General Task 2Causes and evaluation
Tourism and local culture
Travel · Advanced
International tourism can sometimes cause local traditions and cultures to become less distinctive. Why does this happen, and is this a positive or negative development?
Causes and evaluation
- Introduction: identify the change and your overall judgement.
- Body 1: explain the reasons for the change with a plausible example.
- Body 2: evaluate whether it is positive or negative, or whether its advantages outweigh its disadvantages, as the question requires.
- Conclusion: answer both the causes question and the evaluation question.
Reasons and evaluation: positive/negative and outweigh questions →
Idea starters
Develop 1
Possible cause: businesses may simplify traditional products or performances to appeal to visitors. Explain why that commercial pressure could change local practices.
Develop 2
Evaluation: tourism can fund cultural activities while also encouraging standardised experiences. Decide which effect matters more and explain the conditions behind your judgement.
Vocabulary to use precisely
- cultural heritage
- Traditions, places and practices passed between generations.
- “Tourism income may help communities maintain their cultural heritage.”
- commercial pressure
- Incentives to change something in order to attract customers or revenue.
- “Commercial pressure can influence which traditions are presented to visitors.”