Tourism can be a positive force for change in poor countries, it can also be seriously damaging for the local environment and culture.
Increase in mass tourism that is not controlled responsibly can ruin areas of natural beauty. Tourism can damage coral reefs, pollute Himalayan,beaches and destroy the habitats of wildlife as roads and hotels are built. Ironically, damage to these natural resources is likely to reduce future numbers of visitors. Another negative effect is that the increasing numbers of aeroplane flights are a major cause of global warming.
Tourism can have an adverse effect on local culture, traditions and the way of life. Large numbers of tourists can undermine traditional beliefs, values and customs and in particular risk commercialising the culture that they find so interesting. And where these tourists are insensitive to local traditions their behaviour can cause great offence.