IELTS Writing Task 2 prompt
International tourism has brought economic benefits to many countries, but it can also have a negative impact on the local environment and culture. Do the advantages of international tourism outweigh the disadvantages?
Source practice test: IELTS Writing Test 12
Band 9 model answer
Expert-level response
The growth of international tourism has undeniably enriched national economies, yet it has also exposed fragile ecosystems and traditional cultures to considerable strain. While the environmental and cultural costs are real and sometimes severe, I would argue that the economic and cross-cultural benefits, if managed responsibly, tend to outweigh the drawbacks over the long term.
The economic case for tourism is compelling. Visitor spending generates foreign currency, creates employment ranging from hotel management to handicraft production, and often funds infrastructure, such as airports and roads, that benefits local residents as well as guests. In countries like Thailand or Costa Rica, tourism revenue has financed conservation projects and education programmes that would otherwise struggle for funding. Furthermore, sustained contact between visitors and host communities can foster mutual understanding, breaking down stereotypes and encouraging the preservation of traditions that might otherwise fade, as artisans and performers find a renewed market for their skills.
Nonetheless, the costs cannot be dismissed. Mass tourism frequently overwhelms natural sites; coral reefs are damaged by careless snorkelling, and mountain trails erode under the weight of foot traffic far beyond their carrying capacity. Culturally, the commodification of ceremonies and crafts for tourist consumption can hollow out their original meaning, reducing sacred practices to photo opportunities. These problems are not inevitable, however, but rather the result of poor regulation. Where governments impose visitor caps, environmental levies and community-led planning, as seen in Bhutan's high-value, low-impact model, the benefits of tourism can be retained while damage is minimised.
In conclusion, international tourism carries genuine risks to environments and cultures, but these are largely a matter of management rather than an unavoidable consequence of travel itself. Provided that governments and operators adopt sustainable practices, the economic advantages and opportunities for cultural exchange outweigh the disadvantages, making tourism, on balance, a positive force for development.
Why this meets Band 9
- Task Response: presents a clear, consistent position that benefits outweigh drawbacks 'if managed responsibly', directly answering the outweigh question rather than simply listing both sides.
- Coherence and Cohesion: paragraphs are logically sequenced from economic case to costs to a management-based resolution, with cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'Nonetheless' and 'however' used naturally rather than mechanically.
- Lexical Resource: precise, topic-specific vocabulary such as 'carrying capacity', 'commodification', 'foreign currency' and 'high-value, low-impact model' is used accurately and with flexibility.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a wide range of complex structures, including conditionals ('Provided that...'), relative clauses and passive forms, are controlled with no errors that impede meaning.
Band 6 sample answer
Competent but limited response
Nowadays, many countries earn a lot of money from international tourism, but there are also some bad effects on the environment and local culture. In my opinion, I think the advantages are more important than the disadvantages, and in this essay I will explain why.
Firstly, tourism brings a lot of economic benefits to countries. When tourists visit a country, they spend money on hotels, food and souvenirs, so local people can get jobs and earn income. For example, in countries like Thailand or Spain, many people work in the tourism industry and their lives have become better because of this. Also, the government can get more tax money from tourism, which can be used to build roads, schools and hospitals for the local people. This is a very big advantage for developing countries especially.
On the other hand, there are also some disadvantages of international tourism. Firstly, when too many tourists visit a place, it can damage the environment, for example the beaches or the mountains can become dirty because of rubbish and pollution. Secondly, local culture can be affected in a bad way, because young people may start to copy the tourists' behaviour and forget about their own traditions and customs. In addition, some historical places can be damaged because too many people visit them every year, and this is not good for future generations.
In conclusion, although international tourism can cause some problems for the environment and culture, I still believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because it helps the economy and creates jobs for local people. Governments should make some rules to protect the environment and culture so that tourism can continue to benefit everyone in the future.
Why this sits around Band 6
- Task Response: the position is stated but underdeveloped; ideas like 'lives have become better' and 'protect the environment' are asserted without specific examples or explanation of how outweighing actually works.
- Coherence and Cohesion: relies on mechanical, list-like linkers such as 'Firstly', 'On the other hand' and 'In conclusion', and paragraph 3 uses 'Firstly' again after already using it in paragraph 2, showing faulty organisation.
- Lexical Resource: vocabulary is simple and repetitive, with words like 'good', 'bad' and 'a lot of' overused instead of more precise alternatives such as 'substantial' or 'detrimental'.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: mostly simple and compound sentences with basic complex forms; errors appear such as 'I think the advantages are more important' repeated with 'In my opinion', and limited variety in sentence openings.
Do I need to give a completely balanced view, or can I clearly say one side outweighs the other?
For an 'outweigh' question you must take a clear position, either that advantages outweigh disadvantages, the reverse, or that they are roughly balanced, and this stance should appear in your introduction and conclusion. You should still discuss both sides fairly, but your essay should never leave the examiner unsure of which view you actually hold.