What Are the Duties and Responsibilities of Tourism?

By Alice Nichols

Tourism is an industry that plays a vital role in the economic development of many countries. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including travel, accommodation, food and drink, entertainment, and more.

However, with great power comes great responsibility. In this article, we will discuss the duties and responsibilities of tourism.

What are the duties of tourism?

The primary duty of tourism is to promote and facilitate travel to different destinations. This involves creating awareness about various tourist attractions and encouraging people to visit them. Tourism boards and travel agencies play a crucial role in this regard by providing information about different destinations, modes of travel, and accommodation options.

Another duty of tourism is to ensure that travelers have a pleasant experience during their trip. This includes providing them with adequate facilities such as clean accommodation, transportation services, tourist guides, medical assistance if needed, and other amenities that can make their trip comfortable.

Responsibilities of Tourism:

1. Environmental Responsibility:

One crucial responsibility of tourism is to ensure that its activities do not harm the environment. Over-tourism can cause significant damage to natural resources like forests, beaches or mountains which can have long-lasting effects on local communities’ lives as well.

Tourism operators must ensure that they adopt sustainable practices in their operations such as using renewable energy sources for electricity or minimizing waste production by recycling or reducing single-use plastics.

2. Social Responsibility:

Tourism also has a social responsibility towards local communities where it operates. Tourists should be respectful towards cultural norms while visiting different places; they should dress appropriately and follow customs during religious ceremonies or traditional events.

Furthermore, tourists should also support local businesses by purchasing locally made products or eating at restaurants owned by locals instead of international chains.

3. Economic Responsibility:

Tourism contributes significantly to the economy by creating job opportunities for locals and generating revenue for governments through taxes levied on tourists’ purchases or hotel stays. Therefore, tourism has an economic responsibility to ensure that its activities benefit the local economy.

Tourism operators should work closely with local communities and provide them with training opportunities to acquire skills needed for tourism-related jobs. In addition, they should also invest in local infrastructure such as roads, airports, or public transport systems.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, tourism is an industry that has both duties and responsibilities towards society. While promoting travel and creating opportunities for economic growth, it must also ensure that its activities do not harm the environment or local communities. By adopting sustainable practices and promoting responsible tourism, we can ensure that tourism continues to provide benefits while minimizing any negative impact on the world around us.