Plan this advantages and disadvantages essay about tourism with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Tourism has become the main source of income for many towns and regions.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
In many towns and regions, tourism has become the main source of income. In my opinion, the advantages generally outweigh the disadvantages, but only if the industry is managed carefully.
The benefits are mainly economic. Tourism creates jobs for guides, drivers, hotel staff and restaurant workers, and it also supports local farmers and craftspeople who supply them. This income can be especially valuable in rural areas where other opportunities are scarce. Tourist spending often leads to investment in roads, airports and public services, which also benefit residents. In addition, contact between visitors and locals encourages cultural exchange and gives people a chance to share their traditions and learn about other parts of the world.
However, a region which depends heavily on tourism can face serious problems. Prices for housing, food and services tend to rise, making it hard for local people to live in their own communities; in cities such as Venice and Barcelona, residents have protested about rents driven up by holiday apartments. Crowding and noise reduce quality of life, and the environment may suffer from litter and heavy traffic. There is also the danger of dependence on a single industry. When something unexpected happens, such as a pandemic, a natural disaster or political unrest, visitor numbers can drop suddenly, and thousands of people lose their livelihoods at once, as happened across the Mediterranean in 2020.
These risks can be reduced. Authorities should encourage other types of business to create a more varied economy, limit holiday lets and spread visitors across the year and different areas. A share of tourist taxes could also be directed towards local services.
In conclusion, tourism provides jobs, investment and cultural contact, and with good planning the benefits outweigh the pressures it places on residents and the environment.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tourism industry | business serving tourists |
| local economy | money system of an area |
| seasonal work | jobs available only part of the year |
| overcrowding | too many people in a space |
| cost of living | prices of everyday goods |
| rely on | depend on |
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