This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of foreign tourists visiting a country.

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IELTS Task 1: Foreign Tourists Visiting a Country

The bar chart details the number of tourists visiting Country X from various parts of the world and the table delineates the income of different businesses in the nation in 2007 and 2008. Overall, tourism from all regions of the world declined, though less noticeably when coming from the main sources of tourists: China, Japan, and Australia. All forms of revenue also fell, with shops and tour services accounting for the majority of revenue by 2008.

In 2007, there were over 200,000 tourists from Europe and the US and Canada, with the North American nations slightly higher. By 2008, both figures had dropped dramatically to 100,000 for the former and approximately 250,000 for the latter. In contrast, the data points for China and Japan began the period much higher (nearly 300,000) and fell less significantly (200,000). Similarly, Australian tourists numbered 275,000 in 2007 and had declined marginally to 250,000 by the following year.

In terms of income in Country X, in 2019 hotels and resorts earned 3.5 million dollars, considerably more than restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops (2.4), transportation and travel agents (1.3), and tour guides, small vendors and other services (1.4). By 2008, hotels and resorts had plunged to just $.5 million, dining options had halved to $1.2 million, and transportation had reduced to $.4 million. The most marginal decline was for tour services ($1.1 million).

Analysis

1. The bar chart details the number of tourists visiting Country X from various parts of the world and the table delineates the income of different businesses in the nation in 2007 and 2008. 2. Overall, tourism from all regions of the world declined, though less noticeably when coming from the main sources of tourists: China, Japan, and Australia. 3. All forms of revenue also fell, with shops and tour services accounting for the majority of revenue by 2008.

1. Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences and the overall trend.
3. This one is a little complex so it needs a second sentence for the overview.

1. In 2007, there were over 200,000 tourists from Europe and the US and Canada, with the North American nations slightly higher. 2. By 2008, both figures had dropped dramatically to 100,000 for the former and approximately 250,000 for the latter. 3. In contrast, the data points for China and Japan began the period much higher (nearly 300,000) and fell less significantly (200,000). 4. Similarly, Australian tourists numbered 275,000 in 2007 and had declined marginally to 250,000 by the following year.

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Compare between each sentence.
3. One paragraph can be longer than the other.
4. This one is a bit long…

1. In terms of income in Country X, in 2019 hotels and resorts earned 3.5 million dollars, considerably more than restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops (2.4), transportation and travel agents (1.3), and tour guides, small vendors and other services (1.4). 2. By 2008, hotels and resorts had plunged to just $.5 million, dining options had halved to $1.2 million, and transportation had reduced to $.4 million. 3. The most marginal decline was for tour services ($1.1 million).

1. Write about the final other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. Compare the categories.
3. Add as much detail as possible.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The bar chart details the number of tourists visiting Country X from various parts of the world and the table delineates the income of different businesses in the nation in 2007 and 2008. Overall, tourism from all regions of the world declined, though less noticeably when coming from the main sources of tourists: China, Japan, and Australia. All forms of revenue also fell, with shops and tour services accounting for the majority of revenue by 2008.

In 2007, there were over 200,000 tourists from Europe and the US and Canada, with the North American nations slightly higher. By 2008, both figures had dropped dramatically to 100,000 for the former and approximately 250,000 for the latter. In contrast, the data points for China and Japan began the period much higher (nearly 300,000) and fell less significantly (200,000). Similarly, Australian tourists numbered 275,000 in 2007 and had declined marginally to 250,000 by the following year.

In terms of income in Country X, in 2019 hotels and resorts earned 3.5 million dollars, considerably more than restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops (2.4), transportation and travel agents (1.3), and tour guides, small vendors and other services (1.4). By 2008, hotels and resorts had plunged to just $.5 million, dining options had halved to $1.2 million, and transportation had reduced to $.4 million. The most marginal decline was for tour services ($1.1 million).

