Impacts of Tourism: Planning and Policy Development

One does not have to look at literature too see that the impacts of tourism has been immense in the world we live in. Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries, according to WTO (World Tourism Organization) revised estimates total international tourist arrivals worldwide come to almost 595 million in 1996. International tourism receipts for 1996 are estimated to be $425 billion (WTO, 1997). An article in the Hutchinson Educational Encyclopaedia (1999) has pointed out that tourism is worlds largest industry. It sustained 120 million jobs in 1995 accounting for 7% of the global workforce (Hutchinson, 1999). As the figures show Tourism has a major impact on the world economy.
One has to realise that along with benefits tourism does also bring many detrimental affects on both the developing and developed countries.
For this essay one will predominantly look at the impacts of tourism in the world we live in. One will also be looking at issues surrounding development of tourism in the world and why the public and private sectors are concerned with developing tourism.
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