Plan this problem and solution 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:
Popular natural attractions such as beaches, mountains and national parks are suffering damage because of tourism.
What are the causes of this problem and what measures could be taken to solve it?
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
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Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Beaches, mountains and national parks that attract large numbers of tourists are often damaged by them. This essay will explain the causes and suggest measures to protect such places.
One cause is visitor behaviour. Many tourists leave litter, walk off marked paths and disturb animals, and the cumulative effect on a popular trail or beach can be considerable; erosion destroys vegetation and plastic waste pollutes the water. A second cause is simple numbers. When thousands of people arrive each day, ecosystems have no time to recover, and noise and traffic drive wildlife away. Third, the growth of hotels, roads and car parks in wild areas to serve visitors damages the very landscape that people come to see.
Several measures could help. Limiting the number of visitors, through quotas and entry fees, is probably the most effective, since it reduces pressure directly. Thailand, for example, closed Maya Bay for several years to allow its coral and marine life to recover, and the beach is now reopened with a daily cap. The fees can be used to pay for rangers, waste collection and repair of paths. Authorities should also introduce eco-friendly rules for developers, for example by restricting the height and location of buildings, requiring waste treatment and encouraging the use of solar power. Finally, education plays a role. Trained guides and clear information at entrances can explain how to behave, such as staying on trails and taking rubbish home, and visitors who understand the damage are more likely to respect the rules.
In conclusion, natural attractions suffer because of careless behaviour, overcrowding and construction. Limits on numbers, strict building regulations and visitor education would allow tourism to continue without destroying the environment.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ecotourism | travel that protects nature |
| erosion | gradual wearing away of land |
| national park | protected natural area |
| carrying capacity | maximum number a place can support |
| litter | rubbish left in public places |
| sustainable tourism | tourism that does not harm the future |
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