Mass tourism is a form of tourism that involves tens of thousands of people going to the same resort often at the same time of year. It is the most popular form of tourism as it is often the cheapest way to holiday, and is often sold as a PACKAGE DEAL . A package deal is one in which all of the tourists needs are catered for by one company (such as Thomas Cook), these needs include travel/flights, activities, accommodation and sometimes food (called full board when all meals are included, half board includes 2 meals a day whilst self-catering means you cook for yourself). These types of holiday are often the opposite to sustainable tourism, extreme tourism and ecological tourism.



There are many types of mass tourism, including skiing in the mountains, sunbathing on a beach, visiting a theme park (e.g. Euro Disney near Paris) or taking a cruise. Governments and local people often support mass tourism because it generates a lot of income for local areas.





ADVANTAGES

1) Jobs are generated by tourism in many areas - in the initial construction of the resorts, in travel, in food provision and in other service related industries.

2) Local people benefit directly from employment

3) Roads, rail, facilities, electricity services etc. all need improving to accommodate the tourists - local people also benefit from these INFRASTRUCTURE developments.

4) Transport facilities are developed

5) The local tax base increases so the local government/council can invest in schools, healthcare and social services.

6) Tourists introduce new values and cultures and learn about new cultures- this causes cultural UNDERSTANDING

DISADVANTAGES

1) TNCs (Trans National Corporations) from rich countries are often involved - this can result in a lot of profits leaving the country.

2 Jobs can be seasonal - especially in beach and skiing based resorts. People can therefore find themselves out of work in the close season.

3) Tourists consume huge amounts of resources including food and water - this type of tourism is particularly UNSUSTAINABLE in this manner.

4) Tourists introduce new values and cultures - this causes cultural pollution.

5) Land is lost from farming to tourist developments.



The case study of mass tourism you have is from Jamaica



1) Try the dust bin game at the base of the page



2) Read the information opposite and complete this gap fill exercise



3) Watch the BBC video on this page - what are the impacts of mass tourism on Ibiza?



