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BEST IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics, 18th November
IELTS WRITING TASK 2 (AC + GT)
IELTS WRITING TASK 2 (AC + GT)
Concern for the environment is growing rapidly and more and more people are choosing to be `eco-tourists’ — travelling in responsible, environmentally-friendly ways. As a result, the eco-tourism industry is expanding. To what extent do you think this is a positive trend?
SAMPLE ANSWER
Eco-tourism is definitely becoming more popular. More and more people are interested in travelling in a responsible way in order to help protect both the geographical areas they visit and at the same time show respect to the local inhabitants who live there. In my opinion, however, it is debatable whether this can be regarded as a wholly positive development. Because eco-tourism is so popular, many travel companies claim to be environmentally-friendly simply to attract business.
For example, some hotels claim to be `eco-lodges’ simply because they have a good view. However, they may be making no effort to conserve resources and limit waste. Wildlife safari trips are often described as `eco-tours’ even if they give nothing back to the local ecology and, instead of contributing to conservation, they may in fact cause problems to an area’s wildlife. For example, some animals and birds may be disturbed by tourists approaching them too closely.
In my opinion, just because a holiday focuses on nature that doesn’t make it eco-tourism. There are, however, some good examples of eco-tourism. For example, staying in a homestay instead of a large hotel means that the costs of your accommodation goes straight back into the community. Most homestay arrangements include meals so this means that local suppliers will benefit from your stay.
In conclusion, I think that the growth of eco-tourism is a positive trend but we need to make sure the term is fully understood by the travel companies, the local communities and the tourists themselves. Eco-tourism should minimise the negative effects of tourism and truly contribute to conservation efforts. This means co-operating with local people so that they can manage these natural areas.
