Tourism

Ecotourism, although purporting to be beneficial to the society, has greatly contributed to the collapse of many ecological systems and led to environmental degradation. The visiting of protected and conserved ecosystems by tourists, who come mostly from places too far away to understand, what the local way of life is and to appreciate the conservation effort, has triggered the debate regarding the real gain obtained out of such visits. The inability by conservationists to halt this practice and the monetary drive by a section of the society has partly been responsible for the expansion of ecotourism in spite of there being other efforts to promote environmental conservation especially in places that have been declared to be special and protected areas. This easy explores the controversial issue of ecotourism with a view to establish its impacts and relevance to the modern society.

Discussion
Doinicar and others in the article Environment Friendly Tourists what do we really know about them expresses the opinion that although ecotourism is harmful to natural habitats and destroys both fauna and flora, there can be ways that these tourists are made to be friendly to the environment. Although this might be true in a way, the common trend as presented by Lawrence in The Future of Ecotourism and the Effects on the World is that tourists have been very destructive to the environment. The fact that ecotourists only visit areas, having been conserved or being protected, presents a great challenge to the wildlife there. The natural setting provides the plants and the animals a chance to really enjoy their natural way of life. The essence of creation is originality and it is only in their natural habitat that such plants and animals can best exhibit originality. Tourists interrupt this natural order in their wild adventures.
   
They carelessly trample on plants and destroy animals. Some animals are solitary and dislike any form of intrusion, and the presence of people offends them. That aside, protected areas are usually home to the worlds most endangered plant and animal species, and the coming of ecotourists increases the risk that these species will diminish and become extinct over time. This is because ecotourists will often pick plant and animal species indiscriminately without as much as a thought of their welfare. Pollution of the ecosystems has been noted as another harmful aspect of ecotourism. These tourists come to the site with all forms of dirt, and by the time they leave, the habitat is a worse condition .
   
According to Stronza, writing in The Economic Promise of Ecotourism for conservation, although ecotourism has provided a lot in terms of economic growth coming directly from the sector of tourism, it has remained a critical matter to understand who actually benefits from such proceeds that come from ecotourism. In addition to this, considering what Fennel states in his article Ecotourism Where We Have Been, Where Were Going, eco-development must go hand in hand with an understanding and adhering to the needs of the people in the society. He adds that while most in the government have continuously lauded the great contribution that ecotourism has on the national economy the people in the community where the ecosystems are located have continued to languish in poverty. Although, there are claims of putting back into the conservation efforts the larger share of the proceeds from ecotourism, not much has been realized as far as development is concerned. There also ought to be a part of the proceeds set aside to go directly to the community and fund other development projects there.
   
Ecotourism has had far-reaching impacts on the local community. As these tourists were coming, they mingled with the local people, who were changed in the process and made to ape the lifestyles and manners of the tourists. Owing to the fact that the majority of these tourists come from very far away, it has been noted that their culture spreads among the locals who quickly forget their own lifestyles. This cultural erosion has been enhanced by the comparatively poor state of some of these local people, who have to do almost everything in order to get monetary or other gains from these tourists. This near-dependency trend has caused many cultural and ethnic values of the local people to be lost. On the contrary, the tourists, who are mostly from Western nations, are able to have their own way in all respects. They use their monetary supremacy to spread their own cultural and personal interests.
   
Ecotourism has very many negative impacts both on the people, where the ecosystems are located, and on the environment.  The ecological balance that usually exists in such areas is usually offset, when the tourists come calling. That aside, they destroy the natural habit by trampling down plant species and killing or harming animals. The fact is that although ecotourism might be responsible for a considerable contribution to the gross domestic product of such countries, the development is hardly translated into visible development projects. Instead, the local people continue to languish in poverty. The cultural erosion that results from ecotourism has been devastating communities as most of the tourists have sought to advance their own cultural interests. Poverty has driven most of the local people to become more vulnerable to these tourists, a factor that has made them to lose their own cultural values and beliefs.

Although purporting to be beneficial to the society, ecotourism has greatly contributed to the collapse of many ecological systems and led to environmental degradation. The frequent visiting of protected and conserved ecosystems by tourists most of who come from places too far away to care to understand what the local way of life is and to appreciate the conservation effort, has triggered the debate regarding the real gain obtained out of such visits. In some cases, cultural ecotourism has been advancing and impacting in negative ways on the local cultures and ways of life of the people. This essay explores the whole subject of ecotourism in order to establish its impacts on the modern society, especially on the people in the visited areas as is the case of the aboriginals who live in Australia.

