This GCSE Geography quiz challenges you about sustainable tourism. For most of human history, tourism did not exist. With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, increased wealth and better communications meant that some people were able to visit places far from their homes. Overseas travel was only undertaken by rich individuals and families or explorers whilst the working classes and middle classes often visited seaside resorts for their holidays. After the 1939 - 45 war, air travel started to become faster and more affordable, to the point at which nowadays, travelling by plane to take holidays abroad is commonplace.
Globalisation and the ever-increasing population of the Earth has meant that humans have come to realise that resources are precious and that we need to consider sustainable development (sustainability).
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One of the aspects of sustainability is to minimise human impact on the environment. Any form of travel, whether it is on land, sea or in the air, causes pollution problems and is therefore in conflict with sustainability.
Mass tourism is rarely sustainable because tourists require large amounts of food and water which uses up local supplies and extra waste has to be dealt with. Resorts and tourist destinations consume a lot more energy because of the tourists. Since most of the energy we generate comes from the burning of fossil fuels, this will affect the environment, increasing the amount of greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere. Tourist resorts and destinations damage the local environment as building of hotels, holiday complexes and other visitor facilities takes place on greenfield land. This disturbs local wildlife and plants. The visitors themselves can accidentally or deliberately harm wildlife and plants in the vicinity. If the damage to the local environment becomes really bad, people will no longer visit and the local economy will collapse as jobs are lost. It is therefore in the interests of anyone in the tourism industry to practice sustainable tourism.
Sustainable tourism addresses these issues through stewardship and conservation - governments, local authorities and individuals seek to reduce the impact of tourism on the environment. This can take many forms such as fitting photovoltaic panels to the roof of a holiday cottage, passing a law limiting visitor numbers to an attraction or a group of volunteers installing footpaths to prevent people from trampling on rare plants.
Ecotourism is theoretically the lowest impact form of sustainable tourism. Visitor numbers are strictly limited (often by law), for example walking the Inca Trail in Peru or visiting the Galapagos islands, which minimises the damage and disturbance to these wild and sensitive places. Since visitor numbers are low, prices need to be high in order to compensate and benefit the local economy.
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1.
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Which one of the following is NOT a reason for the growth of tourism? |
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[ ] |
Unemployment |
[ ] |
Greater wealth |
[ ] |
Cheap air travel |
[ ] |
More leisure time |
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2.
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In Britain, during the 1950s, more and more people found they could afford to buy and run a car. How did this affect tourism in the UK? |
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[ ] |
It had no effect on tourism |
[ ] |
It had a slight effect on tourism |
[ ] |
The numbers of tourists increased |
[ ] |
The number of tourists decreased |
|
|
3.
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The word 'staycation' has been invented to mean a holiday taken within driving distance of home, returning to sleep at home each night. Which of the following is NOT an economic or environmental benefit of a staycation? |
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[ ] |
A staycation supports the local economy |
[ ] |
A staycation produces less air pollution as travelling by plane is not involved |
[ ] |
A staycation does not put extra demands on local resources |
[ ] |
No waiting at an airport |
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4.
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What is ecotourism? |
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[ ] |
A holiday where people stay in low-cost accommodation |
[ ] |
A holiday where people travel abroad |
[ ] |
A holiday designed to harm the environment as little as possible |
[ ] |
Travelling to your holiday destination by spending as little money as possible |
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5.
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Which of the following guidelines is most likely to be given to ecotourists in order to support the community? |
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[ ] |
Stay in locally owned accommodation |
[ ] |
Keep to footpaths |
[ ] |
Don't use air conditioning when it is available |
[ ] |
Dress appropriately when visiting religious sites |
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6.
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Which of the following guidelines is most likely to be given to ecotourists in order to protect the local environment? |
|
[ ] |
Stay in locally owned accommodation |
[ ] |
Keep to footpaths |
[ ] |
Don't use air conditioning when it is available |
[ ] |
Dress appropriately when visiting religious sites |
|
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7.
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Sustainable tourism is about stewardship. What does this mean? |
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[ ] |
Getting a job on board a cruise liner |
[ ] |
Looking after a holiday resort, making sure that all of the guests are happy |
[ ] |
Management of the environment on a large scale locally, nationally and globally |
[ ] |
Being in charge of buying organic food in a holiday destination |
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8.
