Onemightexpectthattheever-growingdemandsofthetouristtradewouldbringnothingbutgoodforthecountriesthatreceivetheholiday-makers.Indeedarosypictureispaintedforthelong-termfutureoftheholidayindustry.Everymont
Onemightexpectthatthe ever-growingdemandsofthetouristtradewouldbringnothingbutgoodforthecountriesthatreceivethe holiday-makers.Indeedarosy pictureispaintedforthelong-termfutureoftheholidayindustry.Everymonthseesthebuildingofanewhotelsomewhere andeverymonthanotherrock-boundPacificislandisadvertisedasthe'lastparadise(天堂)on earth'.
Howeverthescaleand speedofthisgrowthseemset todestroytheverythingstouristswanttoenjoy.Inthosecountrieswherethere wasarushto makequick moneyoutofsea-sideholidaysover-crowdedbeachesandthe concretejunglesof endlesshotelshavebeguntolosetheirappeal.
Thosecountrieswithlittleexperienceoftourismcan suffermost.Inrecent years Nepalsetouttoattractforeignvisitorstofunddevelopmentsinhealthand education.Itsforestsfullof wildlifeandrareflowerswere offeredtotouristsasonemoreuntouchedparadise.In factthenaturealltoo soonfelttheeffectsofthousandsofholiday-makerstravelingthroughtheforestland. Ancienttacksbecamemajorroutesforthe walkerswiththeconsequentexploitationof precioustreesandplants.
Notonlycantheenvironmentofacountrysufferfromthesuddengrowthoftourism.Thepeopleaswellrapidlyfeelitseffects.Farmlandmakeswayforhotelsroadsandairports;theoldwayoflifegoes.Theone-timefarmerisnowtheservantof somemulti-nationalorganization;heis nolongerhisownmaster.Onceitwashisbackthatborethepain;nowitishissmilethatisexploited.Nodoubthewonderswhetherhewasn'thappierin hisvillageworkinghisownland.
Thankfullythetouristindustryiswakinguptotheresponsibilitiesithastowardsthosecountriesthatreceiveitscustomers.Theprotectionofwildlifeandthecreationofnationalparksgohandinhandwithtouristdevelopmentandinfactobtainfinancialsupportfromtouristcompanies.Atthesametimetouristsarebeingencouragedtorespectnotonlythecountrysidetheyvisitbutalsoitspeople.
Thewaytourismishandledinthenexttenyearswilldecideitsfateandthatofthecountriesweallwanttovisit.Theirneedsandproblemsaremoreimportantthanthoseofthetouristcompanies.Increasedunderstandinginplanningworld-wide