Discussion
Ecotourism has impacted negatively on the environment and the communities where it takes place. As they come visiting these natural areas, the tourists carelessly trample on plants and destroy animals. Some animals are solitary and dislike any form of intrusion and the presence of people offends them. In addition, protected areas are usually home to the worlds most endangered plant and animal species, and the coming of ecotourists increases the risk that these species will diminish and become extinct over time. This is because ecotourists will often pick plant and animal species indiscriminately without caring about the damage they are causing. The polluting of ecosystems is another harmful aspect of ecotourism. Not only do the tourists litter carelessly but also fail to clean up after their visits to these areas.
   
While ecotourism has provided a lot in terms of economic growth that stems directly from the sector of tourism, it has remained a matter of concern understanding who the people that really benefits from ecotourism proceed. Development is supposed to go hand in hand with an understanding and adhering to the needs of the people in the society. A case at hand is the Aboriginal community which in spite of being the main attraction and their lifestyle being a great source of awe and who are entitled to any proceeds from tourism in their region, has continued to suffer in poverty and neglect. In fact, some tourists have visited aboriginal sites in the forest not really as a desire to appreciate their rich culture but to pour scorn on it and to ridicule the apparent backwardness of the community. Although there have been claims of using ecotourism proceeds to help improve the habitat and the local community, this has never been actually felt by the people, as the aborigines can prove.
   
Ecotourism has also had social impacts on the local community. As these eco-tourists have kept coming, they have interrupted the usual cultural way of the local people. Owing to the fact that a majority of these tourists come from cultures different from that of the locals, their culture spreads among the locals who quickly forget their own lifestyles. This cultural erosion has been enhanced by the comparatively poor state of some of these local people who have to bow too low to get financial favors from these tourists. This trend has caused the loss of many cultural and ethnic values of the local people.
   
Doinicar et al. (2009) presents the opinion that quite often than not, the tourist who spoil habitats are never in tending to do so. Writing in the article Environment Friendly Tourists what do we really know about them This author is of the opinion that while ecotourism is harmful to natural habitats and destroys both fauna and flora, there can be ways that these tourists are made to be friendly to the environment. The truth of this assertion is annulled by Lawrence (2009) in The Future of Ecotourism and the Effects on the World who insists that tourists have been very destructive to the environment. The fact that eco-tourists only visit areas that have been conserved or are protected posses a great challenge to the wildlife as well as the environment there. Natural settings provide the plants and the animals a chance to adapt to their natural settings and to enjoy their natural way of life, given that the essence of creation is originality and it is only in their natural habitat that they can best exhibit originality. Eco-tourists interrupt this natural order every time they visit the habitat.
  
The fact that ecotourism has many negative impacts both on the local people and on the environment can never be denied. As has been witnessed, eco-tourists leave their destination limn a shape that is worse off than they found it.  The ecological balance that usually exists in such areas is usually offset when tourists come. In addition to this, they destroy the natural habitat cutting and carrying away plant species and killing or harming animals. The fact remains then that while ecotourism might be responsible for a considerable contribution to the economic growth destination countries, the development is hardly translated to provide for the real needs of the people. Instead, the local people continue languishing in poverty. The erosion of cultural values that results from ecotourism has epitomized the negative impacts of ecotourism, proving that most of the tourists seek to advance their own cultural interests. Cultural tourism has played an even greater role in this cultural erosion, especially where it has been conducted in a protected forest like the case of the aborigines.

Tourism is a massive global industry today that communities and nations utilize to draw more people into their country for revenue. However, it was not until post-Second World War that tourism flourished, and governments were not even the first ones to recognize its potential as a great source of revenue  Its revenue and development potential were soon recognized and pursued in the expansionary post-war economy, first by individual entrepreneurs and then governments. The desire to explore new destinations has been a key driving force into expanding tourism as a major industry.

