Step 5 Developing reading skills

Task 1. Read the article from The Guardian and complete the gaps.

The number of visitors to Britain last year:__

The proportion of repeat visitors:__

The number of Japanese visitors:__

Last year’s percentage increase in the number of North American visitors:

The percentage growth in visitors from the Far East:__

The number of North American visitors:__

When the heat is on

It’s the season of heat and dust, when the British are at the seaside or abroad, leaving their cultural heritage to tourists. The ancient monuments, palaces and historic streets resemble a new Babylon, ringing with European, Asian and American dialects. Last year, Britain attracted nearly 21 million visitors. The trend is steadily upward, but the picture is not so positively good.

Tourism is the world’s biggest growth industry, and Britain is facing even fiercer competition for tourists’ spending money. ‘We have been a popular place to come to for many years,’ said Isobel Coy, of the British Tourist Authority. ‘Now practically every country in the world is after the tourist dollar, whether it has a small coral reef or Florence. There is serious competition out there. Britain has to concentrate on doing well and there is a lot of room for improvement. Two-thirds of our visitors are repeat visitors, which is good, but we must make sure we’re offering people what they want - high standards, value for money, and a warm welcome - so they continue to come.’

They come for different things. The Americans and Antipodeans (Australians and New Zealanders) are interested in common roots and architecture that is centuries older than theirs.

The Russians apparently like Blackpool, the Dutch and Germans have discovered the beaches of East Anglia, the Japanese are heading for Wales, the Scandinavians for the shops in the North-East, and the Italians to the Scottish Highlands.

The North Americans come in great numbers - 3.5 million last year, an increase of 4 per cent on the previous year.

The biggest increase, of 30 per cent, is in visitors from Eastern Europe.

But the big growth market for tourism, and the one all the competing resorts and destinations are aiming at, is the Far East, showing a growth of 15 per cent a year.

The Japanese have been coming and continue to come to Britain in considerable numbers - 559,000 last year - but it is such nationalities as the Koreans, the Taiwanese, the Malaysians and the Thais who hold the future in their wallets.

Task 2. Read the text again and answer the questions.

1. What attracts tourists to Great Britain?

2. Why must Britain fight to maintain its tourism growth?

3. How can Britain attract more tourists? What needs to be done?

4. What are the main reasons for visiting Great Britain?

5. Why do people of different nationalities prefer different places?

6. Which is Britain’s biggest potential growth market? Why?

Task 3. Sam up the article.

Task 4. Read a passage and point out the key factors of tourism development in Great Britain.