Onemightexpectthattheever­growingdemandsofthetouristtradewouldbringnothingbutgoodforthecountriesthatreceivetheholiday­makers.Indeedarosypictureispaintedforthelong­termfutureoftheholidayindustr
Onemightexpectthattheevergrowingdemandsofthetouristtradewouldbringnothingbutgoodforthecountriesthatreceivetheholidaymakers.Indeedarosypictureispaintedforthelongtermfutureoftheholidayindustry.Everymonthseesthebuildingofanewhotelsomewhere.AndeverymonthanotherrockboundPacificislandisadvertisedasthe‘lastparadise(天堂)onearth’.
Howeverthescaleandspeedofthisgrowthseemsettodestroytheverythingstouristswanttoenjoy.Inthosecountrieswheretherewasarushtomakequickmoneyoutofseasideholidaysovercrowdedbeachesandtheconcretejunglesofendlesshotelshavebeguntolosetheirappeal.
Thosecountrieswithlittleexperienceoftourismcansuffermost.InrecentyearsNepalsetouttoattractforeignvisitorstofunddevelopmentsinhealthandeducation.Itsforestsfullofwildlifeandrareflowerswereofferedtotouristsasonemoreuntouchedparadise.Infactthenaturealltoosoonfelttheeffectsofthousandsofholidaymakerstravelingthroughtheforestland.Ancienttracksbecamemajorroutesforthewalkerswiththeconsequentexploitationofprecioustreesandplants.
Notonlycantheenvironmentofacountrysufferfromthesuddengrowthoftourism.Thepeopleaswellrapidlyfeelitseffects.Farmlandmakeswayforhotelsroadsandairports;theoldwayoflifegoes.Theonetimefarmerisnowtheservantofsomemultinationalorganization;heisnolongerhisownmaster.Onceitwashisbackthatborethepain;nowitishissmilethatisexploited.Nodoubthewonderswhetherhewasn'thappierinhisvillageworkinghisownland.
Thankfullythetouristindustryiswakinguptotheresponsibilitiesithastowardsthosecountriesthatreceiveitscustomers.Theprotectionofwildlifeandthecreationofnationalparksgohandinhandwithtouristdevelopmentandinfactobtainfinancialsupportfromtouristcompanies.Atthesametimetouristsarebeingencouragedtorespectnotonlythecountrysidetheyvisitbutalsoitspeople.
Thewaytourismishandledinthenexttenyearswilldecideitsfateandthatofthecountriesweallwanttovisit.Theirneedsandproblemsaremoreimportantthanthoseofthetouristcompanies.Increasedunderstandinginplanni