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

details shows

various parts of the world different areas globally

delineates shows

income amount of money earned

businesses shops, companies, etc.

nation country

Overall in general

declined went down

though less noticeably but not as much

main sources of tourists primary place visitors came from

All forms of revenue also fell different types of earning money went down too

accounting for the majority of revenue by representing most of the money made by

over higher than

North American nations slightly higher countries near America just about that

had dropped dramatically to had fallen a lot to

the former mentioned first

approximately about

the latter mentioned second

In contrast however

data points numbers

began the period much higher started at a higher point

fell less significantly went down but less

Similarly like that

numbered accounted for

had declined marginally to had fallen a bit to

by the following year the next year

In terms of concerning

earned money made

considerably a lot

had plunged to just had fallen a lot to

had halved to down by 50%

had reduced to went down to

most marginal decline smallest fall

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈdiːteɪlz 
ˈveəriəs pɑːts ɒv ðə wɜːld 
dɪˈlɪnieɪts 
ˈɪnkʌm 
ˈbɪznɪsɪz 
ˈneɪʃᵊn 
ˈəʊvərɔːl 
dɪˈklaɪnd 
ðəʊ lɛs ˈnəʊtɪsəbli 
meɪn ˈsɔːsɪz ɒv ˈtʊərɪsts 
ɔːl fɔːmz ɒv ˈrɛvɪnjuː ˈɔːlsəʊ fɛl 
əˈkaʊntɪŋ fɔː ðə məˈʤɒrəti ɒv ˈrɛvɪnjuː baɪ 
ˈəʊvə 
nɔːθ əˈmɛrɪkən ˈneɪʃᵊnz ˈslaɪtli ˈhaɪə 
hæd drɒpt drəˈmætɪkᵊli tuː 
ðə ˈfɔːmə 
əˈprɒksɪmɪtli 
ðə ˈlætə 
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst 
ˈdeɪtə pɔɪnts 
bɪˈɡæn ðə ˈpɪəriəd mʌʧ ˈhaɪə 
fɛl lɛs sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli 
ˈsɪmɪləli 
ˈnʌmbəd 
hæd dɪˈklaɪnd ˈmɑːʤɪnᵊli tuː 
baɪ ðə ˈfɒləʊɪŋ jɪə 
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ɜːnd 
kənˈsɪdərəbᵊli 
hæd plʌnʤd tuː ʤʌst 
hæd hɑːvd tuː 
hæd rɪˈdjuːst tuː 
məʊst ˈmɑːʤɪnᵊl dɪˈklaɪn 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The bar chart d________s the number of tourists visiting Country X from v________________________d and the table d__________s the i_______e of different b_______________s in the n________n in 2007 and 2008. O______l, tourism from all regions of the world d___________d, t__________________y when coming from the m______________________________s: China, Japan, and Australia. A___________________________l, with shops and tour services a_______________________________________y 2008.

In 2007, there were o___r 200,000 tourists from Europe and the US and Canada, with the N_____________________________r. By 2008, both figures h_______________________o 100,000 for t__________r and a_______________y 250,000 for t_________r. I_____________t, the d___________s for China and Japan b______________________________r (nearly 300,000) and f_____________________y (200,000). S________y, Australian tourists n__________d 275,000 in 2007 and h_________________________________o 250,000 b_____________________r.

I_______________f income in Country X, in 2019 hotels and resorts e______d 3.5 million dollars, c_____________y more than restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops (2.4), transportation and travel agents (1.3), and tour guides, small vendors and other services (1.4). By 2008, hotels and resorts h_____________________t $.5 million, dining options h_____________o $1.2 million, and transportation h________________o $.4 million. The m_______________________e was for tour services ($1.1 million).

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.vice.com/en/topic/tourism

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Your Home Nation/Country

1. Where are you from?
2. What do you like the most about your country?
3. Where would you like to live in your country?
4. Are people in your country patriotic?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS chart below:

IELTS Task 1 Essay Table: International Tourist Arrivals