19. Monologue ♫

In today’s lecture we’ll begin with an overview of the impact of tourism on the societies and cultures of the host area, then we’ll look at some case studies.

One model for the socio-cultural impact of tourism has been provided by Doxey – you’ll find a reference in your reading list. He called his model the ‘Irridex’ – that’s a contraction of ‘irritation index’ and it attempts to show how the attitudes of local people to tourists and tourism change over the years.

In fact, studies have highlighted quite a few positive effects of tourism. For example, Doxey’s model doesn’t look at the effects on the tourists themselves – they may well benefit from increased understanding of the host society and culture. Then, traditional crafts in the host area may be revitalized because tourism provides new markets such as the souvenir trade, for example, so instead of these traditional skills being lost, local people are encouraged to develop them.

There may also be more long-lasting changes, which actually lead to the empowerment of both groups and individuals in the host area. For example, tourism creates openings for employment for women, and through giving them a chance to have a personal income; it allows them to become more independent.

In addition, because tourism tends to work through a very few languages that have world-wide usage, those working in the tourist industry may be encouraged to acquire new languages, and this will empower them through providing wider access to globalized media, and improving their job prospects in a wider context. Right, now we’ll take a short break there and then we’ll look at a couple of case studies and see how far the points we’ve discussed so far apply to them.

20. Sea or Air? ♫

Susan: Are you looking forward to your trip to Canada, Julie?

Julie: I can’t wait to see Canada, Susan, but I’m scared stiff of the journey. My husband insists on flying, but I want to sail. Planes make me nervous.

Susan: There’s nothing to be frightened of. How many planes fly across the Atlantic every day?

Julie: I’ve no idea. Hundreds, I suppose.

Susan: And how often do you hear of a crash?.. Once or twice a year?

Julie: Yes, but aero planes fly so high and fast that once is enough.

Susan: Look, there are more road casualties per day than air deaths per year. Air transport is really safe compared with road transport.

Julie: I’d still prefer to go by sea. Ships may not travel fast but at least you can relax. I’d love a trip on a luxury liner like the Queen Elizabeth II.

Susan: It’s fine if you’re a good sailor, but have you ever travelled far in a rough sea?

Julie: No. I’ve only been in a boat once. I sailed down the River Thames on a sightseeing tour... But in any case I’d rather be sea-sick than dead.

Practical material

The Daffodils

I ˈwandered _\lonely – as a >cloud

That ˈfloats on >high o’re ‘vales and >hills,

When ˈall at ‚once│– I ˈsaw a _\crowd,

A ′host ¦ of ˈgolden ‘daffodils;

Beˈside the ‘lake,│beˈneath the >trees,

ˈFluttering and ‘dancing in the ‘breeze.

Conˈtinuous as the >stars that ‚shine

And ‘twinkle on the ˈMilky ‚Way,

They ˆstretched ¦ in ˈnever-ˌending _\line

Along the >margin ¦ of a _\bay;

"Ten “thousand ‘saw I ¦ at a ‘glance,

ˈTossing their ‘heads in ˈsprightly _\dance.

The ˈwaves be‘side them _\danced; but >they

Out‘did the ˈsparkling ˌwaves in ‘glee.

A ˈpoet ˈcould ˙not but be _\gay

In ˈsuch a “jocund _\\company;

I >gazed – and >gazed – but ˈlittle ‘thought

ˈWhat “wealth the ˌshow to _\me had _\brought;

For ′oft, – when ˈon my ‘couch I ‚lie

In ′vacant or in ‘pensive ‚mood,

They _\flash ¦ uˌpon that ˈinward _\eye

Which is the "bliss of _\solitude;

And ˈthen my ˈheart with ‘pleasure _\fills

And _\dances ¦ with the _\daffodils.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)