Tourism is the Driving Economic Force - Essay Example

Tourism is the Driving Economic Force of Developed Countries Student name Tutor’s name: Institution: Date of submission Tourism is always considered as one of the most important contributors to the economic growth in most of the developing countries because of several reasons. It is common to find that most of these countries invest most in tourism for that matter. The economic growth is usually given the priority and therefore when a state has identified an activity which can make its economy grow, they often take that business very seriously. This has since enabled these countries to register healthy economic growth and has made them be known in the whole world. This task, therefore, seeks to discuss how tourism is a driving economic force in these developing countries. It will explain the role tourism plays towards the economic growth of these countries and also how it has enabled these countries to be known in the whole world. Tourism can lead to employment creation, income redistribution and poverty mitigation. A lot of employment opportunities have been made available in these developed countries through the tourism sector. Thus, the jobless youths have been employed in areas such as game parks, game reserves and even in hotels (Narayan et al. 2010, p.12). They play roles such as tour guides, provision of security to the animals, attending to the tourists and even feeding the animals. With the employment opportunities, the youths have been enabled to earn from the sector and improve their living standards due to the income they receive from the industry. For an economy of a country to grow, it requires that all citizens are engaged in an activity which can generate some income and not a system where other people entirely depend on a section of the people and the government to earn their living (Huybers, 2007, p.19). Tourism, therefore, plays a imperative role in ensuring that at least everybody has some activity which can generate to him or her some income apart from that money the industry makes to the government. Some of these jobs are not big but provided that these people are employed they can get some salary and take care of themselves and their families without being a burden to the government. The employment of people in this sector has also reduced the level of immoralities such as theft in these developed countries. Therefore, there is peaceful coexistence within these countries. Indirect employment has also been generated through other related industries such as agriculture, food production and retail (Huybers, 2007, p.35). This has enabled many citizens of these particular developed countries to an earn living and increased their living standards. Economic diversification is also important to areas where there may be a concentration of environmentally damaging industries such as mining and manufacturing. With reduced level of immorality, the government does not have to spend money unnecessarily in handling issues like illness and diseases caused as a result of immoral behaviors like HIV and AIDS. The government will rather divert those funds elsewhere to facilitate further developments in developed countries. That is why in most case, the level of diseases in developed countries is relatively lower compared to developing countries. Tourism, therefore, is a major contributor to economic development because it helps in reducing the level of immorality thereby keeping ensuring the people are engaged in constructive activities (Ivanov and Webster, 2007, p.18). The money people generate from the tourism industry, for example, the tour guides are good enough to give them their basic needs meaning they do not need to steal when they can obtain their needs. Tourism earns foreign exchange to these particular countries. This income is used in the development of other sectors of the country (Lee and Chang, 2008, p.29). These visitors expenditure generates revenue for the local community and can lead to the alleviation of poverty to countries which are heavily reliant on tourism. Infrastructure development such as airports roads, schools, railways, airports and retail areas have the potential to benefit the local community and can aid the economic development by allowing more trading activities and better flow of goods and services driving the economic force of these developed countries. Ultimately, for any country to thrive economically there must be peace, which tourism has promoted in most developed countries, for example, jobs provided by tourism in Europe are expected to help demobilize paramilitary groups as the peace process is put in place (Sequeira and Campos, 2007, p.33). This is very much possible because traveling brings people into contact with each other and, as tourism has an educational element, it can foster understanding between peoples and cultures and provide cultural exchange between hosts and guests. Because of this, the chances increase for people to develop mutual sympathy and understanding and to reduce their prejudices. Eventually, peace can be achieved in the world. Tourism brings about a real sense of pride and identity to communities by showcasing their distinct characteristics of their social, economic and political way of life, history and culture, cultural arts and craft. Tourism can encourage the preservation and transmission of the traditions which may be at risk of loss. It also encourages community involvement in tourism development and operation, which is an essential condition for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity (Ivanov and Webster, 2007, p.55). This will enable people to appreciate their heritage. For a country’s economy to grow, it needs more than money. It is important that people become proud of their country as well because this is what will motivate them into working hard which leads to economic growth. Culture has always influenced the economic growth, and it should be considered that every country including these developed countries has their culture which they always ensure remain protected since it is their source of pride. People from other parts of the world usually like traveling to learn about these cultures which are different from their own and when this happens it gives the locals a very high sense of pride in themselves and their country. This enterprise has added to the vitality of the communities in most developed countries, such in events and festivals of which residents have been the primary participants and spectators are often rejuvenated and developed in response to tourist interests. The jobs created by tourism have also acted as a vital incentive to reduce emigration from rural areas, thus a reduction of overpopulation in the urban centers (Huybers, 2007, p.61). Moreover, the residents around the enterprise benefit from facilities developed for tourism including upgraded infrastructure, health and transport improvements, new sports and recreational facilities, restaurants and public spaces as well as an inflow of better quality commodities and food. Tourism as an economic driving force in developed countries has contributed to environmental conservation in numerous ways. Tourism has contributed directly to the preservation of sensitive areas and habitat (Lee and Chang, 2008, p.71). Revenue from park entrance fees is usually used in facilitating development within that given country and this, in turn, leads to the economic growth of a country. Governments collect money from tourism activities, for example, the money paid at the parks when tourists want to view wild animals and these funds is later used id initiating a development project. Therefore, it leads to the growth of the economy. Even the tour guides who are crucial people for the tourists to access these parks are paid some money which is also vital to the growth of a country's economy. The money can as well be used in other activities such as park ranger salaries and park maintenance. Tourism has also led to infrastructure development in these developed countries since when tourists come to a country, the locals usually want to present something standardized because they expect good money from tourists. The hotels travelers use typically above the ordinary hotels which the locals use, and this is one way which a country develops regarding infrastructure (Huybers, 2007, p.45). The airports are also developed, and they usually expand their services as they always transport people from different parts of the country. When there are increased services in the sector of transportation, the country definitely benefits, and this leads to the growth of the economy. The hospitals also improve as the hosts always build hospitals which can be used by these tourists, and this means that these hospitals must be well equipped and well organized. When the visitors use these health facilities there is money they pay and that money finally contributes to the economy of that particular country (Huybers, 2007, p.56). Besides, the status of roads also improves, and this benefits the entire country. The roads are usually developed to enable the tourists to access these countries with ease. Most of these roads are in the countryside where tourists like going to see wild animals and beautiful landscapes. When these roads are easy to access it becomes a benefit to the entire nation since the locals will as well use these roads for own business which in a way helps the government by increasing the economy. Most activities in tourism are readily available to the poor, and this is because they neither require too much skills nor investment. This insinuates that tourism is an activity which involves both the wealthy and the have-nots in increasing the economy of a country. The input of the both the rich and the poor are necessary for a country’s economy to grow and therefore tourism is mindful of that fact. Finally, tourism is a vital activity in and it is a major contributor to economic development because it earns a country foreign income, it also enables the goods from outside countries to reach a state quickly. Tourism also creates employment opportunities for other roles. Therefore, it is considered as the driving economic force of developed countries. References Huybers, T., 2007. Tourism in developing countries. Edward Elgar Publishing. Ivanov, S. and Webster, C., 2007. Measuring the impact of tourism on economic growth. Tourism Economics, 13(3), pp.379-388. Lee, C.C. and Chang, C.P., 2008. Tourism development and economic growth: A closer look at panels. Tourism management, 29(1), pp.180-192. Narayan, P.K., Narayan, S., Prasad, A. and Prasad, B.C., 2010. Tourism and economic growth: a panel data analysis for Pacific Island countries. Tourism economics, 16(1), pp.169-183. Sequeira, T.N. and Campos, C., 2007. International tourism and economic growth: A panel data approach. In Advances in Modern Tourism Research (pp. 153-163). Physica-Verlag HD. Read More

