Is tourism a nuisance or a blessing to our country?

From: Ornan Wei
Subject: English
Date: 25 August 2007
Topic: English commentary 2
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sector in many countries. It improve the economic growth of a country, this will thus affect the social, political, environment factors. Tourism is good as it also promote international understanding and peace.
However, its negative impacts are often ignored. They were ignored as of the presumption that the income from the tourism sector , could make up for the loss. Governments think by ‘sustainable tourism development’, the income derived from tourism is higher and it is able to cover the cost arise from tourism. Instead, the increase of tourism, is also the increase of problems.
The main benefit of tourism is: international tourism produce flow of foreign currency into the host country which add to the country’s gross intake. This inflow of revenue increases business yield and provide employments for many people. Hence, tourism will increase the country’s GDP(Gross Domestic Productivity). This also mean that the country’s social welfare will be better taken care off. Tourism is able to develop better understanding of culture and improve ties between countries. Many believed when tourists travel, and come to understand other cultures, they will respect the qualities of individuals of each nation, hence building world peace and international understanding.
Although tourism positively contributes to the society, skepticism start to grow. The media highlight the destructive nature of leisure travel, how we have destroyed some scenic places that had been our country’s heritage. The fact that if there are more global tourism, there would be more competition. Actually, in recent times, positive effect is declining and the rapid increase of negative impact.
Poor planing of tourism result in short term benefit but long term problems. For example, adventurous travelers may find a tourism spot that has beautiful natural surroundings. They spread the good news, and the spot starts to attract a rapid increase of tourist. Soon, the government will provide facilities like high-rise hotels, transport system, small shops will start to bloom in that spot. In the course of action of these entrepreneurs and the government, the beautiful spot would have lost its scenery an also lost its attractiveness. Soon, tourists would abandon that spot and economic sector and environment would suffer huge loses.
Did the Singapore government consider the environment problems it would faced after the construction of the IR?(integrated resort)
Often, lands of different terrains ,like marshland and swamps, are cleared for creating tourism. Without marshlands and swamps, they no longer support flood control. Deforestation may cause soil erosion and loss of rare plants and organisms species. Exponential growth and excessive commercialization may cause the uniqueness of a tourist place to fade off. The Singapore government should be able to construct sustainable development so that the present needs could be met without jeopardizing the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.
Frequently, tourism interfere with the host unique cultures and practices. They have to change their customs and treat and serve customers according to the customers’ liking. Thus, this will cause locals to lose their identity.
The moment has come, Singapore lacks of lands that are needed for tourism, thus needed to have more consideration for sustainable tourism in the interest of long-term welfare of the people. Allow these tourists to take photos and leave impressions but not destroy the country’s identity.