Impact of mass tourism
Positive impact on people
- Local people are employed to build tourist facilitiesServices which are provided for visitors e.g. toilets, restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops. and serve tourists, eg in hotels, restaurants and shops allowing them to improve their standard of living.
- residentsLocal people who live in a place. can also enjoy tourist facilities, eg restaurants, theme parksA purpose-built outdoor attraction with rides such as rollercoasters., ski resortsA mountainous area used for skiing and provides services for tourists. and water parksA purpose-built outdoor attraction with swimming pools and water rides..
- Increased employmentWhen people are paid to work. enables the local tax income to increase so the local government/council can invest in schools, healthcare and social services.
- Residents in the host country can experience foreign languagesA different language spoken in a country from the one people are visiting. and a variety of cultures – this increases cultural understandingWhen people are aware of the ideas, customs and social behaviour of another society..
- Local people can benefit from improvements in infrastructure, eg electricity, roads and airports.
Negative impact on people
- Jobs can often be seasonal, especially in beach and ski resorts, so some people may have no income for several months.
- Tourists can be noisy and upset the tranquillity of the area.
- Tourist facilities can be too expensive for local people.
- Different cultures can clash and tourists can come into conflictA disagreement over something. with local people.
Positive impact on the environment
- Modern tourist facilities can upgrade the appearance of run-down areas.
- Many tourists are more environmentally consciousWhen people are aware of the need to protect the environment. and can have a positive impact on the landscape by donating money to local nature reservesA protected area where plants and animals are conserved..
- Beaches can be cleaned up to ensure they are safe enough for tourists to use, through initiatives like Blue FlagA scheme used to ensure safe, clean beaches and seas for tourists..
- Seas, eg the Mediterranean, become less polluted as more sewage treatment plantsAn industrial process where contaminants are removed from wastewater and sewage to ensure safe disposal. are built to decrease water pollutionContaminating the air, water or ground with harmful substances..
Negative impact on the environment
- Traditional landscapes are ruined by developments, eg Spanish fishing villages being over-developed with hotels and tourist facilities.
- Land is lost from farming for tourist developments.
- Increased air travel contributes to global warmingThe rise in the average temperature of the Earth's surface. .
- traffic congestionWhen a road is overused and vehicles using it are unable to move freely. increases air and noise pollution.
- Many tourist facilities spoil the look of the natural environment.
- Increased sewageWaste organic matter that sometimes pollutes water systems, eg faeces. pollutes seas and increases the risk of diseaseIllness affecting plants and animals. like typhoid and hepatitis.
- Polluted water damages marine habitatsThe area of water where wild plants and animals live. and aquatic lifeNon-domesticated/wild plants and animals that live in water..
- Litter and rubbish detract from the appearance of areas.