Impacts of the Growth of Global Tourism (Edexcel IGCSE Geography) : Revision Note

Jacque Cartwright

Written by: Jacque Cartwright

Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett

Updated on

Global tourism

  • Tourism is one aspect of globalisation

    • It is defined as time spent away from the home environment for leisure, business or professional reasons

  • Over the last 50 years, mass tourism has expanded into a major global industry, which is still growing 

  • An estimated 900 million people become international tourists every year (before the Covid pandemic)

  • The main reasons for the rise in tourism is due to:

    • improved pay and leave allowances - most workers now work less than 40 hours a week and have paid annual leave

    • decrease in the relative cost of holidays

    • greater range of destinations

    • increased business travel due to globalisation

    • improved disposable incomes - normally both partners work, and this increases incoming money to the household

    • it is easier than ever to cross borders with agreements between countries

    • transport is faster and cheaper than in the past

    • communication - internet, social media etc. bring awareness of foreign destinations, booking of last-minute holidays etc. 

Social impacts

  • Mass tourism has both positive and negative impacts on people, the economy and the environment

Positive social impacts of global tourism

  • It can help revive local skills and handicrafts

  • Cultural tourism values people's heritage

  • Tourism brings people together from all over the world

  • It can spread the range of social facilities for local people

  • Major international events (Olympics) can have a positive effect locally and nationally - improved infrastructure etc.

  • Develops foreign language skills 

  • Ancient sites are brought to global attention helping to preserve historical legacies

  • It might encourage migration to major tourist-generating countries

Negative social impacts of global tourism

  • Loss of locally owned land

  • Tourist behaviour can offend local people (drinking etc.)

  • Tourist centres encourage crime, prostitution etc. 

  • Displacement of people

  • Abuse of human rights

  • Can erode local language and traditional values

  • Loss of access to local sites - beaches, forests etc

  • Visitor congestion at key locations

Economic impacts

  • Tourism has a large economic impact on a country - multiplier effect

  • Tourism is a service industry which indirectly impacts all other industries

    • Primary - agriculture and providing food or mining of materials to build hotels

    • Secondary - for manufacturing of goods - chairs, beds, towels, gifts etc.

    • Quaternary - research and development to improve facilities for tourists or management etc.

    • Tertiary - staff for hotels, planes, buses, restaurants, lifeguards etc.

Positive economic impacts of global tourism

  • Brings money into the country's economy

  • Creates jobs for local people

  • Brings new infrastructure to the region

  • Provides tax revenues

  • Provides employment to poorer rural areas

  • Can create openings for small businesses and support jobs in the informal sector

Negative economic impacts of global tourism

  • Money often goes to big businesses and not locally

  • Often low-paid, menial, seasonal work

  • Mass tourism causes congestion, pollution affects local businesses

  • Economic leakages are high

  • Money borrowed to invest in tourism can increase national debt

  • Large holiday resorts encourage tourists to spend most of their money in the hotel complexes, excluding the wider community

Environmental impacts

  • Increasing tourism has led to a range of environmental impacts

Positive environmental impacts of global tourism

  • Can increase awareness of nature conservation areas

  • Money from tourism can be used to protect and repair the environment - better water supplies 

  • Tourism may help preserve key areas or species and prevent illegal trade and exploitation of nature

  • Tourism helps fund conservation activities, therefore improving sustainable practices and environmental legislation - national parks

Negative environmental impacts of global tourism

  • The local environment can be bulldozed and concreted over 

  • Tourism creates local pollution issues - waste, littering 

  • Tourist activity can disturb or damage habitats and wildlife- water skiing damaging coral reefs, ivory poaching

  • Increased greenhouse gas emissions from flights

Examiner Tips and Tricks

  • Make sure you don't just focus on the negative aspects of tourism, particularly on the environmental or cultural aspects

  • You need to balance your discussion or you won't gain full marks

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Jacque Cartwright

Author: Jacque Cartwright

Expertise: Geography Content Creator

Jacque graduated from the Open University with a BSc in Environmental Science and Geography before doing her PGCE with the University of St David’s, Swansea. Teaching is her passion and has taught across a wide range of specifications – GCSE/IGCSE and IB but particularly loves teaching the A-level Geography. For the past 5 years Jacque has been teaching online for international schools, and she knows what is needed to get the top scores on those pesky geography exams.

Bridgette Barrett

Reviewer: Bridgette Barrett

Expertise: Geography Lead

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.

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