These days it is much easier for many people travel to another country for tourism than in the past. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

1International tourism is growing in popularity; this growing trend sparks a fierce debate regarding its overall effect. Although international tourism adversely affects the environment, these detrimental effects are outweighed by the benefits to tourists and 2the local economy,local economy, provided that effective 3measuresmeasure are taken.

International tourism broadens tourists' 4mindsmind. In the past, people could only stay in their own country, which meant they were more likely to have insufficient knowledge about other countries. However, traveling to other countries enables them to understand and accept others' 5beliefsbelief and customs or simply to appreciate the beautiful landscape in other countries. For example, when tourists taste sushi 6firsthandthemselves in Japan, they can have a better understanding of 7Japanesetheir food culture; 8when tourists explorewhen visitors visit New Zealand, they will be amazed by its natural beauty.

In addition, international tourism contributes 9to the local economy.to local economy.

11Tourists' daily demand for various services (e.g., accommodation, dining, and transportation), creates employment opportunities. Positions such as hotel staff, cooks, and tour guides are created to address these needs. A case in point is the 12cityCity tourism in Tokyo: it allows many local people to 13provide services in restaurantsprovide service at restaurant as waiters, to sell products as shop 14assistantsassistant, and to work as translators.

However, this boom can have an adverse effect on the environment.

Tourists' daily activities produce a large amount of waste; when not properly treated, the waste 16causes damage togives rise to damage to local environment and local biodiversity. A case in point is Thailand, where plastic bottles and bags left by visitors polluted 17famous local islandsthe local famous island.

In conclusion, although international tourism inevitably has an adverse effect 18on the environment,on environment, governments usually 19take proactive stepsact positively to mitigate the problems due to the benefits to tourists 20and the local economy.and local economy. The status quo should be maintained, in which international tourism continues to boom.