This is a tough question for me because it depends on a lot of factors!
I’ve known a lot of people from others countries. Typically, they are good people and I learn a lot about their culture.
But I also recognise that locals get fed up with tourists sometimes.
Really, I think it comes down to the personality of the tourist, the local, and the situation they are in.
It might also depend on the country’s culture!
Maybe some countries are more conscientious, some are more welcoming and laid back – but that is just speculation on my part.
That’s too complex of an answer for IELTS so I have to shorten it.
See how I change my real opinion to make it suitable for an IELTS essay below!
Be sure to check out my Patreon exclusive essays as well.
Dave
Before reading you can listen to the audio of my answer and take some notes:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Tourism and Culture (Real Past IELTS Tests/Exams)
Some believe that tourism does more to create tension between countries rather than helping individuals better understand other cultures.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported IELTS Exam on February 8th
Many people are of the belief that rather than easing tensions, tourism actually further strains relations between countries. In my opinion, despite some newsworthy incidents, the vast majority of tourist interactions are positive.
The reason that many have turned against tourism as a means of soft power is the memorable disputes that naturally arise. A good example of this would be the recent outbreak of Coronavirus in China and the resultant worldwide panic. Chinese tourists have since reported on social media channels increased harassment and chilly treatment abroad. Such reactions are irrational because Coronovirus is a tame threat relative to normal strains of influenza, various diseases and other fatalities over the period including vehicular deaths. This psychological bias applies to small-scale tourist interactions as well: people are more likely to remember recent, negative events even if their actual impact is marginal.
The overwhelming majority of interactions between tourist and local are friendly and conducive to increased understanding. The average person taking a trip, to most countries, will encounter friendly customs officials, chat amiably with their taxi driver on the way to their hotel, where the staff will likely be very accommodating. The negative interactions are rare though they may stick out and make memorable stories. The more common scenario is that a tourist’s curiosity will be matched by local enthusiasm to make a good impression of themselves and their country. These complimentary human drives from the tourist and local, re-enacted in millions of micro-interactions daily, may not make headlines but they foster empathy and understanding between otherwise diverse cultures.
In conclusion, the cumulative impact of friendly encounters engendered by tourism far outweigh exaggerated slights. People should keep this in perspective when travelling and rise above prejudice and confirmation bias.
Analysis
1. Many people are of the belief that rather than easing tensions, tourism actually further strains relations between countries. 2. In my opinion, despite some newsworthy incidents, the vast majority of tourist interactions are positive.
- Paraphrase the overall topic – write this quickly and keep it simple.
- Give your opinion. You can also write this quickly but be sure that you choose a clear overall side.
1. The reason that many have turned against tourism as a means of soft power is the memorable disputes that naturally arise. 2. A good example of this would be the recent outbreak of Coronavirus in China and the resultant worldwide panic. 3. Chinese tourists have since reported on social media channels increased harassment and chilly treatment abroad. 4. Such reactions are irrational because Coronovirus is a tame threat relative to normal strains of influenza, various diseases and other fatalities over the period including vehicular deaths. 5. This psychological bias applies to small-scale tourist interactions as well: people are more likely to remember recent, negative events even if their actual impact is marginal.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end. Focus on a single main idea not a list of reasons.
- Begin your example as fast as possible and make sure it is relevant.
- Develop that example – don’t run away from it!
- Be specific – notice how I describe other diseases and types of deaths.
- Draw conclusions or results or make your specific more general at the end of the paragraph.
1. The overwhelming majority of interactions between tourist and local are friendly and conducive to increased understanding. 2. The average person taking a trip, to most countries, will encounter friendly customs officials, chat amiably with their taxi driver on the way to their hotel, where the staff will likely be very accommodating. 3. The negative interactions are rare though they may stick out and make memorable stories. 4. The more common scenario is that a tourist’s curiosity will be matched by local enthusiasm to make a good impression of themselves and their country. 5. These complimentary human drives from the tourist and local, re-enacted in millions of micro-interactions daily, may not make headlines but they foster empathy and understanding between otherwise diverse cultures.
- Write another clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end again – single main ideas!
- For this one, I use a hypothetical example but it is still very specific.
- Continue developing your main idea. Here I use contrast to strengthen my point.
- Keep focusing on the same example with specfic detail.
- Conclude the paragraph by extending your support.
1. In conclusion, the cumulative impact of friendly encounters engendered by tourism far outweigh exaggerated slights. 2. People should keep this in perspective when travelling and rise above prejudice and confirmation bias.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add an extra detail/final thought to get full marks from the examiner for your task achievement score.
