Tourism stimulates jobs, particularly in the service sector. People can find new jobs as servers, hotel staff, retail outlets or tour guides. Nearly all these jobs are new to the economy. Tourism also creates infrastructure to build hotels and other facilities, which also creates jobs.
Often the environmental benefits of tourism are overlooked. Countries can use tourism as a reason for environmental conservation, such as national parks. Park fees help enforce the conservation rules of the park. Heritage sites, such as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are international tourist attractions and have strict rules for preservation. Tourism also provides educational opportunities to learn about the environment.
Tourism can exacerbate inequalities between groups in the country of interest because only people who are able to speak foreign languages, mostly English, and live near tourist sites can benefit. Less educated or rural populations rarely see the benefits. Tourism also can increase local prices because foreigners often pay extra for goods and services in some areas, sometimes beyond what locals can afford.
Even with ecotourism efforts to minimize the environmental footprint of tourism, air travel is necessary for international tourists, producing greenhouse gas emissions. In some areas, tourist resorts increase demand for water, which could be scarce. In natural areas, such as conservation areas, increased foot and vehicle traffic could impact wildlife and the ecosystem. Over time, degraded environments could decrease the lure for tourists to an area.
