Briefly describe:

(i) the pattern shown on the bar graph;

(ii) the trend shown on the map.

Using examples of countries, suggest three reasons why numbers of international tourist arrivals have sometimes decreased.

“The economic gains from tourism always exceed its negative social impacts.” Discuss this statement with reference to one or more case studies.

(i) Award [1] for a valid regional comparison with an additional [1] for quantification. A simple list with numbers should receive no more than [1].

For example: Europe has more than twice as many tourist arrivals as any other region [1], and ten times as many as Africa [1].

(ii) Award [1] for each valid statement:

• most regions show an increase
• anomaly (Middle East) or quantification.

Possible reasons include:

• war or civil unrest reduces numbers of tourists to a country
• some regions or countries decline due to lack of investment or association with high crime rates
• changing fashions in tourism result in the decline of some areas
• saturation of market (Butler model)
• hazard events
• other places become more popular
• seasonality – eg tourist numbers may decline in some countries in a hot, wet monsoon season.

Award [1] for a valid idea, and [1] for extension, or applied use of an example.

For example:

• there has been a decrease in tourism in Egypt [1] because of recent civil unrest/terrorism and fears for tourist safety [1]
• there has been a decline in tourist numbers to some areas of coastal Spain [1] due to its poor image for rowdy behaviour and high crime rates [1]
• there has been a decline in tourist numbers to some UK resorts [1] due to a lack of investment in tourist facilities and/or poor weather conditions [1].

Responses should consider a variety of both positive and negative economic and social impacts of tourism with reference to a case study (or case studies).

Economic impacts might include improved employment opportunities, growth of local industry and increased farm output, improvements to infrastructure, increased GDP and incomes, but also revenue leakage to high-income countries and TNCs, and uneven economic development with tourist ghettos. Negative social impacts could include increases in prostitution, crime, social inequality, forced migrations, conflicts over land and resources, and loss of cultural identity.

Good answers may discuss the timescale over which impacts are experienced. Another approach might be to discuss varying perspectives and reasons why views may differ (social impacts could be hard to quantify, for instance). Another approach might be to discuss how the validity of the statement may depend on the place contexts used for exemplification: if tourism is more carefully managed in some places than in others, this could affect the balance of gains and negative impacts.

Do not credit environmental impacts unless there is some link to people’s quality of life or wealth.

At band D, expect responses that describe some relevant positive and negative impacts of tourism for a recognizable place(s).

At band E, expect either greater explanation (range or depth) of economic gains and social impacts or some critical discussion of the statement.

At band F, expect both.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.