Tasks: Tourism in English-Speaking Countries

1. Do you think it possible for all countries to make money from tourism?

2. What tourist destinations can you name in the United States, the UK, India, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa? Have you ever visited any of these destinations, or do you plan to visit any of them in the future?

3. Countries have different cultures, religions, and social mores. If a country wants to earn money from tourism, should they adapt to suit their visitors?

4. If you take a charter holiday to Greece or Spain, you can find Scandinavian enclaves – places were Scandinavian food is served in restaurants, where you can buy Scandinavian newspapers, watch Scandinavian sports on TV and so on. Is it appropriate for Scandinavian tourists to expect this kind of service? Should Norway offer the same to German, Dutch, or Chinese tourists who visit our country?

Work in pairs or groups of four. Choose two countries. Find out:

• How much does the country earn from tourism in a year?

• What are the country's main tourist destinations?

• What food and drinks should tourists try when visiting the country?

• What would a two-week holiday for two people cost if you are travelling from where you are now? (Choose the mode of travel, accommodation, food, and activities that you would enjoy if visiting the country.)

Compare your two countries and discuss which country you would rather visit. Give reasons for your choice. (You have to choose one, even if you would like to visit both.)

Present your research before the class or make a presentation with an audio recording that you can share with your classmates.

Choose a tourist destination in the United States, the UK, India, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. Make an advertisement for the destination.

Think about:

• Who do you want to attract? (E.g. young backpackers or rich yacht tourists?)

• What is it about the destination that will appeal most to your chosen target audience?

• Where do you imagine the advertisement will be published? (E.g. in a travel magazine, internet ad, wall poster.)

• What devices should you use to get the attention of your target audience? (E.g. A clever wordplay headline, a striking photo, a text that appeals to their dreams.)

Tip:

If you are making an ad that will be published outside the classroom, it is important that you are allowed to use the photo/illustration that you have chosen. If you use someone else's work without licence, it can get very expensive. Online, you may find photos that are in the public domain or that have a creative commons licence that allows you to use them for free. Make sure you read the terms for such licences carefully.

Here, we link to three sites where you can find creative commons and public domain pictures. Note, that the websites have different kinds of licences, so read the information carefully. (If a photo has copyright, you cannot use it for free.)

• Link to creativecommons.org

• Link to Wikimedia Commons

• Link to Flickr

Overtourism has become a problem at many famous tourist destinations.

Choose one of the the tourist destinations listed here (or another destinations harmed by overtourism).

Write a text where you explain why overtourism is a problem at the tourist destination you have chosen and discuss what the future of the tourist destination should be. Should people still be allowed to visit? Should special measures be implemented?

• Stonehenge (UK)

• Yellowstone National Park (USA)

• Mount Everest (Nepal and Tibet)

• The Great Wall of China (China)

• Kyoto (Japan)

• Dubrovnik (Croatia)

• The Spanish Steps (Italy)

• Machu Picchu (Peru)

• Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

• The Great Pyramid of Giza (Egypt)

In the 17th and 18th Century it was common for young men of the British upper classes to take the Grand Tour. This was a journey through Europe to see sites of cultural and historical significance. The trip was intended to 'round off' their education, and it was an opportunity to see the world before settling down and getting married. In the 19th century the inventions of the Industrial Revolution made travel cheaper and members of the middle class began to travel to take the Grand Tour. As a consequence of this, the Grand Tour fell out of fashion with the rich.

Gap Years first became popular in the USA in the 1960s, when a generation of young people wanted to promote peace and prevent war by visiting, exploring, and understanding other cultures. Over time, a gap year industry developed. People who take gap years today, travel the world to explore different cultures, have new experiences, and discover their passions. In essence, a gap year is an opportunity for individual growth.

• Find out more about the Grand Tour and compare it with taking a gap year: what similarities and differences do you find?