Issues associated with the growth of touism

Benefits

• Improved education to meet tourist needs
• Development of foreign language skills
• Improved health services
• Traditional cultures preserved
• Restrictive cultures made more liberal
• Introduces new ideas and expectations

Problems

• Moral corruption - taking advantage of tourists
• Increased inequalities
• Loss of traditional culture, language and values
• Cultural colonialism, e.g. McDonalds, Starbucks etc
• Alteration of demographic
• Displacement of local population
• Loss of living, e.g. second homes 

• Employment created
• Increased investment in infrastructure
• Increased demand for local produce
• demand for craft industries
• Earns foreign currency
• Can reduce rural-urban migration
• Growth poles and multiplier effect can lead to development

• Increased imports and rise in prices e.g. food, land
• Increased commercial agriculture
• Leakage of profits
• Loss of locally owned land
• Low paid, seasonal part-time and menial jobs
• Drain on money, power and resources from locals
• Urban coastal sprawl
• Traffic congestion - more difficult to get work
• Over-dependence on tourism
• Increased foreign debt - high interest payments

Benefits

• Encourages conservation
• Encourages control of pollution
• Encourages coastal and river protection
• Search for and development of new resources e.g. water

Problems

• Destruction of natural habitats
• Pollution
• Water problems
• Resource depletion
• Soil erosion

Benefits

• Opens up governments to new ideas
• Government backing for major international events such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup

Problems

• Political unrest as new ideas threaten the status quo
• The perceived greater likelihood of terrorist attacks in certain destinations