Tourism — Good or Bad?
Lesson 6.4 builds the Task 2 advantages / disadvantages essay, with a balanced conclusion suited to Band 6.5–7.0 candidates.
- Plan a 4-paragraph adv/disadv essay in 5 minutes
- Use balanced linkers ('on the one hand', 'while')
- Reach a clear, justified conclusion
Listening Skills — Debating Tourism's Value
You will hear part of a panel discussion, recorded at a university, weighing the costs and benefits of mass tourism.
- Predict that some statements will match the speakers' views exactly, some will contradict them, and some information may simply not be mentioned.
- Listen for contrast markers like 'however' or 'on the other hand'.
- Note which speaker holds which view — they may disagree.
- Beware of distractors: a statement may sound plausible but never actually be said.
Listen first — the transcript stays hidden so this works like the real exam.
Listening audio
Tap play to generate and listen.
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the discussion? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.
- Professor Lin believes many tourism jobs are seasonal and poorly paid.
- Costa Rica protects less than twenty percent of its national territory through ecotourism funding.
- Professor Lin has personally visited Barcelona.
- Dr Alvarez considers overcrowding to be an unavoidable result of tourism itself.
- The two speakers reach the same final conclusion about the overall value of tourism.
- The moderator plans to invite questions from the audience.
Answer key
Today's Task 2 prompt
Tourism brings clear economic benefits to many countries. However, it can also damage the environment and local cultures. Do the advantages of tourism outweigh the disadvantages?
Structure · 4-paragraph plan
Linkers · Balanced argument
- On the one hand, … On the other hand, …
- While X brings clear benefits, …
- Despite these advantages, …
- On balance, the benefits / drawbacks are more significant because …
Model · Band 6 → Band 7 conclusion
- In conclusion, tourism has both advantages and disadvantages. It is a difficult question.
- On balance, the economic gains from tourism — particularly for developing economies — clearly outweigh the environmental costs, provided that governments enforce strict planning controls.
Pathway focus · Academic register
Academic candidates should reach for impersonal phrasing: 'it can be argued that …', 'governments must …'. Avoid 'I think' in body paragraphs.
Exam Strategy
- Exam Tip
Decide your answer in the intro — examiners look for a position.
Independent Practice
Write the full 250-word response in 40 minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Adv/disadv ≠ both sides essay — you must weigh and conclude.
- On balance, … is your best conclusion opener.
- Band 7 upgrades — vocabularyTurn safe Band 6 wording into precise Band 7 wording.
- True / False / Not Given decisionsTen statements — the question type students lose most marks on.
- Trend language workoutDescribe movement precisely — verbs, adverbs and noun phrases.
Optional — this doesn't affect your lesson or course progress.