5 Fill in the gaps using the key words from the text.

chateaux landscape sewage seeker hiking

1 … means to walk a long way in the mountains or countryside.

2 … is someone who is trying to find or get something.

3 … is used water that is carried away from houses by sewers.

4 … is an area of countryside or land, considered in terms of how attractive it is to look at.

5 .. is a castle or large country house in France.

6 First read the following summery then listen to the text and fill in the missing information.

In 1994 tourism accounted for 1) … billion in the Czech Republic. Jiri Cech is 2) … of the Tourism Department. Prague is known as the 3) … City.

The Hilton Atrium is near the 4) … centre. The Villa Voyta is a small, luxury hotel, built in 1921. The most popular place after Prague is Cesky Krumlov near the 5) … border. Its castle contains the oldest barogue 6) … in the world. For those looking for unspoiled nature , the Sumava region is rich in 7) … . However, there are also problems. Prague is finding it difficult to cope with the tourists in term of accommodation, 8) … and the sewage system. The Czech republic is busy restoring pre-war greatness as well as offering more 9) … to tourists.

7 Read the article and choose the most suitable heading from the list A-L for each part (1-7). There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A Revival attracts business. B Balancing progress and preservation. C Tourists starting to move beyond Prague. D The ideal solution. E A cheap place for a holiday. F Tourism brings big money. G Small but luxurious. H Countless castles and old towns. I Sustained growth in tourism.

0

F

The Czech Republic is enjoying a tourist boom that has become increasingly important to the country's economy. In 1994, tourism accounted for £1.5 billion which is expected to soon rise by ten per cent. "Tourism, one of our top foreign exchange earners, is very important to the country," says Jiri Cech, director of the Tourism Department.

1

More than 17 million tourists came to explore the various sights of Prague, known as the "Golden City", in 1994, and the boom continues. Private busi­ness people have improved the Czech capital with new shops, restaurants and cafes.

2

Although plans to build a luxury hotel were opposed, the capital has attracted several of the world's lead­ing hotel groups - including Hyatt, Hilton International and Holiday Inn. These hotels bid for sites and contrac­ts in the Czech capital. "We are opti­mistic about the prospects in Prague, especially for conventions and meetings," says Daniel Durand, man­ager of the Prague Hilton Atrium Seated near the city centre.

3

What makes Prague special, however, are small friendly hotels like the Villa Voyta. This quiet and architecturally beautiful hotel, built in 1921, has ^come the first in the country to be accepted into the exclusive Small Luxury Hotels of the World Association.

4

Foreign tourists are also beginning to discover attractions outside the cap­ital, pouring cash directly into the far­thest corners of the country. "It is very important for us to expand the options available for visitors exploring the Czech countryside," observes Jiri Cech.

5

The most popular site after Prague is the south Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov, situated above the Austrian border. Its castle houses the oldest surviving baroque theatre in the world, complete with stage sets, costumes and a library of opera libretti. Thousands of such castles and chateaux, many in excellent condition, cover the Bohemian and Moravian landscapes, and many historic towns are renovating their ancient squares. Those looking for unspoilt nature can explore the Sumava region close to the Austrian and German borders, an area still rich in wildlife.

6

The Czech Tourism Department is trying to encourage greater invest­ment in facilities outside Prague to try to lessen the strain on the already crowded capital. What the Minister would like most is an even spread of tourism across the whole country rather than the concentration on Prague. Indeed the city is finding it difficult to cope with the tourists in terms of accommodation, transportation and the sewage system. "For me the perfect world would be to have nature lovers wandering in the Bohemian hills, or hiking in the Sudeten mountains, and culture seekers visiting the castles of Moravia before a stop in the musical city of Prague," says Mr Cech.

7

There are many destinations to explore in the Czech Republic, which is busy restoring pre-war greatness. Whether the country gets full benefit from the still growing influx of tourists depends on how successful it is in offering more facilities while pre­serving its old world atmosphere.

8 In small groups, discuss your answers to the following questions.

• Would you like to visit the Czech Republic? Why? Why not?

• Would you rather stay in a large or small hotel? Why?

• Would you visit the city centre or the farthest corners of the country? Why?

9 Look at the sentences about a holiday in Tasmania, an island off the south coast of Australia. Read the text below to decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect. If it is correct, choose A (Yes). If it is not correct, choose В (No).

