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.
- Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
- Write a clear overview summarising the differences and the overall trend.
- 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.
- Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
- Compare between each sentence.
- One paragraph can be longer than the other.
- 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).
- Write about the final other parts of the graph – include everything!
- Compare the categories.
- Add as much detail as possible.
Vocabulary
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
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
Reading Practice
https://www.vice.com/en/topic/tourism
Speaking Practice
Your Home Nation/Country
- Where are you from?
- What do you like the most about your country?
- Where would you like to live in your country?
- Are people in your country patriotic?
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