What this lesson teaches
I can explain the positive and negative social effects of tourism on a place.
Syllabus K335, Topic 2.2, Key Question 3. How does tourism affect society of places?
Make a guess
A shop owner in a busy tourist street welcomes visitors, but the family upstairs complains about noise every night. What does this show?
- The street mostly supports tourism, as the shop shows.
- Visitors in that street must be behaving badly.
- They gain and lose different things.
- The whole street community opposes tourism.
Show the answer
They gain and lose different things.
The shop owner gets income; the family gets noise. Attitudes depend on each person's mix of benefits and costs, so one community can hold several views.
Visitors and residents affect each other, and how they meet shapes whether tourism brings understanding or conflict.
Visitors and host communities influence each other. Respectful meetings help both learn about another way of life. Clear guidance can explain how to behave at religious sites and in homes.
Residents may resent tourism when they face crowding, noise, rudeness or few benefits. Cultural clashes can happen when expectations about dress, photos or behaviour differ.
Attitudes differ within a community. One resident may like tourism income but hate the noise outside their home. So find out who gets which benefits and costs before describing the whole community's view.
Tourists can also face theft, scams or other crime. Unfamiliar places, valuables and crowds raise the risk. That does not mean a whole community is criminal, or that more visitors alone cause more crime. Good information, fair policing and safe streets protect both residents and visitors.
- Two-way influence
- Visitors and residents affect each other.
- Resentment
- From crowding, noise, disrespect or few benefits.
- Crime against tourists
- Possible, but not proof about a whole community.
Step by step
Describe the meeting
What do visitors and residents do and expect?
Explain the response
Link attitudes to real benefits and burdens.
Avoid sweeping labels
Views differ within both groups.
Real examples to use
Barcelona, 2024
Residents protested against mass tourism, saying rising rents and crowds were pushing locals out. Some sprayed tourists with water pistols.
Venice
To manage crowds, Venice began charging some day-trippers an entry fee of 5 euros in 2024.
Worked example: A street used for more than tourism
Visitors enjoy evening events, but residents need access and quiet. Set event hours, keep access routes and ask residents for input. Telling residents to welcome everyone does not fix the cause.
Watch out for this
If some residents dislike crowding, the whole community opposes tourists.
Views vary and are often about specific problems. Find out who is affected and why.
Check your understanding
What best explains why residents feel differently about tourism?
- They get different mixes of income, disruption and contact.
- Concerns fade for everyone as arrivals rise and more income comes in.
- Some residents read more news about tourism than others.
Show the answer
They get different mixes of income, disruption and contact.
Yes. Different experiences lead to different views.
Check your understanding
Why did some Barcelona residents protest against mass tourism in 2024?
- Tourists had stopped visiting, so shops were closing.
- The city had banned cruise ships, hurting jobs.
- Rising rents and crowds were pushing locals out.
Show the answer
Rising rents and crowds were pushing locals out.
The costs of tourism fell on residents.