What is the impact of

tourism on the economy?

Breslavets Sofia
In our time, tourism is a powerful global industry. For its rapid growth,
it is recognized as the economic phenomenon of the century. In many
countries, tourism plays a significant role in the formation of GDP, the
creation of additional jobs, and employment. Tourism has a huge
impact on such key sectors of the economy as transport,
communications, construction, agriculture, that is, it acts as a kind of
catalyst for socio-economic development.
Export of tourism, and in general, the development of tourism gives certain positive
effects:

• import of foreign currency;

• development of the economy and creation of new jobs;

• a general increase in the quality standards of goods and services (due to higher
requirements for tourists, especially foreign ones).

Another effect of international tourism is the opportunity for citizens of the country to
communicate with foreigners, expand their horizons and develop culture. However, this
effect is especially great with outbound tourism.
On the other hand, there are also serious negative consequences of tourism
development:

• imports of inflation, i.e. higher prices due to the higher solvency of foreigners;

• environmental damage, which has two different aspects: damage to nature (here the
more dangerous are not foreign tourists, usually more cultured in this respect, but
domestic) and the destruction of the cultural environment (more likely associated with
foreigners). The latter includes the forgetting of national traditions, and the change in
many moral norms, as well as, inevitably, criminalization.

In general, despite all the problems, the socio-economic importance of tourism can be
considered positive. This is why both the state and regional bodies usually help attract
tourists.
 Conclusion

Tourism has an impact on the development of the

national economy of developing countries, is the most
important means of providing employment, increasing
incomes and living standards of the population,
contributes to solving social problems (raising the level of
education, health care, informatization).