Vocabulary
Try to figure out what the key academic vocabulary in bold means:
Many people are of the belief that rather than easing tensions, tourism actually further strains relations between countries. In my opinion, despite some newsworthy incidents, the vast majority of tourist interactions are positive.
The reason that many have turned against tourism as a means of soft power is the memorable disputes that naturally arise. A good example of this would be the recent outbreak of Coronavirus in China and the resultant worldwide panic. Chinese tourists have since reported on social media channels increased harassment and chilly treatment abroad. Such reactions are irrational because Coronovirus is a tame threat relative to normal strains of influenza, various diseases and other fatalities over the period including vehicular deaths. This psychological bias applies to small-scale tourist interactions as well: people are more likely to remember recent, negative events even if their actual impact is marginal.
The overwhelming majority of interactions between tourist and local are friendly and conducive to increased understanding. The average person taking a trip, to most countries, will encounter friendly customs officials, chat amiably with their taxi driver on the way to their hotel, where the staff will likely be very accommodating. The negative interactions are rare though they may stick out and make memorable stories. The more common scenario is that a tourist’s curiosity will be matched by local enthusiasm to make a good impression of themselves and their country. These complimentary human drives from the tourist and local, re-enacted in millions of micro-interactions daily, may not make headlines but they foster empathy and understanding between otherwise diverse cultures.
In conclusion, the cumulative impact of friendly encounters engendered by tourism far outweigh exaggerated slights. People should keep this in perspective when travelling and rise above prejudice and confirmation bias.
Answers
of the belief feel that
easing tensions being friendlier
further strains relations make relationships worse
newsworthy incidents stories that make the news
vast majority most of
interactions back and forth
turned against no longer agree with
soft power influence without force
memorable disputes easy to remember arguments/fights
naturally arise bound to come up
recent outbreak new pandemic
Coronavirus virus emerging in Wuhan, China
resultant worldwide panic people all of the world scared
social media channels online through Facebook, Instagram, etc.
harassment bothering
chilly treatment abroad not friendly when they travel to other countries
reactions receptions
irrational no logic to it
tame threat not that dangerous
relative to compared to
strains of influenza different kinds of flu
fatalities deaths
vehicular deaths dying from car accidents
psychological bias prejudice
small-scale tourist interactions everyday communication between locals and tourists
marginal unimportant
overwhelming majority most of
local residents
conducive allows for/encourages
increased understanding getting along better
average person anyone
customs officials people in charge of goods/people at airports
amiably friendly
accommodating easy-going, helpful
stick out stand out/be memorable
make memorable stories make good anecdotes
common scenario happens a lot
curiosity wonder about
matched met
enthusiasm energy
good impression get off on the right foot
complimentary human drives desires that go hand in hand
re-enacted happens over and over
micro-interactions little moments between people
make headlines become news
foster empathy encourages understanding
otherwise diverse cultures contrasting national identities
cumulative impact overall effect
engendered provokes
outweigh exaggerated slights more important than little insults
keep this in perspective not over-react
rise above prejudice overcome biases
confirmation bias favouring what confirms what you already believe
Pronunciation
ɒv ðə bɪˈliːf
ˈiːzɪŋ ˈtɛnʃənz
ˈfɜːðə streɪnz rɪˈleɪʃənz
ˈnjuːzˌwɜːði ˈɪnsɪdənts
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
tɜːnd əˈgɛnst
sɒft ˈpaʊə
ˈmɛmərəbl dɪsˈpjuːts
ˈnæʧrəli əˈraɪz
ˈriːsnt ˈaʊtbreɪk
kəˈrəʊnəˈvaɪərəs
rɪˈzʌltənt ˌwɜːldˈwaɪd ˈpænɪk
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə ˈʧænlz
ˈhærəsmənt
ˈʧɪli ˈtriːtmənt əˈbrɔːd
ri(ː)ˈækʃənz
ɪˈræʃənl
teɪm θrɛt
ˈrɛlətɪv tuː
streɪnz ɒv ˌɪnflʊˈɛnzə
fəˈtælɪtiz
vɪˈhɪkjʊlə dɛθs
ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈbaɪəs
smɔːl-skeɪl ˈtʊərɪst ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
ˈmɑːʤɪnəl
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋ məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈləʊkəl
kənˈdjuːsɪv
ɪnˈkriːst ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
ˈkʌstəmz əˈfɪʃəlz
ˈeɪmiəb(ə)li
əˈkɒmədeɪtɪŋ
stɪk aʊt
meɪk ˈmɛmərəbl ˈstɔːriz
ˈkɒmən sɪˈnɑːrɪəʊ
ˌkjʊərɪˈɒsɪti
mæʧt
ɪnˈθjuːzɪæzm
gʊd ɪmˈprɛʃən
ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛntəri ˈhjuːmən draɪvz
riː-ɪˈnæktɪd
ˈmaɪkrəʊ-ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
meɪk ˈhɛdlaɪnz
ˈfɒstər ˈɛmpəθi
ˈʌðəwaɪz daɪˈvɜːs ˈkʌlʧəz
ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv ˈɪmpækt
ɪnˈʤɛndəd
aʊtˈweɪ ɪgˈzæʤəreɪtɪd slaɪts
kiːp ðɪs ɪn pəˈspɛktɪv
raɪz əˈbʌv ˈprɛʤʊdɪs
ˌkɒnfəˈmeɪʃən ˈbaɪəs
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many people are ___________ that rather than ___________, tourism actually ___________ between countries. In my opinion, despite some ___________, the ___________ of tourist ___________ are positive.
