Page 51 - Introduction to Tourism

tensions; environmental deterioration; lack of

control over a destination’s future; and low-paid

seasonal employment. These problems are

common to many forms of development and in

many cases represent dissatisfaction with the

status quo or overdevelopment.
They emphasize the need for a coordinated

overall economic development plan, of which
tourism will be one part.

We must accept that tourism is neither a blessing
nor a blight, neither poison nor panacea. Tourism

can bring great benefits, but it can also bring

social problems.

The world has experience in how to increase the

benefits of tourism and at least some experience

in how to lessen social problems. What has to be

done is to balance the benefits and costs to

come up with the best cost/benefit result.

Tourism students and executives must have a

clear understanding of both the positive and the

negative impacts of tourism on the quality of life

of a nation, a province or state, or a community.

What are the positive aspects? The negative

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