The concept of tourism has gained increasing popularity worldwide these days. Although its contribution to a country’s economy is inevitable, its detrimental impacts on cultures and the environment are mostly overlooked. This essay will argue why tourism can be harmful despite having lucrative benefits.
It is true that travellers visiting a particular country will undoubtedly bring financial assets to the local businesses of that place. In other words, they are likely to travel to a country with a certain amount of money which will be spent on accommodation such as hotels or on purchasing souvenirs. According to a recent survey, almost half of the Uzbekistan’s revenue is accumulated by the tourism industry. Therefore, because of its financial advantages, many countries around the world are promoting their country globally in order to attract as many visitors as possible.
Despite these advantages, there are some drawbacks that are derived from this form of industry. First of all, many residents suffer from the damages inflicted by the tourists regarding their cultural values. That means, a visitor is unlikely to be aware of the local traditions, and they may behave in a way that may not be acceptable by them, leading to social misconceptions among the citizens. For example, a western tourist’s casual attire may be considered as rude in some Asian countries, so it would be better if any visitor wore some other decent clothes to show their respect towards the Asian culture. Furthermore, many travellers are said to harm the nature by throwing garbage outside, and being indifferent towards conserving it. This is because they are not the official dwellers of that area, and they do not feel any special concerns about the preservation of the environment.
In conclusion, tourism is growing at a rapid pace throughout the world. This essay discussed the benefits of this industry to economies, while at the same time, explained some potential cultural and environmental destructions caused by tourists. In my opinion, paying more attention towards the preservation of cultural heritage and environment should be imperative in this industry.