INTRO
1. Describe the pictures
source: [Link]
2. Answer the questions: How are the people feeling? Tell me about the last time you visited a very
popular tourist resort/ attraction?
[Link]
READING
3. Read the intro to an [Link] is the text going to be about ? What title would you give to
it?
Since its beginning, tourism has been considered a benign
activity. This is hardly surprising; the holiday industry’s purpose is
leisure, enjoyment, a break from all responsibility. It has brought
wealth to forgotten rural communities, cushioned the blow of
financial crashes, conserved critically endangered species and
restored crumbling, historic cities. Tourism’s potential benefits are
clear. However, the mistake is to think that it can only bring good.
Many of us do not believe this myth, and have been speaking out
against it for decades. Our concerns were dismissed, until very
recently. In summer 2017, the media and the travel industry finally
began to turn their gaze to the negative impacts of the holiday
industry, and the term ‘overtourism’ was coined.
[Link]
a. Why is it happening?
b. What are the key causes of
overtourism?
c. What is overtourism?
d. What can yourists do to avoid
overtourism?
e. Why is it in the news now?
d. What else can be done?
[Link]
4. Match the headings with paragraphs
1 ……………………………………………... any large scale. There were marches in the
In short, overtourism occurs when there are too streets, graffiti saying “Tourist go home”, and in
many visitors to a particular destination. “Too some cases local authorities responded by
many” is a subjective term, of course, but it is increasing fees, refusing to issue permits for
defined in each destination by local residents, more tourist-focused businesses in city centres,
hosts, business owners and tourists. When rent and even closing entire islands to visitors. It was
prices push out local tenants to make way for these responses which made the news.
holiday rentals, that is overtourism. When
narrow roads become jammed with tourist
vehicles, that is overtourism. When wildlife is
scared away, when tourists cannot view
landmarks because of the crowds, when fragile
environments become degraded – these are all
signs of overtourism.
2 ……………………………………………….
The travel industry, like many others, focuses
almost exclusively on growth, with little or no Tourist go home, Budapest. Photo by Felix Montino
concern for the impacts. After decades of
virtually uncontrolled growth, it has crossed a 4 ……………………………………………….
threshold: in many destinations, tourism now There are many contributing factors to
demonstrably creates more problems than overtourism, and of course these will vary from
benefits. This can take many forms; perhaps a place to place. Airbnb has been used as
million additional tourists are arriving in a something of a scapegoat in, as thousands of
capital city, or 20 additional tourists in a small, beds have suddenly been made available in
rural community. Overtourism is not just a big towns and cities around the world, without
city issue; it has been documented in wilderness being subject to any kind of planning, permits or
areas and national parks, and in places such as – in many cases – taxes.
the Isle of Skye.
But while Airbnb may have a supporting role, it
3 ………………………………………………. is far from the leading player. If anything, it is
Visitor numbers have been rising steadily for more of a symptom of overtourism that one of
decades, as anyone who lives in a popular the main causes. Local and national
tourist city, or who has visited certain beaches governments and tourist boards have long
or landmarks, will attest. Currently, there are believed that more is better. A “successful” year
around two billion tourist arrivals per year – a in tourism is generally considered to be one in
figure which is growing at a steady six percent. which numbers have increased substantially.
Overtourism is, therefore, not a new problem. Another issue is the availability of cheap flights,
However, while the term itself was coined in which have saturated Europe in particular in
2012, it did not hit the headlines until the recent years. When it is cheaper to fly from
summer of 2017. This was not because of the London to Morocco, than to take a train from
increase in tourist numbers, which had not been London to Manchester – then we have a
particularly dramatic. What made the news in problem.
2017 was the sudden backlash from local
residents, which had not happened before on
And giant cruise ships are another contributing
[Link]
factor when it comes to overtourism. Thousands visit supports conservation; stay in locally
of passengers spill out into port cities each day, owned guesthouses; eat at local restaurants and
returning to the ship in time for dinner. take tours with local guides. Tourism can still be
Passengers often spend very little in the very much a force for good, and ensuring that
destinations, yet ensure that historic streets, local residents, habitats and wildlife benefit
monuments, cafes and shops are rammed with from your presence is an important part of that.
people, creating an unpleasant experience for
residents as well as for visitors who may be 6 ……………………………………………….
staying on land and spending money locally. As tourists we can ensure our own behaviour is
as beneficial as possible, but to really effect
change across the industry, and around the
world, things need to happen at a much higher
level. Governments and local authorities need to
look at ways to control tourist numbers.
Overtourism may seem like a new concept, but
there are many examples around the world of
how it has been successfully avoided, dating
Large cruise ship in Venice. Photo by Marc Berry Reid back years. Gorilla tracking in East Africa is one
such example; just eight permits per day are
5 …………………………………………... issued to track each gorilla family, and permit
Responsible tourism refers to tourism which prices range from US $500-$750. Better still,
creates better places for people to live and to the forests remain intact, and gorilla numbers,
visit – with the emphasis on ‘to live’. Therefore, which were once threatened, have increased
by definition, it is the opposite of overtourism, substantially since the introduction of tourism.
which diminishes the quality of life for local
residents and creates a negative experience for
visitors.
In these cases, the solution can be to travel as a
responsible tourist; to travel in ways which
maximise positive impacts and minimise the
negative ones. Two things to think about are the
place, and think about the time. Better still, head
out into the villages and mountains for a real
glimpse of the country away from the
Gorilla tracking in Rwanda. Photo by David Bacon
mainstream hordes. There are many places
around the globe that need, and want, more In Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands – both
tourists. exceptionally fragile habitats teeming with
endemic and endangered species – restrictions
Of course, if you really do want to meander on the size of cruise ships and the number of
through the aisles of La Boqueria, then you have passengers who may disembark at any one time
no choice but to visit the Catalan capital. But have ensured the sustainability of tourism. And
what you can do is to visit it outside of peak on the Inca Trail, only around 200 trekking
season. This is more pleasant for you, less permits per day are made available for tourists.
stressful for residents, puts less pressure on These, too, sell out, often many months in
things like public transport, and may even save advance.
you quite a bit of money, too.
And whenever you travel, try and ensure as Based on a text written by Justin Francis
much of your cash stays as local as possible. [Link]
Pay national park entrance fees to ensure your
[Link]
5. What do you think about
overtourism? Have you noticed
it while travelling or in your
hometown? Educating or
increasing prices and taxes
which method you think might
be more productive?
6. Match the highlighted words
with their definitions
1. untouched, pristine:
2. crouds of people:
3. stuffed, filled with people:
4. providing, guaranteeing:
5. a fake victim:
6. barrier:
7. beneficial:
8. eroding , ageing:
9. ignored:
10. repercussion:
11. pour out, stream:
7. Look at the list of words
starting with over-. Explain
their meaning by giving
examples:
overact, overzealous,
overprotect, overeat,
overhear, overwork, overlook.
[Link]