The reason that many have ___________ tourism as a means of ___________ is the ___________ that ___________. A good example of this would be the ___________ of ___________ in China and the ___________. Chinese tourists have since reported on ___________ increased ___________ and ___________. Such ___________ are ___________ because Coronovirus is a ___________ normal ___________, various diseases and other ___________ over the period including ___________. This ___________ applies to ___________ as well: people are more likely to remember recent, negative events even if their actual impact is ___________.
The ___________ of interactions between tourist and ___________ are friendly and ___________ to ___________. The ___________ taking a trip, to most countries, will encounter friendly ___________, chat ___________ with their taxi driver on the way to their hotel, where the staff will likely be very ___________. The negative interactions are rare though they may ___________ and ___________. The more ___________ is that a tourist’s ___________ will be ___________ by local ___________ to make a ___________ of themselves and their country. These ___________ from the tourist and local, ___________ in millions of ___________ daily, may not ___________ but they ___________ and understanding between ___________.
In conclusion, the ___________ of friendly encounters ___________ by tourism far ___________. People should ___________ when travelling and ___________ and ___________.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Listen and review the topic (use these ideas to practice):
Reading Practice
Read and further review the topic in case if it comes up on your test:
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/mallorca-protests-the-spanish-island-telling-tourists-to-stay-home
Speaking Practice
Answer the related questions below from the real IELTS exam (you can upload them to my Facebook group for some feedback):
Where you Live
- Where is your hometown?
- Would you like to live there in the future?
- What don’t you like about your home?
Do you have a question?
Hi,
Can you make clear something, please?
1. “The reason that many have turned against tourism as a means of soft power are the memorable disputes that naturally arise”
The reason IS the memorable disputes or the reason ARE…?
2. “The average person taking a trip, to most countries, will encounter friendly customs officials, chat amiably with their taxi driver on the way to their hotel, where the staff will likely be very accommodating.”
What does “THEIR” refer to? Should we change “the average person” into “the average people”?
Thanks in advance.
Hello!
1. Yes you are correct – I will fix that – thanks!
2. Their refers to the average person. It is very common in UK (but not US) English to use the plural pronoun their/them instead of say he or she to refer back to a singular person.
3. You should say the average person with the definite article. If you want to say ‘average people’ that is fine as well without the definite article.
Dave
Thank you very much. By the way, your website is very useful.
You’re welcome!
Forgive me, I have another question.
1. The more common scenario is that a tourist’s curiosity will be matched by local enthusiasm to make a good impression of themselves and their country.
by locals’ enthusiasm or just local enthusiasm?
2. In conclusion, the cumulative impact of friendly encounters engendered by tourism far outweigh exaggerated slights. People should keep this in perspective when travelling and rise above prejudice and confirmation bias.
the cumulative impact (of encounters) OUTWEIGHS or OUTWEIGH exaggerated slights?
I am sorry if I bother you too much.
1. local enthusiasm because local is the adjective that describes enthusiasm, though you could also write the locals’enthusiasm
2. It could be either the impact that outweighs or the impact of friendly encounters that outweigh
no problem!
There is typo in the question. Between is written twice.
Thank you for pointing that out – I will fix it!
Nothing, never mind. great website
Thank you!
sorry for such a stupid question. Is it a band 9 essay?
I write them all so they are all band 9.
But I’m a native speaker and I put in a lot of fancy words for students to learn – they’re not a realistic standard. The are better for learning from.