Global Perspectives – Research, analysis and evaluation | e-Consult

Understanding the Question: This question asks students to evaluate the impact of global tourism, considering both the economic benefits and the negative environmental and social consequences. It requires a balanced and nuanced response.

Possible Approach: A strong answer would:

• Define global tourism and identify its different forms (e.g., mass tourism, ecotourism, cultural tourism).
• Discuss the economic benefits (e.g., job creation, foreign exchange earnings, infrastructure development).
• Discuss the environmental consequences (e.g., pollution, habitat destruction, climate change).
• Discuss the social consequences (e.g., cultural commodification, displacement of local communities, increased crime).
• Evaluate the extent to which the negative consequences outweigh the benefits, providing specific examples.
• Propose possible courses of action to mitigate negative impacts (e.g., sustainable tourism practices, community-based tourism, environmental regulations).

Possible Course of Action: A course of action could be promoting sustainable tourism practices, such as eco-friendly accommodations and responsible wildlife viewing. Another could be supporting community-based tourism initiatives that empower local communities and ensure they benefit from tourism revenue. A table summarizing the impacts could be included.