Tourism today creates a variety of problems, such as pollution due to flights, traffic congestion and water pollution. Some people think that governments should impose extra taxes on flights and accommodation to restrict today’s tourism industry. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this proposal?
Sample Response
Tourism has become a significant part of many countries' economy. However, tourism is not without its negative impacts on the environment and local culture. In my opinion, governments should impose extra taxes on flights and accommodations to restrict tourism, protect the environment and preserve the local culture.
While some may argue that imposing hefty taxes may negatively impact the economy of a country, it is essential to look at the long-term benefits. For example, countries such as the Maldives and Thailand are now facing significant environmental challenges due to the high influx of tourists, leading to pollution and degradation of natural resources. By imposing extra taxes on tourism, these countries can regulate the number of tourists, reducing the strain on the environment.
The imposition of extra taxes on flights and accommodation can also serve as a means of promoting more responsible and sustainable tourism practices. By increasing the cost of travel and accommodation, tourists may be more inclined to consider alternative transportation options or opt for eco-friendly accommodations. This can lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and a shift towards more sustainable modes of travel. Additionally, the revenue generated from these taxes can be allocated towards funding environmental conservation projects and initiatives that promote eco-tourism, ensuring the long-term preservation of natural resources and cultural heritage.
In conclusion, imposing extra taxes on flights and accommodations to restrict tourism is necessary to protect the environment and promote responsible and sustainable tourism practice. It is expected that countries consider long-term environmental issues associated with tourism and take measures to save the encironment.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use plural economies Original: economy Suggested revision: economies Why it matters: Multiple countries have multiple national economies, so the head noun should be plural.
- 2. Use uncountable accommodation Original: accommodations Suggested revision: accommodation Why it matters: In this general context, 'accommodation' is the more natural uncountable form.
- 3. Improve the collocation Original: high Suggested revision: large Why it matters: 'Large influx' is a more natural collocation for a high number of arrivals.
- 4. Make the phrase concise Original: extra taxes on tourism Suggested revision: additional tourism taxes Why it matters: The revision expresses the same idea more directly and precisely.
- 5. Reduce wordiness Original: serve as a means of promoting Suggested revision: help promote Why it matters: The shorter verb phrase preserves the meaning and improves concision.
- 6. Fix the preposition Original: allocated towards funding Suggested revision: allocated to fund Why it matters: Funds are normally allocated 'to' a purpose rather than 'towards funding' it.
- 7. Use uncountable accommodation Original: accommodations Suggested revision: accommodation Why it matters: The general category is more naturally expressed with the uncountable noun 'accommodation'.
- 8. Use concise wording Original: negative impacts Suggested revision: adverse effects Why it matters: The revision conveys the same meaning in a concise academic collocation.
- 9. Use neutral wording Original: hefty Suggested revision: high Why it matters: 'High taxes' is more neutral and precise in an academic argument.
- 10. Specify the benefit Original: long-term benefits Suggested revision: long-term environmental benefits Why it matters: The added modifier links the phrase clearly to the paragraph's environmental focus.
- 11. Improve the collocation Original: alternative transportation options Suggested revision: alternative forms of transport Why it matters: The revision is more natural and concise in formal English.
- 12. Sentence rewrite Original: It is expected that countries consider long-term environmental issues associated with tourism and take measures to save the encironment. Suggested revision: Countries should consider the long-term environmental issues associated with tourism and take measures to protect the environment. Why it matters: The rewrite corrects the faulty reporting structure, spelling error, and unnatural verb choice.
Suggested Rewrites
- economy economies
- accommodations accommodation
- high large
- extra taxes on tourism additional tourism taxes
- serve as a means of promoting help promote
- allocated towards funding allocated to fund
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response maintains a clear position and develops a persuasive case through environmental regulation, changed tourist behaviour, and purposeful use of tax revenue; its logical progression and supporting detail are especially strong. The main limitation is occasional imprecision or awkwardness in otherwise flexible language, particularly in the conclusion. Refine collocations and final-sentence phrasing, and add a little more qualification to the economic counterpoint to make the argument consistently precise.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is direct and fully developed through relevant environmental consequences, behavioural incentives, and productive uses of tax revenue.
Deepen the brief economic counterpoint by explaining why the long-term benefits outweigh the possible short-term cost.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically across well-focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices and referencing used clearly and unobtrusively.
Make the transition from the counterargument to the main justification slightly more explicit to sharpen the argumentative progression.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, precise, and appropriate for the topic, with only occasional repetition and minor awkward wording.
Refine repeated references to taxes and the environment by using precise paraphrases while avoiding unnatural concluding expressions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex sentence forms is used accurately, and the few grammatical lapses do not hinder communication.
Polish agreement and noun-form choices in phrases such as references to countries' economies and sustainable tourism practices.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Tourism today creates a variety of problems, such as pollution due to flights, traffic congestion and water pollution. Some people think that governments should impose extra taxes on flights and accommodation to restrict today’s tourism industry. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this proposal?
Your response
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