How to Revise Global Tourism — WJEC-CBAC A-Level Travel & Tourism
Analyse the impact of major global events on tourism. Evaluate the role of mega-events in destination promotion. Discuss the long-term legacy of events
Examiner Tips for Global Tourism
- Always structure answers to compare and contrast, especially when discussing legacy.
- Use specific data and examples from at least two contrasting global events.
- For higher marks, critically evaluate the sustainability of event-led tourism strategies.
- Reference key concepts like 'hallmark event', 'destination branding', and 'trickle-down effect'.
- In essay questions, structure your evaluation by presenting both strengths and weaknesses of certification, using specific examples like the Green Key or EarthCheck, and always relate back to the learning objectives.
- For coursework, include primary research or case studies where tourists, operators, or communities discuss ethical dilemmas, as this demonstrates higher-order analytical skills.
- When defining ethical tourism, avoid generic phrases; instead, use academic terminology like 'pro-poor tourism', 'commodification of culture', and 'biodiversity offsetting' to show depth.
- In exams, read questions carefully: if asked to 'evaluate the role of codes of conduct', do not just describe them—weigh their impact against other voluntary or legislative measures, noting challenges of implementation in different cultural contexts.
Common Mistakes in Global Tourism
- Failing to distinguish between short-term and long-term impacts.
- Over-generalising from one case study without considering contextual factors.
- Confusing correlation with causation when linking events to tourism growth.
- Ignoring the role of displacement and substitution effects in impact analysis.
- Confusing ethical tourism with sustainable tourism, failing to recognise that ethical tourism specifically emphasises moral obligations and human rights, whereas sustainable tourism is broader and includes environmental management.
- Providing superficial analysis of ethical issues, such as merely stating that animal tourism is 'bad' without exploring the complexity of conservation efforts versus exploitation.
Key Marking Points
- Award credit for demonstrating clear understanding of the multiplier effect in relation to event tourism spending.
- Credit should be given for using relevant case studies (e.g., Olympics, World Cup) to illustrate points.
- Look for balanced evaluation of both positive and negative legacies, supported by evidence.