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Issue Description
Tourism is a booming industry, with travel becoming more accessible and people taking more trips than ever. However, it also raises many ethical and environmental concerns, such as the damage caused by carbon emissions and the exploitation of local people. This book looks at tourist trends and the issues surrounding responsible travel.
The information comes from a variety of sources, including government reports and statistics, newspapers and magazine articles, surveys and polls, academic research and literature from charities and lobby groups; articles have been tailored to an 11 to 14 age group. Additionally, at the end of each chapter are two pages of activities relating to the articles and issues raised in that chapter.
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Key Facts
- Nearly 70 million visits abroad were taken by UK residents in 2007. (page 1)
- Over two million jobs are sustained by tourism activity in the UK, either directly or indirectly. (page 3)
- There is no doubt that the economies of many impoverished areas of the world have come to benefit hugely from tourism – after all, it is one of the three biggest industries on the planet. (page 13)
- Tourism brings income to local communities and supports employment. It can, however, also cause price rises, especially in land and food, which may be disproportionate to the earnings of the local people. (page 14)
- Unconstrained tourism development in or near sensitive environments can result in severe air and water pollution and waste disposal problems, and it may lead to the eventual loss of tourism itself. (page 18)
- According to a UN report, tourism accounts for up to 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions and the number of travellers is due to more than double by 2020. (page 19)
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Table of Contents
Chapter One: Tourism Trends
Trends in the travel industry for 2008, Key UK tourism facts, Brits left cold by tourist hot spots, Rise in specialist holidays, Travel trends, Gap years – a rough guide, Ditch (un)worthy causes, Activities.
Chapter Two: Responsible Travel
Thoughts on tourism, Tourism and people, Insider guide: sustainable tourism, Taking tourism to task, Climate change and tourism, Forget the carbon footprint, we want our summer sun, Nature's 'doom' is tourist boom, What is ecotourism?, Souvenir alert, Murder, genocide and war: the new tourist attractions, Activities.