Tourism in a LEDC : advantages and disadvantages
Tourism in a LEDC can have different problems associated with it. Tourism is often seen by governments
in LEDCs as a vital source of income which can be used for development.
Countries that are rich in physical resources - such as warm climates, beautiful beaches and scenery, rare
ecosystems, and abundant plant and animal life - are often sought-after holiday destinations by people
from MEDCs. Holiday tour operators and business developers invest in these locations, hoping they will
become as popular as European resorts.
Tourism: pros and cons
Places such as Kenya in East Africa, where tourists go on safari or Bali in Indonesia, which people visit for
the beautiful beaches, all benefit financially from tourism. However, tourism in LEDCs needs to be
carefully managed to prevent harm to the environment or local communities. The advantages and
disadvantages that might effect an LEDC are shown below.
Advantages
Problems
Foreign currency brought to the region by tourists
Profits go to foreign companies, such as tour
can be invested improving local education, health and operators and hotel chains, rather than to the local
other services.
community.
Jobs for local people are created from tourism
Foreign companies may bring foreign workers to do
giving people the chance to learn new skills in tourism the skilled jobs, so local people only do low-skilled,
services.
poorly-paid work.
Construction of new houses and business premises
creates jobs and develops skills for local people.
House prices are pushed up when foreign companies
and investors buy property for hotels and holiday
homes. This often makes houses too expensive for
locals.
Local infrastructure is improved as water and
sanitation facilities, roads, buses, taxis and airports
are provided for tourists.
Important projects for local communities might be
side-lined as infrastructure developments are more
focussed on tourists.
Visitors will get an insight into local customs and
traditions that don't exist in Western countries.
If the aim of activities is to entertain, rather than
educate tourists, this may belittle or humiliate the
local people.
Tourists can see beautiful landscapes, interesting
Pollution and disruption to wildlife habitats and
wildlife and plants and be educated to the dangers to wildlife behaviour could occur if there are too many
fragile ecosystems in the modern world.
tourists.
Tourism in the Serengeti
Tourism brings income to the Kenyan people and gives tourists a greater understanding of the biome and
its animals and plants. The Serengeti is especially popular for safari holidays which give tourists a chance
to observe the annual migration of the wildebeest and zebra.
But tourism can also have negative impacts on the area. These need to be managed carefully to ensure
that the natural environment isn't damaged for future generations.
Positive impacts of tourism
Conservation. Tourism has supplied the economic incentive to set up national parks and conservation
areas, in order to protect the wildlife which the tourists come to see.
Employment. Tourism has generated jobs, and therefore improved living standards for local communities.
Infrastructure. This has improved as roads, airports and other facilities for tourists have been built.
Investment. Profits from tourism may be invested in education and other programmes for local
communities.
Negative impacts of tourism
Environmental damage . Roads and tracks for safari jeeps can erode grass cover, damaging plant and
animals species and disturbing local habitats. The removal of vegetation for the construction of roads can
lead to increased soil erosion.
Inequality . Often those who benefit most from the profits of tourism are not local people but wealthy
landowners or the hotel and travel companies in MEDCs.
Loss of traditional cultures. For example, the disruption to the Masai's way of life and traditional
farming methods as a result of the setting up of the Serengeti National Park.
Land clearance. Cutting down trees provides timber for safari lodges and fuel for cooking - but also
leads to ecosystem damage through soil erosion.
Water cycle damage. Diverting water for tourists can leave local aquifer and water reserves exploited leaving local people, plants and animals short of water. Tourist hotels are sometimes responsible for water
pollution as a result of waste dumping into rivers.
Conservation is the key to protecting the Serengeti for future generations. To achieve a sustainable
future in the Serengeti, the following policies need to be adopted.






Local people to be employed by investors;
Respect for culture and customs for local people;
Local people receive some financial gain from tourism;
Social facilities to be improved;
Better protection of the environment.
Improved conservation education programmes for local communities and farmers.