3. What is tourism? pros and cons

The Romans probably started it with their holiday villas in the Bay of Naples. In the 19^th century, the education of the rich and privileged few was not complete without a Grand Tour of Europe’s cultural sites. Things started to change for ordinary people in 1845 when Thomas Cook, of Leicester, England, organized the first packaged tour.

By 1939, an estimated one million people were traveling abroad for holidays each year. It is in the last three decades of the 20^th century that tourism has really taken off. Tourism has been industrialized: landscapes, cultures, cuisines and religions are consumer goods displayed in travel brochures.

The effects of tourism since the 1960s have been incredible. Today tourism is the world’s second largest industry. The Mediterranean shores have a resident population of 130 million, but this increases to 230 million each summer because of the tourists. In Spain, France, Italy and most of Greece there is no undeveloped coastline left. In Notre Dame in Paris 108 visitors, enter each minute during open hours.

Global tourism is big business. It can bring substantial economic gain to developing regions. However, some people are against tourism. They say that tourists have no respect for the countries they visit. The Mediterranean is the dirtiest sea in the world. Most popular resorts are polluted: litter has become a major problem. A lot of ancient monuments are being destroyed by unstoppable march of tourism. For example, the prehistoric paintings at Lascaux in France were being slowly ruined by the breath and bacteria from 200,000 visitors a year.

The caves have now been closed to the public and a replica has been built.

Many of the great cities of Europe, such as Prague, Rome, and Warsaw, are finding that their historic centres are fast becoming theme parks – tourists’ ghettos, filled with clicking cameras and whirring camcorders, abandoned by all local residents except for the souvenir sellers.

So what is the way out? May be tourism should be given a humanistic direction? Cultural and environmental groups should work together to assure that tourism can maintain long-term benefits. Governments should create special programmes to support local residents and to protect cultural monuments.

But first of all people should change their attitude to tourism. We should not buy cultural artifacts or products made from wild animals. We should try not to pollute our environment, try to accept different cultures and support traditional lifestyles.

Task I. Answer the questions.

1. Who started tourism?

2. What are the effects of tourism?

3. Is tourism a profitable business? Why?

4. What should we do to attract tourists to Russian cities and towns?

5. Will the development of tourism bring economic gain to Russia?

6. Should we reject tourism in order to preserve cultural monuments?

4. Why do people travel?

People have lots of good reasons to travel. Traveling has always been a part of people’s education. The best way to study geography is to travel and the best way to get to know and understand the traditions and customs of different people is to speak to them. Besides, traveling is a good way to practice foreign languages.

People travel the globe to see other countries and continents, modern cities and ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene.

If you ask people why they travel, they will often mention the world’s most treasured sites, well-known museums, national parks or castles. It goes without saying that it’s always interesting to discover new places and new ways of life, to try foreign food and to listen to unusual musical rhythms.

Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or mountains, with nothing to do but walk, bathe, and laze in the sun.

A lot of young people are fond of spending their holidays in different youth centres where they can enjoy various activities. Some young people spend their holidays hiking. It does not cost much and it is a really good way of getting away from the crowds. This sort of holiday teaches the young how to survive. What is more, it gives them an opportunity to visit remote places and to enjoy the scenery.

Task I. Answer the questions.

1. Are you fond of traveling?

2. What interesting places have you visited?

3. What countries would you like to visit?

4. Which way of traveling do you prefer?

5. Do you agree that traveling broadens the mind?

6. What is your idea of a good rest?