SASS EGeog Tourism Gateway 3

Subject: Geography Topic: Global Tourism Gateway 3: Developing tourism at what cost? _____________________________________________________________________________________ Introduction Traditional culture can be greatly affected by tourist activities. For example: • Kayan Lahwi women as tourist attractions: – Tourists photograph the ‘long-necked women’ – Tourists buy clothing and souvenirs made by the women – Local businesses charge fees to enter the villages – Some of the women were relocated to Inle Lake – The tradition of wearing brass neck coils continues because it gives the Kayan Lahwi a source of revenue What are the impacts of tourism? • Economic • Socio-cultural • Environmental Economic Tourism can bring about positive and negative economic impacts. Positive Negative • Employment opportunities • Seasonal unemployment • Growth in income • Underuse of facilities • Increase in foreign exchange • Shortage of services • Infrastructure development Positive Economic Impact 1: Employment Opportunities Employment: Work performed for a wage or salary, in cash or in kind • The growth of tourism has led to an increase in number of tourism-related jobs • The tourism industry offers many employment opportunities, e.g. hotels, souvenir shops, tour agencies • Some jobs are: – Directly linked to the tourism industry, e.g. travel agents, tour guides, hotel staff, waiters and waitresses – Indirectly linked to the tourism industry, e.g. taxi drivers, shop owners • In 2011, the tourism industry employed over 235 million people worldwide (6–8 % of all the jobs in the world) Positive Economic Impact 2: Growth in income and Positive Economic Impact 3: Increase in Foreign Exchange Growth in income includes • Tourism receipts: Money received from tourists spending . • Tourism receipts generate large revenue for many countries. In 2011, worldwide tourism receipts exceeded US$1 trillion • Tourism growth can lead to growth in income for i Individuals and a country • Example: Fishermen on Pamilacan Island, Philippines

– Local tour companies hire fishermen to help them view and swim with whale sharks – Fishermen are paid between US$80–US$100 per boat for their service – Fishermen can expect additional income on top of their fishing livelihood – Tour c Companies will experience an increase in revenue – Overall increase in r Revenue for the country through taxes collected from the fishermen and tour companies • A large portion of revenue from tourism is sometimes lost as l leakages , especially in LDCs • Leakage occurs when revenue earned from tourism is p Paid to other c Countries for the i Import _ of goods and services needed to meet the needs of tourists • For example: Phuket, Thailand – Travellers may use the services of f Foreign -o owned businesses and buy imported items – Some of the profits made by local busin