Academic Writing - Task 2 (Model answer)

Some countries have come to rely on tourism as their major source of income. However, many people believe that the problems caused by tourism are more serious than those it has solved. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?


Tourism is the main income source for many countries especially if they have something extraordinary to show the world in terms of man-made wonders and beautiful landscapes. Even though some nations did not set out to attract tourists but relied instead on other forms of income such as farming or banking, they may have shifted to tourism later.

Naturally, tourism is favoured as it brings much needed money into the economy of a country as well as valuable foreign currency. Local people survive by being tour guides, working in the hospitality industry as well as in retail selling products to eager tourists.

On the other hand tourism destroys local values and morals as people put on shows to display their culture in order to please tourists. They leave their traditional way of life behind in order to sell trinkets, postcards and other useless items to tourists. Tourist areas are overcrowded and the natural environment is destroyed by those who do not appreciate what a country has to offer. What is more, greedy business people and the government are quick to invest in luxury facilities for tourists at the expense of the environment.

To sum up, although tourists boost a country’s economy, revitalise certain areas and provide jobs for the locals, there is a price to pay for this. A country’s environment is destroyed to provide the infrastructure to support tourism, areas become overcrowded and the local’s traditional way of life is changed as locals find it easier to make money from tourism.

Question taken from Objective IELTS Student’s book p.123