TourismAdvantages–Disadvantages
IELTS Essay: Do the Benefits of International Tourism Outweigh the Drawbacks? (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
International tourism has grown to become one of the world’s largest industries. Do the benefits of international tourism outweigh the drawbacks?
How to approach a Advantages–Disadvantages question
For an advantages/disadvantages question, first check exactly what is asked: 'discuss the advantages and disadvantages' wants a balanced account, whereas 'do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?' demands a clear verdict. If a verdict is required, state it in the introduction and return to it in the conclusion — listing pros and cons without deciding is a Task Response failure.
The plan
- 01Introduction: paraphrase the question (international tourism is now one of the world's largest industries), state a clear position that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and preview the two main benefits (economic and cultural).
- 02Body 1 (benefits): economic advantages such as foreign income, jobs and infrastructure, especially for developing nations, then extend the point by showing how prosperity spreads beyond the capital to smaller regions.
- 03Body 2 (cultural benefit plus drawbacks): cultural exchange breaks down stereotypes; then concede the real drawbacks (environmental strain, higher local prices, commercialised traditions) and rebut them by arguing they stem from poor management and are answered by sustainable practices.
- 04Conclusion: restate the verdict clearly, that the advantages decisively outweigh the costs provided tourism is managed responsibly.
Band 9 model answer
Few sectors have expanded as swiftly as international tourism, which now sustains entire economies and brings distant cultures into daily contact. Although this boom carries real environmental and social costs, I would argue that its economic and cultural benefits comfortably outweigh these drawbacks.
The clearest advantage is economic. Tourism generates foreign currency, funds public infrastructure, and creates employment on a scale few other industries can match, particularly in developing nations where alternative livelihoods are scarce. A thriving visitor economy sustains not only hotels and airlines but also local artisans and farmers, spreading prosperity well beyond the capital and cushioning regions that would otherwise stagnate.
Equally significant is tourism's capacity to foster mutual understanding. When millions of travellers experience unfamiliar customs at first hand, the crude stereotypes that so often breed suspicion between nations begin to dissolve. This cultural exchange flows both ways, encouraging host communities to take renewed pride in traditions that visitors travel great distances to witness. Such goodwill, though hard to quantify, is a genuine dividend in an increasingly interconnected world.
Critics rightly counter that mass tourism can strain fragile ecosystems, inflate local prices, and reduce cherished traditions to commercial spectacle. These concerns are legitimate, yet they stem largely from poor management rather than from tourism itself. Sustainable practices, visitor caps, and reinvestment of tourist revenue into conservation increasingly allow destinations to reap the rewards while containing the damage.
In conclusion, although international tourism undeniably places pressure on the environment and on host communities, the economic lifeline it provides and the cross-cultural bonds it forges are, to my mind, the greater prize. Managed responsibly, its advantages decisively outweigh its costs.
The same question at Band 6.5
Nowadays, international tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world. Many people travel to different countries every year. In my opinion, the benefits of international tourism are more than the drawbacks because it is good for the economy and it helps people to learn about other cultures.
Firstly, tourism is very good for the economy of a country. When tourists come, they spend a lot of money on hotels, food and shopping. This money helps the local business and also creates many jobs for the people. For example, many people work in hotels and restaurants because of tourism. This is very important for poor countries because they can earn money and develop. The government can also get more tax from the tourism industry.
Secondly, tourism helps people to understand different cultures. When people visit other countries, they can see new traditions and try new food. Also, they can make new friends from other countries. However, there are some drawbacks too. Sometimes tourism can create pollution and make big problem for the environment. In addition, the prices of things can become high for local people. This is a big problem in some famous cities where there are too many tourists.
