Good Example Of Does Tourism Bring More Benefits Than Drawbacks For Developing Countries? Essay

Introduction

Developing countries of the world have become the leading destinations for foreigners who wish to unwind and spend their vacation. Aside from the cheap food and hotels, people in developing countries are known for their hospitality and high-regards for foreign tourists. While these countries lack the benefits of industrialization, most of these countries utilize their abundance in natural and cultural assets in order to encourage tourism. Numerous studies have shown that tourism offers enormous economic, political and social advantages to developing countries. However, as more developing countries embrace tourism, several disadvantages also become apparent. The question is; are the benefits that tourism offers developing countries really worth it?

Advantages of Tourism

Tourism is a huge industry and has become a significant segment in the income generation of developing countries. According to a study conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the share of tourism services exports in total foreign exchange earnings in majority of the least developed countries was more than twice greater than the share of their merchandise exports. Not only does tourism contribute a huge portion on the earnings of most developed countries, the industry has also posted a considerable growth in tourist arrival and receipts as compared to the global growth in tourism. Evidently, tourism offers a lucrative economic advantage for developing countries as it stimulates local and foreign investments. Among concrete evidence of economic advantages brought about by tourism are the foreign currency revenues from tourists, the creation of jobs and the improvement of local infrastructures. Aside from the economic advantage, social development such as cultural awareness and diversity, improvement of education and the improvement of diplomatic relations among countries are seen as the major social and political advantages of tourism for developing countries.

Disadvantages of Tourism

Some tourism critics believe that the economic advantage of tourism is exaggerated. Accordingly, the income from tourism in developing countries is mostly spent back to buy imported products from foreign countries as demanded by tourists, which researchers term as ‘leakage’. Perhaps the reason why developing countries remain considerably poor despite a flourishing tourism industry is because the country does not realize the true economic potential of tourism due to leakages. Cultural values are also under threat because of tourism. Because of the exchange in cultural values, indigenous art, music and other form of unique culture is at risk of being degraded or can totally lost its authenticity. The degradation of the environment and natural resources is also viewed as one of the major disadvantage of tourism.

Conclusion

Evidently, the advantages that tourism offers are overwhelming as compared to the disadvantages. It is also worth noting that the disadvantages posed by tourism can be mitigated so that it does not pose any serious issues towards developing countries. Tourism brings about change through the exchange of culture and ideas. All the while, tourism brings economic and social development so enormous that it could not be ignored. These developments are what developing countries need most. Investing in tourism for developing countries is therefore, worth taking.

References

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Cattarinich, X. (2001, April). Pro-poor tourism initiatives in developing countries: Analysis of secondary case studies. Retrieved February 2015, from http://www.tanzaniagateway.org/: http://www.tanzaniagateway.org/docs/initiatives_cs.pdf
Honey, M., & Gilpin, R. (2009, October). Tourism in the Developing World, Promoting Peace and Reducing Poverty. Retrieved January 2015, from http://www.responsibletravel.org/: http://www.responsibletravel.org/resources/documents/reports/USIP%20Tourism%20in%20the%20Developing%20World.pdf
Miesen, F. (2013). Sustainable Tourism, The Real Cost. Retrieved January 2015, from http://www.dandc.eu/: http://www.dandc.eu/en/briefings
Mirbabayev, B., & Shagazatova, M. (n.d.). The Economic and Social Impact of Tourism. Retrieved February 2015, from http://www.grips.ac.jp/: http://www.grips.ac.jp/alumni/UzbekistanTourism(2).pdf
Roe, D., Ashley, C., Page, S., & Meyer, D. (2004). Tourism and the Poor: Analysing and Interpreting Tourism Statistics from a Poverty Perspective. PPT Working Paper No. 16, 1 - 29.
Samimi, A.J., Sadeghi, S., & Sadeghi, S. (2011). Tourism and Economic Growth in Developing Countries: P-VAR Approach. Retrieved February 2015, from http://www.idosi.org/: http://www.idosi.org/mejsr/mejsr10(1)11/5.pdf
UNCTAD. (2001, February). TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. Retrieved January 2015, from http://unctad.org/: http://unctad.org/en/Docs/poldcm64.en.pdf
Vaugeois, N. (n.d.). Tourism in developing countries: refining a useful tool for economic development. Retrieved January 2015, from http://fama2.us.es/: http://fama2.us.es:8080/turismo/turismonet1/economia%20del%20turismo/economia%20del%20turismo/tourism%20and%20developing%20countries.pdf