Essay on Benefits of Tourism

Introduction

Tourism refers to a form of recreational travel that’s limited in duration and that’s meant for leisure, recreation, business, and religion and family purposes. Tourism, which can be local or international, has long been a major boost for national economies (Clayton et al., 2014). In my country, tourism not only adds to the GDP, but also provides other benefits. This paper aims to explore these benefits.

Increased Employment

Employment is one of the benefits derived from tourism.Tourism increases both direct and indirect employment opportunities. Direct employment arising from tourism includes: tour guides, drivers and inn proprietors. Also, tourism creates indirect employment, for example, in retail markets, cafes, and restaurants. With employment opportunities increasing, more people will have incomes to help sustain them. This leads to better living standards. It also increases the nation’s wealth from business and employment taxes.

Improved Infrastructure

Another benefit of tourism to an economy is the increased infrastructure development. As my country seeks to attract more tourists, it will invest more on improving its infrastructure. It will establish new roads to various tourist attractions. It will also develop public parks, sports venues, and rest facilities to attract tourists (Tribe, 2011). This infrastructural development is all a result of the revenue that my country obtains from tourism. Revenues from tourism are in turn used to finance such further capital projects that will bring in more tourism.

Economic Diversification

Tourism is one of the ways in which my country has achieved economic diversification. Tourism, being a unique way of earning income, adds to the various ways my country earns its income.It also acts as a backup to other industries’ revenues in case they are at a recession or are under a financial crisis. Specifically, it has helped boost areas that rely on activities that are affected by environmental or global changes in prices. Venturing into tourism helps the country to diversify and not only rely on the manufacturing and agricultural industries.

Community Development

Tourism also fosters community development. The country is constantly trying to re- inject tourism revenue into its tourist attraction localities. It does this by spending on provision of public goods. These public goods include, security, social amenities, for example, hospitals, schools and recreational facilities (Jones and Munday, 2004). These goods are usually free, meaning that everyone enjoys them whether they pay for them or not. Therefore, the poor have access to them, meaning that they can raise their living standards. This also helps to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

Conclusion

Tourism has had major economic, social and environmental benefits to our economy. However, most of the benefits are witnessed in a growing and stable economy. It creates opportunities for entrepreneurs while helping improve the living standards of the less fortunate in the country. Through tourism, the livelihoods of many people have been changed for the better. All this is in addition to additional income obtained by the country to pay for its expenditures. I would recommend that the country takes a risk and invests more in tourism. With tourism, they are guaranteed a steady income.  A steady income will translate to increased government spending. And increased government spending means an improvement of the lives of all people in the country.