In conclusion, I think the benefits of international tourism are more than the drawbacks. It is good for the economy and it helps people to know about other cultures. So governments should support tourism but they must also protect the environment.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Takes an unambiguous position ('comfortably outweigh these drawbacks'), weighs both sides, and develops each idea with a consequence (economic gains 'spreading prosperity well beyond the capital'; cultural contact making stereotypes 'begin to dissolve'). Crucially it concedes the drawbacks and rebuts them ('they stem largely from poor management rather than from tourism itself'). | Answers the question and gives a clear opinion ('the benefits... are more than the drawbacks'), but ideas are stated rather than developed. Points such as 'tourism is very good for the economy' are asserted and backed only by a generic example ('many people work in hotels and restaurants'); the drawbacks get one line each ('make big problem for the environment') with no exploration or response. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Cohesion is unobtrusive and meaning-driven: 'Equally significant is...', 'Critics rightly counter that...', 'These concerns are legitimate, yet...'. Each paragraph carries one central idea that builds on the last, and reference words link sentences without signposting. | Organisation is clear but formulaic, leaning on mechanical front-loaded linkers 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Also', 'However', 'In addition', 'In conclusion'. Sentences inside paragraphs are simply added together ('and also creates many jobs', 'This is very important'), so the writing lists rather than flows. |
| Lexical Resource | Precise, natural topic collocation: 'foreign currency', 'fragile ecosystems', 'commercial spectacle', 'sustainable practices', 'reap the rewards', 'cross-cultural bonds'. Word choice is varied and idiomatic throughout. | Repetitive high-frequency vocabulary: the phrase 'good for the economy' recurs three times and 'big problem' twice, alongside 'very good', 'a lot of money' and 'important'. The writer reaches for the simplest option every time ('spend a lot of money', 'make new friends') and never varies register. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | A wide range of complex structures used accurately: participle clauses ('spreading prosperity well beyond the capital', 'cushioning regions that would otherwise stagnate'), a fronted participle ('Managed responsibly, its advantages decisively outweigh its costs'), and layered relative clauses such as 'traditions that visitors travel great distances to witness'. Punctuation and control are consistently secure. | Mostly simple and compound sentences joined with 'and', 'but' and 'because', with little subordination. Minor slips surface within these safe structures: 'helps the local business' (should be 'businesses') and 'make big problem' (missing 'a'). The errors are noticeable but never block understanding. |
Examiner's note
The Band 9 answer wins on every criterion because it does more than name advantages, it weighs them. Its position is unambiguous ('comfortably outweigh'), each idea is extended with a consequence, and the drawbacks are conceded and then rebutted ('stem largely from poor management'). Cohesion is carried by meaning rather than labels, the vocabulary is precise and idiomatic ('reap the rewards', 'fragile ecosystems'), and complex structures such as 'Managed responsibly, its advantages decisively outweigh its costs' are handled with ease. The Band 6.5 answer is competent and on-topic, with a clear opinion and logical paragraphs, but its ceiling is development and range: ideas are asserted rather than explored, the linkers are mechanical ('Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Also'), the vocabulary repeats high-frequency words ('good for the economy', 'big problem'), and small slips like 'make big problem' and 'helps the local business' appear because the writer stays inside safe, simple structures. It communicates clearly but never shows the flexibility that separates a 6.5 from an 8 or 9.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| to sustain entire economies | to keep whole economies running by providing their income |
| foreign currency | money from other countries, earned here from overseas visitors |
| to cushion (a region) | to soften a hardship and protect a place from economic decline |
| to foster mutual understanding | to help two different groups understand each other |
| fragile ecosystems | delicate natural environments that are easily damaged |
| commercial spectacle | something turned into a show purely to make money |
| sustainable practices | methods that can continue long-term without harming the environment |
| to reap the rewards | to enjoy the benefits that come from an effort or investment |
| cross-cultural bonds | friendly connections between people from different cultures |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to choose a side in a 'do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks' essay?
Yes. This is not a neutral 'discuss' task, it asks for a judgement. State clearly in your introduction whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks (or the reverse) and confirm the same verdict in your conclusion. A fence-sitting answer that never decides is penalised under Task Response. You still cover both sides, but one must be presented as the stronger.
How is an 'outweigh' question different from a plain 'advantages and disadvantages' question?
A plain 'discuss the advantages and disadvantages' question asks you to present both sides fairly and may not demand an opinion. An 'outweigh' question adds a weighing instruction: you must decide which side is greater. Always read the exact wording, because if it says 'outweigh' a clear final verdict is compulsory, not optional.
How many benefits and drawbacks should I include for a tourism essay?
Depth beats breadth. Two well-developed benefits plus one or two drawbacks with a response will score higher than a long list of undeveloped points. For tourism, strong ideas include economic growth and jobs and cultural exchange, set against environmental damage and rising local costs. Pick a few and extend each with a reason and a consequence rather than naming many.