Global tourism 30

TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN CONTEXT

A global phenomenon!

For as long as humans have been on the earth, they have travelled. In early times, they travelled to find food, trade, explore new territories or visit neighbouring communities. Today, the world is more connected than ever. It is now easier and cheaper than ever to travel to other countries and experience different cultures. Compared with our ancestors, we travel for longer and farther. We travel within our own country or region and much farther, sometimes to the other side of the world. Developments in technology have made us more aware of other countries, destinations, cultures and events. Technology such as the internet and mobile phones means we can easily research other countries. We watch international programmes, listen to global news and easily communicate with people from all over the world from our home or even whilst we are out. All of this stimulates a desire to go and experience the wonders we see and learn about. There is no doubt that travel and tourism is a global phenomenon. It is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries, generating over US$8.9 trillion and supporting 330 million jobs. This means that, around the world, on average, one in every ten jobs is in the travel and tourism industry. The industry is resilient: it has experienced continued growth, which is expected to keep going long into the future, despite local, national or global ‘shocks’, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) states: Tourism can be a force for good in our world, playing a part in protecting our planet and its biodiversity, and celebrating what makes us human: from discovering new places and cultures to connecting with new people and experiences.

Questions 1 Make a list of the reasons why people travel. 2 Discuss the factors that have enabled us to travel farther distances and for longer. 3 Discuss whether you agree with the statement from the UNWTO. Are there any reasons why tourism is not always a good thing? KEY WORDS destination: the place a tourist visits resilient: able to continue after a bad event. For example, a resilient destination will soon recover from an extreme weather event such as a severe storm, or from a natural disaster such as flooding. Figure 1.1: Moraine Lake, Banff, Canada SAMPLE 2 Original material © Cambridge University Press 2021. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.