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.

1. Paraphrase the overall topic – write this quickly and keep it simple.
2. 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.

1. Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end. Focus on a single main idea not a list of reasons.
2. Begin your example as fast as possible and make sure it is relevant.
3. Develop that example – don’t run away from it!
4. Be specific – notice how I describe other diseases and types of deaths.
5. 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.

1. Write another clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end again – single main ideas!
2. For this one, I use a hypothetical example but it is still very specific.
3. Continue developing your main idea. Here I use contrast to strengthen my point.
4. Keep focusing on the same example with specfic detail.
5. 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.

1. Repeat your opinion.
2. 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

1. Where is your hometown?
2. Would you like to live there in the future?
3. What don’t you like about your home?