Are there any disadvantages to tourism?

Tourists can make a valuable contribution to a country’s economy. This includes the money that tourists spend and also the many jobs that tourism creates. Many countries, therefore, do their very best to attract as many tourists as possible.

There are, however, snags associated with tourism. As far as employment is concerned, the jobs it provides are often very low-paid. They are also often seasonal. People may be fully employed at peak tourist periods, but unemployed for the rest of the year.

Then there is the fact that tourism can be a very uncertain source of income. A recession, especially a global one, can have a devastating effect on tourism. When money is scarce, families have to look very carefully at their spending. They have to find ways of making economies and often decide to do without holidays. A country which is heavily dependent on tourism can suffer a major financial blow because of this.

Countries which have exceptional tourist allure may suffer less than others. A particularly magnificent natural feature, a historical feature of universal interest or an especially important museum may continue to attract rich tourists, even in a recession. Countries without these advantages will not do so well.

It need not be financial considerations which keep tourists and their money away. The threat of terrorism can also do this. Should there be a terrorist attempt, successful or otherwise, to blow up an aircraft, a large number of people will change their travel plans. If there is a terrorist attack in a particular country, that country is likely to witness a marked decrease in tourist numbers.

There are other disadvantages connected with tourism, not directly related to economics. Many people on holiday, particularly young people, become very careless about their behaviour. This can upset local inhabitants who begin to wish that they did not have a tourist industry.

The holidaymakers may lose control and become very noisy and lawless, often because they have drunk too much. They may drop litter, including empty bottles, on the beach and they may fail to pay due respect to local customs and culture. An economic side effect of this is the cost of providing extra police to make sure that a situation does not get out of hand.

Another problem with tourism is that some governments go to too great lengths to attract tourists. They run the risk of spoiling their country for the native inhabitants and of detracting from the local culture. For example, they may allow the opening of too many fast-food places, selling dishes that have become universally popular, such as burgers, chips, kebabs and pizzas. This means that there will be less emphasis on interesting local food.

Some governments may make such strenuous efforts to promote tourism that they damage their country’s environment. They can do this by building such tourist facilities as golf courses, theme parks and expensive hotels on land that should have been left undeveloped. Governments may also create an imbalance in the economy of their country. They do so by spending large amounts of money on the development of the more tourist-friendly areas of the country and neglecting the rest.

The economic benefits of tourism are well known. Countries should not forget that there can also be disadvantages. It is important that they do not rely too heavily on the fickle industry that is tourism.