Facts and figures
Introduction
Introduction - Facts and figures
Do you know how many people take an international holiday every year? And do you know what that number will be in a few years’ time? In this section, we read an introduction to a report about tourism and you’ll read about these figures. But first, let’s find out – what’s the difference is between a tourist and a traveller!
This first section contains 7 steps. Work them through step by step.
| Step |
Activity |
| 1 Speaking |
Tick the points about tourism. List with differences between tourist and traveller. |
| 2 Reading |
Read an article for fun. |
| 3 Reading |
Read article and true/false sentences about Annual Report of Word Tourism Association. Make notes, compare ideas. |
| 4 Words |
Match adjectives with meaning. Exercises with adjectives. |
| 5 Reading |
Match statements, read article and put topics in order. |
| 6 Grammar |
Past Simple: Grammar Desk, exercises with regular and irregular verbs. |
| 7 Task |
Write in 250 words about a disastrous holiday. |
Step 1 - Speaking
Speaking
What do you think ’tourism’ is? What does it include? What does it not include?
Write down the points that you think make a tourist.
- You must be in a different country to your own.
- You must be on your own.
- You have to see something ‘famous’.
- A tourist is not the same as a traveller. If no, what is the difference?
- Tourism is a big industry.
- Tourism is the same as being on holiday.
Point 4 asked about being a tourist or a traveller. What do you think are the differences?
Make a list and then compare with the fun article in Step 2 Reading (Signs you're a traveller, not a tourist). What points did you have in common?
Can you add any more of your own?
Step 2 - Reading
Reading 1
You are going to read the following text, entitled: 'Signs you're A Traveller, Not A Tourist'.
It may seem like splitting hairs, but there are major differences between being a traveller and being a tourist.
Being a traveller is sort of like being a part of a Newtonian law: A traveller in motion stays in motion, yada yada yada.
While being a tourist is sort of like intentionally plopping yourself down somewhere to say you went there. Fancy yourself a traveller? See if the below rings true first.
You dream about your next trip during your morning commute. Solo travel is your thing. You wouldn't be caught dead doing this. Like
EVER. You love it so much; you made it your job.
Homesickness happens, we know. But you don't make it a point to head to the nearest McDonald's / Starbucks / Pizza Hut every chance you get.
You understand that not all money looks like American dollars. As such, you don't refer to foreign currency as "play money." It's real. Very real.
You have maps stashed on your walls / in your wallet / underwear drawer from favorite places.
Your Facebook cover photo is a destination you love / just got back from. Your phone has the weather and time zone of your favorite spots just because you like to know.
You know how to say "hello / goodbye and thank you" in many a language. You name cities by airport
codes, aka CDG, LHR, ORD. Your passport is your favorite personal item. Instagram shots of your
friend's vacations on Mexican beaches just isn't really traveling, in your book.
You rationalize trips as "well, that's a month's worth of electricity" or "I can't watch 'Homeland' this season"
so you can afford your adventures. Your New Year's resolutions always include places you want to visit
in the coming year.
Friends come to you for packing tips. You've never gone anywhere “just to check it off the list.” You know
how to get through security in the least amount of time.
This is you: a traveller.
NOT a tourist!
Source:
www.huffingtonpost.com
Reading the text is for pleasure, but it will probably help you
(with the next Steps).
Enjoy!
Step 3 - Reading
World Tourism Association Annual Report
You are going to read the Introduction to the World Tourism Association Annual Report 2014.
The top headlines of 2014 painted a challenging landscape. From sluggish economic growth and geopolitical conflicts to the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa – to all appearances, such circumstances were hardly favourable for tourism.
Yet in spite of the many challenges the world faced in 2014, international tourism continued to propel ahead.
At the year´s close, the number of tourists travelling internationally grew by 4.4%, reaching a new milestone of 1,135 million, and capping a five-year consecutive increase since the global economic crisis of 2009.
Once again, these results have surpassed UNWTO´s long-term projection of 3.8% growth for the period 2010 to 2020, well on track to reach the projected 1.8 billion international tourists by the year 2030.
With over 1.1 billion tourists taking an international trip every year, tourism continues to be an unstoppable force and a key driver of the global economic recovery.
Yet tourism´s record growth is not merely absolute numbers. Tourism´s continued progress and expansion represents an effective solution for many of the world´s greatest challenges.
Indeed, few sectors are as strategically positioned as tourism to contribute decisively to job creation, poverty alleviation, environmental protection and multicultural peace and understanding.
Tourism´s increasing relevance on the development agenda comes at a critical turning point as we shift
from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the
new blueprint for global development.
During this crucial time, sustainable tourism will be counted on to fulfil its role as an important player in
achieving the ambitious goals of sustainable development, green growth and a more resilient global
economy.
Global challenges call for global solutions. Our commitment remains in advancing UNWTO´s mandate to
promote tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability
and a global solution for a better future for the planet and its people.
Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General
Source: World Tourism Association (UNWTO) Annual Report 2014
Read the sentences and decide if the sentences are True (T) or False (F).
Think about your answer. Take some notes.
Then compare your ideas with your partner. Do you have the same or different ideas?
- If there is a major international incident, people choose not to travel.
