IMPACTS OF TOURISM: PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT CRITICALLY ASSESS THE KEY ARGUMENTS REGARDING THE OUTCOMES OF TOURISM IN LESS DEVELOPED SOCIETIES.

IMPACTS OF TOURISM: PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT

CRITICALLY ASSESS THE KEY ARGUMENTS REGARDING THE OUTCOMES OF TOURISM IN LESS DEVELOPED SOCIETIES.

One does not have to look at literature too see that the impacts of tourism has been immense in the world we live in. Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries, according to WTO (World Tourism Organization) revised estimates total international tourist arrivals worldwide come to almost 595 million in 1996. International tourism receipts for 1996 are estimated to be $425 billion (WTO, 1997). An article in the Hutchinson Educational Encyclopaedia (1999) has pointed out that tourism is worlds largest industry. It sustained 120 million jobs in 1995 accounting for 7% of the global workforce (Hutchinson, 1999). As the figures show Tourism has a major impact on the world economy.

One has to realise that along with benefits tourism does also bring many detrimental affects on both the developing and developed countries.

World Tourism Organization

English: Dark green: members of the UNWTO

English: Ecotourism in Svalbard. Français : Écot...

For this essay one will predominantly look at the impacts of tourism in the world we live in. One will also be looking at issues surrounding development of tourism in the world and why the public and private sectors are concerned with developing tourism.

Private and Public Sector

All governments have a vital interest in the health of their countries economy. Working along with the public sector governments are choosing to develop and promote their resources in order to attract tourists. For many tourism is seen as a quick and easy solution to combating economic deficiencies (S.Medlik, 1991). This idea that tourism is good for the economy has increased the interest in developing, planning, government regulations and policies on tourism (WTO, 1997). Developers of tourism can fall into three categories, namely the government, non-profit making organisations and private businesses.

Forty years of mass tourism...