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Conservation is a part of sustainable tourism. Which of the following is an example of conservation when applied to tourism? |
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[ ] |
Limiting visitor numbers to a locally historic building |
[ ] |
Passing a law to create an SSSI in order to protect a local habitat |
[ ] |
Building fences to keep visitors away from a local ancient monument |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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9.
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Which of the following is NOT an aim of sustainable tourism? |
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[ ] |
Low impact on the environment |
[ ] |
Promote local culture |
[ ] |
Generate future employment for the local community |
[ ] |
Get as many people there as possible |
|
|
10.
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Some people think that neither sustainable tourism nor ecotourism are achievable. Which of the following is NOT a possible reason for this? |
|
[ ] |
Travelling to a remote location usually involves travelling thousands of miles by plane |
[ ] |
Tourists will always put pressure on local resources and amenities |
[ ] |
The presence of tourists disturbs local wildlife |
[ ] |
It is very expensive |
|
|
1.
|
Which one of the following is NOT a reason for the growth of tourism? |
|
[x] |
Unemployment |
[ ] |
Greater wealth |
[ ] |
Cheap air travel |
[ ] |
More leisure time |
|
|
2.
|
In Britain, during the 1950s, more and more people found they could afford to buy and run a car. How did this affect tourism in the UK? |
|
[ ] |
It had no effect on tourism |
[ ] |
It had a slight effect on tourism |
[x] |
The numbers of tourists increased |
[ ] |
The number of tourists decreased |
|
|
3.
|
The word 'staycation' has been invented to mean a holiday taken within driving distance of home, returning to sleep at home each night. Which of the following is NOT an economic or environmental benefit of a staycation? |
|
[ ] |
A staycation supports the local economy |
[ ] |
A staycation produces less air pollution as travelling by plane is not involved |
[ ] |
A staycation does not put extra demands on local resources |
[x] |
No waiting at an airport |
|
|
4.
|
What is ecotourism? |
|
[ ] |
A holiday where people stay in low-cost accommodation |
[ ] |
A holiday where people travel abroad |
[x] |
A holiday designed to harm the environment as little as possible |
[ ] |
Travelling to your holiday destination by spending as little money as possible |
|
|
5.
|
Which of the following guidelines is most likely to be given to ecotourists in order to support the community? |
|
[x] |
Stay in locally owned accommodation |
[ ] |
Keep to footpaths |
[ ] |
Don't use air conditioning when it is available |
[ ] |
Dress appropriately when visiting religious sites |
|
|
6.
|
Which of the following guidelines is most likely to be given to ecotourists in order to protect the local environment? |
|
[ ] |
Stay in locally owned accommodation |
[x] |
Keep to footpaths |
[ ] |
Don't use air conditioning when it is available |
[ ] |
Dress appropriately when visiting religious sites |
|
|
7.
|
Sustainable tourism is about stewardship. What does this mean? |
|
[ ] |
Getting a job on board a cruise liner |
[ ] |
Looking after a holiday resort, making sure that all of the guests are happy |
[x] |
Management of the environment on a large scale locally, nationally and globally |
[ ] |
Being in charge of buying organic food in a holiday destination |
|
|
8.
|
Conservation is a part of sustainable tourism. Which of the following is an example of conservation when applied to tourism? |
|
[ ] |
Limiting visitor numbers to a locally historic building |
[ ] |
Passing a law to create an SSSI in order to protect a local habitat |
[ ] |
Building fences to keep visitors away from a local ancient monument |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|
9.
|
Which of the following is NOT an aim of sustainable tourism? |
|
[ ] |
Low impact on the environment |
[ ] |
Promote local culture |
[ ] |
Generate future employment for the local community |
[x] |
Get as many people there as possible |
|
|
10.
|
Some people think that neither sustainable tourism nor ecotourism are achievable. Which of the following is NOT a possible reason for this? |
|
[ ] |
Travelling to a remote location usually involves travelling thousands of miles by plane |
[ ] |
Tourists will always put pressure on local resources and amenities |
[ ] |
The presence of tourists disturbs local wildlife |
[x] |
It is very expensive |
|
|