Onemightexpectthattheever­growingdemandsofthetouristtradewouldbringnothingbutgoodforthecountriesthatreceivetheholiday­makers.Indeedarosypictureispaintedforthelong­termfutureoftheholidayindustry.Everymonthseesthebuildingofanewhotelsomewhere.Andeverymonthanotherrock­boundPacificislandisadvertisedasthe‘lastparadise(天堂)onearth’．

Howeverthescaleandspeedofthisgrowthseemsettodestroytheverythingstouristswanttoenjoy.Inthosecountrieswheretherewasarushtomakequickmoneyoutofsea­sideholidaysover­crowdedbeachesandtheconcretejunglesofendlesshotelshavebeguntolosetheirappeal.

Thosecountrieswithlittleexperienceoftourismcansuffermost.InrecentyearsNepalsetouttoattractforeignvisitorstofunddevelopmentsinhealthandeducation.Itsforestsfullofwildlifeandrareflowerswereofferedtotouristsasonemoreuntouchedparadise.Infactthenaturealltoosoonfelttheeffectsofthousandsofholiday­makerstravelingthroughtheforestland.Ancienttracksbecamemajorroutesforthewalkerswiththeconsequentexploitationofprecioustreesandplants.

Notonlycantheenvironmentofacountrysufferfromthesuddengrowthoftourism.Thepeopleaswellrapidlyfeelitseffects.Farmlandmakeswayforhotelsroadsandairports;theoldwayoflifegoes.Theone­timefarmerisnowtheservantofsomemulti­nationalorganization;heisnolongerhisownmaster.Onceitwashisbackthatborethepain;nowitishissmilethatisexploited.Nodoubthewonderswhetherhewasn'thappierinhisvillageworkinghisownland.

Thankfullythetouristindustryiswakinguptotheresponsibilitiesithastowardsthosecountriesthatreceiveitscustomers.Theprotectionofwildlifeandthecreationofnationalparksgohandinhandwithtouristdevelopmentandinfactobtainfinancialsupportfromtouristcompanies.Atthesametimetouristsarebeingencouragedtorespectnotonlythecountrysidetheyvisitbutalsoitspeople.

Thewaytourismishandledinthenexttenyearswilldecideitsfateandthatofthecountriesweallwanttovisit.Theirneedsandproblemsaremoreimportantthanthoseofthetouristcompanies.Increasedunderstandinginplanni