These days it is much easier for many people to travel to different countries for tourism than in the past. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

In the

last

few

decades

Add a comma

decades,

show examples

there has been a significant increase in the number of opportunities for international travel, with more transport routes and cheaper fares. There are undoubtedly benefits flowing from

this

growth in international tourism. People now have a greater awareness of other cultures than was the case even one generation ago. Travelling widely to enjoy

such

things as the art, customs and cuisine of different countries used to be the preserve of the wealthy classes. Now even the less well-off have access to them. There are,

however

, drawbacks associated with

this

level of mobility.

Firstly

, a number of resorts, even whole countries, have so many

tourists

that the culture and environment are severely damaged.

For example

, traditional crafts are replaced by the manufacturing of cheap trinkets and local singing and dancing are packaged for tourist consumption. Because

tourists

stay for only a short time they often don't care if they behave badly or litter the streets.

Secondly

,

although

the hospitality industry does bring employment, it tends to be precarious because much of it is seasonal, with long periods of the year offering no work. The income from tourism is unevenly distributed, with a small number of big businesses (e.g. property developers) making a lot of money but the majority of people work for low wages as waiters or guides. Related to

this

is the fact that money spent by

tourists

is seldom retained by the local economy and profits are frequently taken out by multinational corporations.

Finally

, international travel adds to greenhouse gases, leading to harmful climate change. In my view, despite the advantages of travel to both

tourists

and host countries, these do not compensate for the damage inflicted on the environment, social structures and individuals by mass tourism.