of recreation, leisure & tourism. Amsterdam, Elsevier. UNWTO. (2011). UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2011 Edition. Internet Resource. Read More