Today in the post covid era, Tourism has become powerful global industry with significant impacts on cultural heritage. While some may argue that tourism threatens local cultures by commercializing traditions and eroding authenticity, others believe that it plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. This essay will discuss both perspectives to show how a balanced approach may be the best solution.

On one hand, tourism can endanger culture by prioritizing profit over authenticity. As destinations cater to foreign visitors, local customs, art, and even cuisine are often modified to align with tourists’ expectations. Lots of places now “stage authenticity” which leads to dilution of traditional practices, making them more of a spectacle than a meaningful expression of cultural identity. Also, popular tourist sites most often suffer from overcrowding and environmental degradation, which can damage sacred sites and disrupt traditional lifestyles, especially in fragile ecosystems or historical places.

On the other hand, tourism can also play a significant role in preserving and promoting culture. The revenue generated from tourism often supports the maintenance of cultural sites and funds for cultural events, who might otherwise struggle for resources. Moreover, tourism can bring international recognition to unique traditions and ways of life, fostering pride among local communities. For example, many indigenous crafts and traditional performances thrive today due to the financial support tourism provides, allowing artisans and performers to pass down skills to future generations.

In my opinion, tourism’s impact on culture largely depends on how it is managed. Responsible tourism that emphasizes respect for local customs and prioritizes sustainability can help preserve cultural heritage. For example setting limits on visitor numbers and promoting cultural exchange rather than exploitation, tourism can foster appreciation for diversity while allowing communities to retain their unique identity.

In conclusion, while tourism does pose some risks to cultural preservation, its benefits can be substantial when managed responsibly. A balanced approach that respects and supports local traditions can ensure that tourism contributes positively to cultural sustainability.

Analysis

Word Count: 310
Band Score Estimate: 7.5 – 8.0

The essay is well-structured, effectively addressing both sides of the debate about tourism’s impact on culture. It demonstrates strong critical thinking and an ability to balance perspectives. Below is a detailed analysis based on IELTS Writing Task 2 band descriptors:

1. Task Achievement: Band 8

The essay thoroughly addresses the prompt, discussing both the risks and benefits of tourism for culture. It includes clear examples, such as indigenous crafts thriving due to tourism, to support its points. The opinion is clearly expressed, and the balanced conclusion ties the discussion together effectively.

Areas for improvement:

• Expand on examples in certain areas. For instance, provide specific examples of destinations that have suffered cultural erosion or benefitted from tourism.
• Discuss how policies, like sustainable tourism, can be implemented to mitigate risks.

2. Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8

The essay follows a logical structure, with an introduction, body paragraphs focusing on each side of the argument, and a conclusion.
Linking devices such as on one hand, on the other hand, for example, and as a result are used naturally to ensure cohesion.

Areas for improvement:

• While the essay flows well, the transition from discussing negative impacts to positive impacts could be smoother. For example, use phrases like however, despite these risks, tourism can also….

3. Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The vocabulary is appropriate and varied, with terms such as commercializing traditions, stage authenticity, cultural erosion, and cultural sustainability. The word choices are precise and relevant to the topic.

Areas for improvement:

• Avoid repetition of words like culture and tourism. Use alternatives such as heritage, traditions, travelers, and tourist industry.
• Incorporate more advanced terms like cultural commodification, preservation initiatives, and authenticity degradation.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a range of sentence types, including complex and compound structures. Examples:

• “As destinations cater to foreign visitors, local customs, art, and even cuisine are often modified to align with tourists’ expectations.”
• “The revenue generated from tourism often supports the maintenance of cultural sites and funds for cultural events.”

Minor errors slightly impact accuracy:

• “Lots of places now ‘stage authenticity'” → Replace with “Many destinations now ‘stage authenticity’.”
• Rephrase sentences for conciseness and precision, e.g., “Tourism can bring international recognition to unique traditions” → “Tourism can highlight unique traditions globally.”

Suggested Vocabulary List for the Essay

Risks of Tourism

• Cultural erosion – loss of traditions, heritage damage, dilution of identity.
• Commercializing traditions – commodify customs, stage-managed culture, prioritize profit over authenticity.
• Environmental degradation – damage to ecosystems, overcrowding, unsustainable tourism.
• Authenticity degradation – loss of cultural meaning, spectacle-driven practices.

Benefits of Tourism

• Cultural preservation – safeguarding heritage, maintaining traditions, heritage funding.
• Financial support – revenue generation, economic boost, artisan funding.
• Cultural pride – fostering pride, community recognition, tradition revival.

General

• Sustainable tourism – eco-friendly tourism, responsible travel practices.
• Heritage sites – cultural landmarks, sacred locations, historical attractions.
• Fragile ecosystems – vulnerable environments, sensitive landscapes.