Question
(i) Define the term leisure.
(ii) Define the term tourism.[2]
Suggest two reasons why demand for international tourist services has increased rapidly in recent decades.[4]
Explain two ways in which environmental damage from tourism has been minimized in one named city or large town.[4]
Examine the view that tourism offers a guaranteed route towards economic development for low-income countries.[10]
▶️Answer/Explanation
Markscheme
(i) Any freely chosen activity or experience that takes place in non-work time.
(ii) Travel away from home for at least one night [1 mark] usually for the purpose of leisure.
Award [1 mark] for each valid reason offered. Possible reasons include: rising incomes, increased leisure time, cheaper tourist packages generating greater demand, advertising, growth of international chains/tourist TNCs, “no-frills” airlines, more student travel, ease of internet booking raising demand, “aging” population of “sun-seekers”. There may be other valid reasons.
In each case award another [1 mark] for development or exemplification of the growth of international demand, for example, one which explains incomes are rising in post-industrial MEDCs, or new emerging middle-class in India/China.
Answer is context-specific but award [1 mark] for each action described and [1 mark] for each link established with environmental protection, for example, reduced vehicle emissions, reduced noise pollution, pedestrianized areas, provision of bicycles for tourists, waste disposal strategies, control of effluent from coastal towns, usage zoning.
In Oxford [1 mark] increased traffic congestion resulting from tourism has been reduced by traffic management strategies [1 mark].
Damage limitation should be specific to the chosen town/city (do not credit “reduced carbon footprint”, etc). Award no more than [3 marks] if case study not given.
Answer invites debate around “guaranteed”, in addition to recognizing that there are positives and negatives in any case, which in itself makes the statement controversial.
Economic benefits can be discussed for individuals working in the tourist industry or for national income. Expect details of multiplier effects, foreign earnings. This must be balanced against financial losses (leakage of profits from foreign-owned ventures). Good answers should recognize that tourism is not a one-size-fits-all development strategy: it may not be the best strategy in some cases (and parallel strategies might exist).
For band D, there should be an understanding of how tourism may lead to economic development, and an awareness of the limitations of tourism to economic development.
At band E the general truth of the statement should be explored, using exemplification.
At band F there should be a balanced evaluation.
Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.
Question
Briefly describe what is meant by:
(i) heritage tourism;
(ii) ecotourism.[4]
Explain three political factors that affect participation and success in international sport.[6]
“The benefits of hosting an international sporting event always outweigh the costs.” Discuss this statement, using appropriate examples.[10]
▶️Answer/Explanation
Markscheme
(i) Heritage tourism is tourism based on a historic legacy [1] (landscape feature, historic building or event) as its major attraction [1].
[1] may alternatively be awarded for naming a valid example such as the Taj Mahal or Machu Picchu.
(ii) Ecotourism is tourism focusing on the natural environment [1] and respecting local communities [1].
[1] may alternatively be awarded for naming a valid example such as Monteverde cloud forest in Costa Rica.
Award [1] for each factor identified, and [1] for further development or exemplification.
For example:
- Government spending on specific/internationally-orientated sport facilities such as swimming pools and stadiums [1] thereby increasing chance of success in Olympic Games [1].
- The government’s hosting of an international sporting event, such as the Olympics [1], has promoted national pride and encouraged people to participate more widely in sport [1].
- The government’s role promoting sport in education, eg in national curricula, to promote sport in schools and colleges [1] enables elite athletes to reach global potential [1].
- Political initiatives to promote sport/government advertising [1] with emphasis on “world-beating” potential [1].
- Government support in the hosting of an international sporting event.
- Political isolation of North Korea or other countries [1] so North Korea underrepresented in many global competitions [1].
- Specific political values may encourage or deter participation [1] eg Islamic states’ attitudes to female participation or Soviet-era gymnastics, etc [1].
Credit other valid political factors.
Likely benefits and costs might include issues arising from:
- building infrastructure – stadiums, accommodation, and transport facilities
- international reputation
- impacts on the economy of the host country
- regeneration of urban areas
- sporting legacy
- encouragement of participation in sporting activities.
Good answers are likely to provide a structured discussion of different kinds of costs/benefits. Another approach would be to discuss how perspectives may differ on what constitutes a benefit (or cost). Another approach would be to choose examples which allow a discussion of whether the veracity of the statement is place-specific (may provide contrasts for countries at different levels of development, for instance).
For band D, expect some description of some costs and benefits for one or two international sporting events.
At band E, expect either more detailed explanation of costs and benefits for one or more events (do not expect balance) or a structured discussion (may discuss the cost-benefit balance for different groups of people in different kinds of place).
At band F expect both of these elements.
Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.
Examiners report
The definitions were often incomplete, especially “ecotourism”, which should refer to local communities. Heritage tourism was often poorly defined: it refers to history and not to culture. Exemplification or development was needed for the second mark in each case.
Each political factor needed to be developed/exemplified in order to gain full marks. Many answers included economic factors rather than political ones, or the answer did not focus on “participation and success in international sport”.
Stronger candidates gave good detailed answers using London Olympics, Sochi Winter Olympics, Rio World Cup and others. Some examples were not so current, such as Atlanta and Munich Olympics. Weaker candidates presented answers that tended to be descriptive and did not focus enough on the costs and the benefits in discussing the statement.
Question
Define the term tourism.[2]
State two possible reasons why not all international arrivals can be classified as tourists.[2]
Explain two strategies designed to manage the environmental damage caused by tourism in one named large town or city.[6]
Discuss the view that the economic benefits of tourism in one country you have studied outweigh its negative social and environmental impacts.[10]
▶️Answer/Explanation
Markscheme
Tourism involves travel away from home for at least one night [1] for the purpose of leisure [1].
Award [1] for any of the following, up to [2]:
- transit / short-term passengers, not staying at least one night
- refugees / asylum seekers
- business people
- long-term voluntary migrants (joining family/work reasons)
- research scientists
- returning residents.
Award [1] for each strategy/problem/solution, and [2] for development of how it reduces/manages environmental damage.
Possible strategies include:
- reduced vehicle emissions
- reduced noise pollution
- waste management
- control of effluent disposal into the sea.
For example: Limiting the number of tourists is one way to reduce litter problems in Venice [1]. This has been done by limiting the number of hotel beds available [1] and restricting the number/capacity of visiting cruise ships [1].
Award a maximum of [3] if there is no named town or city, or if the example is inappropriate, eg a rural location.
Answers should consider a variety of economic benefits and social/environmental impacts of tourism in a specific country.
Economic benefits might include improved employment opportunities, growth of local industry, improvements in infrastructure, increased GDP and incomes, increased standards of living.
Negative social and environmental impacts might include increases in crimerates, increasing social inequality, increases in pollution and land degradation, excessive use of groundwater supplies.
Good answers may provide a structured discussion of the different kinds of economic benefits and social/environmental costs of tourism in a particular country, and some evaluation of their relative importance.
Award a maximum of band C if the answer refers to a city (eg Venice) rather than a country.
At band D, expect some description of the economic benefits and social/environmental costs in a particular country.
At band E, expect either a more detailed explanation of the benefits and costs of tourism or some discussion of their relative overall importance in a particular country.
At band F, expect both.
Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 2 HL and SL markbands.