Economic diversification is also important to areas where there may be a concentration of environmentally damaging industries such as mining and manufacturing. With reduced level of immorality, the government does not have to spend money unnecessarily in handling issues like illness and diseases caused as a result of immoral behaviors like HIV and AIDS. The government will rather divert those funds elsewhere to facilitate further developments in developed countries. That is why in most case, the level of diseases in developed countries is relatively lower compared to developing countries.

Tourism, therefore, is a major contributor to economic development because it helps in reducing the level of immorality thereby keeping ensuring the people are engaged in constructive activities (Ivanov and Webster, 2007, p.18). The money people generate from the tourism industry, for example, the tour guides are good enough to give them their basic needs meaning they do not need to steal when they can obtain their needs. Tourism earns foreign exchange to these particular countries. This income is used in the development of other sectors of the country (Lee and Chang, 2008, p.29). These visitors expenditure generates revenue for the local community and can lead to the alleviation of poverty to countries which are heavily reliant on tourism.

Infrastructure development such as airports roads, schools, railways, airports and retail areas have the potential to benefit the local community and can aid the economic development by allowing more trading activities and better flow of goods and services driving the economic force of these developed countries. Ultimately, for any country to thrive economically there must be peace, which tourism has promoted in most developed countries, for example, jobs provided by tourism in Europe are expected to help demobilize paramilitary groups as the peace process is put in place (Sequeira and Campos, 2007, p.33). This is very much possible because traveling brings people into contact with each other and, as tourism has an educational element, it can foster understanding between peoples and cultures and provide cultural exchange between hosts and guests.

Because of this, the chances increase for people to develop mutual sympathy and understanding and to reduce their prejudices. Eventually, peace can be achieved in the world. Tourism brings about a real sense of pride and identity to communities by showcasing their distinct characteristics of their social, economic and political way of life, history and culture, cultural arts and craft. Tourism can encourage the preservation and transmission of the traditions which may be at risk of loss. It also encourages community involvement in tourism development and operation, which is an essential condition for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity (Ivanov and Webster, 2007, p.55). This will enable people to appreciate their heritage.

For a country’s economy to grow, it needs more than money. It is important that people become proud of their country as well because this is what will motivate them into working hard which leads to economic growth. Culture has always influenced the economic growth, and it should be considered that every country including these developed countries has their culture which they always ensure remain protected since it is their source of pride. People from other parts of the world usually like traveling to learn about these cultures which are different from their own and when this happens it gives the locals a very high sense of pride in themselves and their country.

This enterprise has added to the vitality of the communities in most developed countries, such in events and festivals of which residents have been the primary participants and spectators are often rejuvenated and developed in response to tourist interests. The jobs created by tourism have also acted as a vital incentive to reduce emigration from rural areas, thus a reduction of overpopulation in the urban centers (Huybers, 2007, p.61).

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