How effective is tourism as a development strategy.

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How effective is tourism as a development strategy.

In this essay I will try to explain how effective tourism is as a development strategy. Development strategies are used to improve people’s living standards and quality of life, they can be broken down into 3 main factors; economical, social and environmental. I have chosen 2 different case studies from which, one is an LEDC and the other one is an MEDC. And using these case studies I am going to explain the economical, social and environmental problems and solutions that exist. I will also show the main advantages and disadvantages that tourism brings to the country, and who it is that benefits from it.

        The first case study Thailand is an LEDC, and the locals of this country now depend on tourism as they got used to the fact that people will pay money for them to demonstrate part of their culture. At first it looked innocent and just an easy way to earn some money, now many families in Thailand depend on how much money the tourist are willing to pay them. The more tourists there are the higher the demand for hotels, shops and restaurants. And so the government will construct all of these and make sure that tourists have all the luxury they ask for. Having done so the money that tourist pay for all their needs goes to the government and again, making it hard for the locals to earn money.

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        Locals do not only suffer economically, but a lot of social damage has been caused. As they now depend on the money of the tourist they lose out culturally. The younger generation is not been taught on how to farm, and thus when having a low season children have to beg, as they have no other abilities. Customs and rituals are not used in proper ways, ceremonies which locals usually do once a year, are now done more often and are used as a tourist attraction.

Drugs is another social problem that is increasing as tourist want to see how ...

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