- Over 1 billion tourists take an international trip every year. Do you think that is true? Where do they go?
Where are they from?
- Tourism supplies other industries.
- Tourism contributes a lot of money to a country’s economy – for both developed and emerging economies.
Now read the text again and check your answers.
Step 4 - Words
Words
Look at the following words. They are all adjectives. Match the word to the meaning.
| Adjective |
Definition |
| challenging |
making something more likely to be successful |
| sluggish |
strong, especially after damage/disappointment/illness/shock |
| favourable |
relating to the whole world |
| unstoppable |
difficult, in a way that tests your ability or determination |
| effective |
moving or operating more slowly than usual |
| global |
unable to be stopped, or prevented from developing |
| resilient |
successful or achieving the results you want |
In this exercise choose the best adjective to complete the sentence.
Step 5 - Reading
Reading 3
What are some of the issues that are facing tourism? Look at the list below.
Match the statements with some current issues facing the tourism industry.
| 1 We wanted to drive through the south of the country for a couple of weeks but the cost of the petrol was so much, that we decided to just stay in one place. |
a globalisation |
| 2 So I went to South Africa – but there were lots of shops that we have here at home. Sure, we did a safari, which we don’t have but even so, I didn’t expect to find my favourite clothing store. |
b travel stress |
| 3 Whilst there are lots of checks in airports, I felt that in the hotel, anyone could come and go. There were no checks there. |
c internet |
| 4 We need to get to the airport at least three hours before the flight – there are so many people and there’s so much to do. We’ll need a holiday just after that! |
d pandemics |
| 5 The cost of the actual plane fare is reasonable but the governments want our money too. Everything is getting more expensive. |
e the elderly |
| 6 Can you believe it? Janice had her travel visa turned down! She can reapply at the end of next year. |
f politics |
| 7 As soon as Paul lands anywhere, he sends a text and checks his email. We skype most days as well. |
g taxes |
| 8 Jose doesn’t want to go travelling – he just read about that new virus. It’s really dangerous, apparently. |
h fuel prices |
| 9 Sian’s grandmother has just gone on a water skiing holiday! She’s over 60! It’s amazing, really! |
i security |
1 = ..... 2 = ..... 3 = ..... 4 = ..... 5 = ..... 6 = ..... 7 = ..... 8 = ..... 9 =
Now read the article:
Some of the Major Current Issues Confronting Tourism
Put these topics in order:
- fuel prices
- internet
- globalisation
- security
- travel stress
- pandemics
- politics
- the elderly
Step 6 - Grammar
Grammar
If you want to be able to do the assignments correctly you will need to know more about some grammar items.
Let's look at the Past Simple.
At first an exercise with regular verbs.
Fill in the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Exercise 1: Past simple regular verbs
Which statement is correct?
- The past simple is used for completed actions in the past.
- The past simple is used for actions in the present.
- The past simple is used for actions in general that take place at the time
of speaking.
Take a look at the Grammar Desk about Past Simple.
KB: Past Simple
The simple past often ends in –ed (regular verbs).
But some verbs are irregular. The simple past doesn’t end in –ed.
See the example.
- choose - chose
- go - went
- see - saw
- have - had
- do - did
- be - was
Study the added list of irregular verbs: List of irregular verbs
To create a question in Simple past we normally put DID at the beginning of the question, then add a subject
(the person or thing that does the action) followed by the base form of the verb and only then add the rest of
the sentence.
Affirmative: You spoke Spanish.
Question: Did you speak Spanish?
We don’t use DID in questions that have the verb To Be or Modal Verbs
(can, must, might, should etc.).
Affirmative: The hotel was very nice.
Question: Was the hotel nice?
In questions and negatives, we add did/didn’t + infinitive.
Complete this. Drag.
A friend of yours went to Indonesia on holiday. You ask him some questions.
Create questions with 'did' or ‘was’ with the next words in this exercise.
Use the irregular verbs.
Example: (where/go) ................ Where did you go?
Exercise 3: Did or was questions
Step 7 - Task
Task: Writing
You are going to write about a disastrous holiday that you went on.
Here are some photos that you took. Write your account in about 250 words.
Answers
B1 Facts and figures
Step 1 Speaking
Students own answers but probably:
- = No
- = No
- = No – but probably a ‘place of interest’
- = Depends (and see next step)
- = Yes – it is huge
- = Being on holiday is part of tourism
Step 3 Reading 2
- false
- true - mainly from Europe
- true
- true - about the same
Step 4 Words
| Adjective |
Definition |
| challenging |
difficult, in a way that tests your ability or determination |
| sluggish |
moving or operating more slowly than usual |
| favourable |
making something more likely to be successful |
| unstoppable |
unable to be stopped, or prevented from developing |
| effective |
successful or achieving the results you want |
| global |
relating to the whole world |
| resilient |
strong, especially after damage/disappointment/illness/shock |
Step 5 Reading 3
- = h
- = a
- = i
- = b
- = g
- = f
- = c
- = d
- = e
Topics in correct order:
c globalisation
a fuel prices
b internet
d security
h the elderly
f pandemics
g politics
e travel stress
Step 6 Grammar
Correct: a The past simple is used for completed actions in the past.