Sentences	A Yes	B No
1 There are few traffic jams in Tasmania. 2 There are several buses every day on most routes. 3 It is essential to reserve accommodation in advance. 4 There is a limit on the number of hotel tickets you can buy. 5 Ruby Hotels are the cheapest. 6 Taz Hotel tickets can only be used in Taz Hotels. 7 The most attractive scenery you can see on the second day is by Russell Falls. 8 The third day is spend in the car. 9 There are good views of Cradle Mountain from the edges of Dove Lake. 10 The trip finishes where it started.

See Tasmania!

Rich in an old world charm and with magnificent National Parks, Tasmania is well covered by a good road network. Light traffic and wonderful views make driving these roads a pleasure. Though the bus system is reliable, on many routes services may only run once daily. So hire a car and see this beautiful and interesting island at your own speed. There is a variety of places to stay, and although booking is strongly advised,

particularly at peak holiday times,it should not be too difficult to arrange things as you go, if you prefer. We sell you a set of Taz Hotel Pass vouchers and Tasmania is yours. The Taz Hotel Pass offers the visitor a simple and convenient way to stay anywhere in Australia. Each hotel ticket is paid for in advance and is for one night's accommodation. There is no maximum or minimum number of hotel tickets you can buy, and we will give you your money back on unused tickets, less a small administrative charge. Taz Hotels are divided into simple colour categories with Ruby being the most basic and Diamond representing the highest quality.

We recommend that you buy a mixture of tickets as we cannot give you your money back if you use a higher value ticket when staying at a lower value hotel. If you travel to an area where Taz have no hotels, then we will find other reasonably-priced accommodation for you in exchange for your Taz tickets.

rHere is the planned route for our holiday in Tasmania: Day 1: Arrive Hobart airport, pick up your car and spend some time in the capital, perhaps driving up to the Old Signal Station on Mount Nelson. Day 2: Drive through the Derwent Valley, stopping at Russell Falls. Later the scenery becomes even more amazing as you pass Lake St Clair National Park. Spend the night in the fishing town of Strahan. Day 3: We take you on a half-day cruise from Strahan on the famous Gordon River. Then set off for a leisurely drive to Cradle Mountain National Park. Day 4: Enjoy the wild beauty of the Park. Go fishing or horse-riding. Or walk around beautiful Dove Lake, from where there are wonderful views of the mountain itself. Day 5: Explore the fascinating country towns as you drive north and along the coast to Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city. Day 6: A pleasant drive through peaceful countryside to Hobart. On route, you pass the charming towns of Ross and Oatlands. Return to the airport in time for your flight.

10 In small groups, discuss your answers to the following questions.

•Would you like to visit Tasmania? Why? Why not?

•What thing(s) about Tasmania impressed you most?

•What did you learn about Tasmania from the text?

•Do you like travelling at peak holiday times? Why? Why not?

LISTENING
11 Look at the notices about tourist attractions in the south of England. You will hear a tourist information officer talking. Some information is missing. For each question (1-6), fill in the missing information in the numbered space.

Days out in the Arun Valley Arundel Castle Open April to October every day except (1)…………………………. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boat trips on the River Arun See town, sail below (2)…………………………… of castle. Departures every (3) …………………………… in summer. Wildfowl & Wetlands Centre Best time of year to visit: (4)……………………………….. Restaurant open: (5)………………………… Amberly Museum Open daily during (6) …………………, from Wednesdays to Sundays other times.

12 Discuss the given points.

• Would you like to spend a day visiting a castle with ancient furniture, paintings by famous artists?

• Are you interested in everyday life in the early part of this century?

• Do you think it is interesting and important to get closer to the history of buildings, universities, towns? Why?

1 3 You will hear a tour guide talking to a group of tourists about a coach trip. For each question (1-6), choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

Questions	Answers
1 What is the change of the plan? 2 Where will they stop? 3 The town of Brampton became well known because of its 4 What animals will they see in the wildlife park? 5 What time will they arrive back at the hotel? 6 The tour guide asks if anyone	A They will visit two towns. B They will look round a university. C They will visit a wildlife park. A near a waterfall B by a lake C on a mountain A shops B university C museum A lions B monkeys C tigers A 5.30 B 6.45 C 7.15 A needs more information. B would like to go on another tour. C wants to ask any questions

14 In small groups, discuss your answers to the following questions.

• Why are wildlife parks among tourist attractions?

• Have you ever visited any wildlife park?

• Are wildlife parks like the zoo or there are any differences?

• Do you usually take a camera with you while travelling? Why?