Many IELTS candidates have travelled abroad themselves, and some will have seen at first hand how a popular destination changes when the crowds arrive. That’s why questions about tourism come up so often in the exam: the topic connects economics, the environment and culture, and examiners know that most candidates will have something to say about it.
The Question
This is an Advantages/Disadvantages question. You need to cover both sides and, because the question asks whether one outweighs the other, give a clear judgement.
| In many countries, tourism is a major source of income, but some destinations are now receiving more visitors than they can cope with. Do the advantages of international tourism outweigh the disadvantages? Write at least 250 words. |
Model Answer
International tourism has grown into one of the largest industries in the world, bringing considerable wealth to host countries but also placing strain on their most popular destinations. Although the drawbacks of mass tourism are becoming harder to ignore, I believe its benefits still outweigh them, provided that visitor numbers are properly managed.
The economic case for tourism is compelling. Visitor expenditure on accommodation, food and transport sustains millions of jobs, many in regions with few other sources of employment. In the Maldives, for instance, tourism accounts for roughly a quarter of national income and funds schools, hospitals and infrastructure. Tourism also provides a powerful incentive to preserve historic buildings, wildlife and cultural traditions, since these are precisely what attract visitors in the first place.
Nevertheless, the costs of unrestricted tourism can be severe. When visitor numbers exceed what a destination can absorb, residents suffer from congestion, noise and soaring rents, as landlords convert family homes into short-term holiday lets. Venice offers a stark illustration: its permanent population has fallen below 50,000, while tens of thousands of day-trippers crowd its narrow streets. Furthermore, tourism can erode the very culture it depends on, as local shops give way to souvenir stalls and traditional ceremonies become staged performances for paying audiences.
On balance, I would argue that tourism remains a net benefit. Its economic and cultural advantages are substantial, whereas its disadvantages stem largely from poor management rather than from tourism itself. Measures such as visitor caps, entry fees and limits on holiday rentals, which cities like Amsterdam and Barcelona have already begun to introduce, allow destinations to keep the income while protecting residents’ quality of life.
(275 words)
Approach to the Essay
Introduction
Paraphrases the statement in a single sentence, then gives a clear position: the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, with the condition that visitor numbers are managed. The examiner knows the writer’s view from the first paragraph.
Body Paragraph 1
Presents the advantages. The topic sentence announces the economic argument, which is developed through the chain of visitor spending, jobs and public services, with the Maldives as a specific example. A second, cultural advantage (the incentive to preserve heritage) is added at the end so the paragraph covers more than money.
Body Paragraph 2
Presents the disadvantages. ‘Nevertheless’ signals the shift. The paragraph explains what happens when numbers exceed capacity, uses Venice as a concrete illustration, and then adds a second drawback about cultural erosion, mirroring the two-part structure of Body 1.
Conclusion
Returns to the judgement and gives a reason for it: the problems come from poor management rather than tourism itself. The reference to Amsterdam and Barcelona shows that the condition set out in the introduction is realistic, not just a hedge.
Why This Structure Works
The question asks for a judgement, and the essay gives one in the introduction, supports it in both body paragraphs and restates it in the conclusion, which satisfies Task Response. Each body paragraph deals with one side only and opens with a topic sentence, so the reader never has to work out which side is being discussed; this, together with signposting such as ‘Nevertheless’, ‘Furthermore’ and ‘On balance’, scores well for Coherence and Cohesion. The vocabulary is precise and topic-specific (expenditure, congestion, short-term holiday lets, net benefit) without being forced, which supports Lexical Resource. Finally, the essay mixes simple sentences with complex ones containing conditional clauses, relative clauses and participle phrases, and the examples are stated with confidence and accuracy, which is what the Grammatical Range and Accuracy criterion rewards.
Glossary of High-Level Vocabulary
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (in simple terms) |
| placing strain on | Putting pressure on something so that it struggles to cope |
| drawbacks | Disadvantages or problems |
| mass tourism | Very large numbers of visitors travelling to the same places |
| outweigh | To be greater or more important than something else |
| compelling | Very convincing; hard to argue against |
| expenditure | Money spent |
| sustains | Keeps something going; supports it over time |
| accounts for | Makes up a particular amount or proportion of something |
| infrastructure | The basic systems a country needs, such as roads, power and water supply |
| incentive | A reason or reward that encourages someone to do something |
| unrestricted | Not limited or controlled |
| absorb | To take in or deal with something without being harmed |
| congestion | Overcrowding, especially of people or traffic |
| soaring | Rising very quickly to a high level |
| short-term holiday lets | Homes rented to tourists for a few days or weeks at a time |
| stark illustration | A very clear, often uncomfortable example |
| erode | To gradually weaken or destroy something |
| give way to | To be replaced by something else |
| stem from | To be caused by; to have as an origin |
| net benefit | An overall advantage once the disadvantages have been subtracted |
Vocabulary Quiz
Multiple Choice (Choose the best meaning)
1. If tourism is ‘placing strain on’ a city, what is happening?
A. The city is becoming more attractive to visitors
B. The city is struggling to cope with the pressure
C. The city is earning more money than before
2. Which of these is a ‘compelling’ argument?
A. One that is very convincing
B. One that is very long
C. One that is very emotional
3. If a destination cannot ‘absorb’ its visitors, what is the problem?
A. The visitors are not spending enough money
B. The visitors are leaving too quickly
C. There are more visitors than the place can handle
4. What happens when local shops ‘give way to’ souvenir stalls?
A. The local shops are replaced by souvenir stalls
B. The local shops start selling souvenirs too
C. The local shops move to a different street
5. If something is a ‘net benefit’, what does this mean?
A. It has no disadvantages at all
B. It is an advantage overall, after the disadvantages are taken into account
C. It benefits only people who use the internet
Answer Key
- B
- A
- C
- A
- B
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