Throughout the decades that followed post-Second World War, the number of tourists entering and exiting communities and countries has continuously grown on a massive scale. It may have been due to the history and nature of travel as a part of an individuals lifestyle, which evolved into mass tourism later on. Basically, individual here refers to people who are privileged to travel around and explore new destinations. However, all of that changed once more opportunities came for people of all classes, especially those that were least fortunate to enjoy traveling in the past. Traveling used to have a deeper purpose other than relaxation and recreation which are two of the major purposes of tourists today. The natural settings and resources present combined with relaxation and recreational facilities complement these two major purposes of tourists. People are given the opportunity to explore and enjoy the natural surroundings of the area, as well as relieve themselves of all the stress and hassles which their life back at home can bring.
   
Of course, the growth and development of tourism are in fact dependent upon the demand for tourism refers to the number of people that are traveling or are willing to. In the book The Geography of Tourism and Recreation Environment, Place, and Space, Colin Hall and Stephen Page highlight three main elements of tourism demand Effective or Actual Demand, Suppressed Demand, and No Demand. In a nutshell, effective or actual demand refers to the actual number of people who are traveling. Basically, this is the most used demographic to measure the growth of tourism, and its number of participants. Subsequently, there is also the case wherein, although they possess the willingness to travel, they are hindered usually by lack of economic and social opportunities which later on can change indefinitely. This is known as suppressed demand, which can either be potential, wherein it can turn into an effective demand if there are changes in economic and social conditions and opportunities, or deferred, wherein the shortage of tourism supply and resources can be turned into effective demand when other destinations within the area can accommodate it. Finally, no demand is the absence of any desire to travel by a certain population. However, these different types of demand are driven by motivation wherein people are wanting or needing the comforts and pleasures tied to traveling.
   
There are also issues that affect the growth and development of tourism. Basically, it can generate positive and negative effects to the communities that promote them. It may have great contributions to the social, economic, and natural environments of the communities, but it has also been a major catalyst of change within these communities, which usually comes with a price (Murphy 30). One example of the negative impact of tourism is the establishment of businesses which take over the local ones, as well as ruin the natural settings and resources which made the place beautiful in the first place. Of course, this would only happen if those businesses did not bode well with their surroundings. In short, it can ruin the motivation of some tourists who wanted to see the natural setting of the destination. Others, of course, include those that affect the culture and the natives of the destination, as well as the lifestyle that the outsiders would bring to the community, especially if such lifestyle or culture contrasts that of the locals.
   
Using these factors, the paper will analyze the town of New Paltz in the state of New York, and promote it as a premiere destination which tourists should not miss out on. The paper will share a brief history of the town. It will also highlight all the different attractions which New Paltz has to offer. Moreover, it will also tackle the natural sanctuaries that New Paltz harbors for tourists who seek to relax and escape from their busy life back in the metro. Finally, it will also highlight great places wherein these tourists can park themselves before venturing out and enjoying the town of New Paltz.

History Check A Brief Look on New Paltzs Background
Calvinists that escaped the persecution in Europe found their way on the area wherein New Paltz lies today. Back then, it was a small farming village that focused on producing apples, and it had been isolated from the outside world for two centuries since its establishment. During the state of isolation, the population slowly expanded further away from the Wallkill river, wherein the village was located. As they expanded further, they started to concentrate on higher education and established the New Paltz Academy, and then opened its doors to visitors through the installment of the Wallkill Valley Railroad which brought fresh produce from the town to markets in nearby areas. Later on, the New York State Thruway was built.
The town boasts a rich history and has retained its the apple industry as its primary business to this date. The town also managed to retain most of its old features such as buildings, roads, and other destinations which tourists should definitely see. In the next section, the different historical and natural attractions will all be highlighted.
 
The Offerings of New Paltz
Located at Ulster county, New Paltz has a lot to offer for tourists. These are separated into a number of diverse categories, even those that do not necessarily fall under attractions but nonetheless can be considered helpful in providing a better experience for those that wish to visit the town. They can be separated under the following categories (1) Town Setting, (2) Scenic Beauty, (3) Historical Heritage, (4) Educational Opportunity, (5) Recreational Resources, (6) Spiritual Vitality, (7) Government, (8) Business Diversity, and (9) Area Connections (Stout). Arranging all of the features that New Paltz offers per category will make it easier to understand why it is a great tourist spot.
   
Town Setting. New Paltz boasts a mixture of both rural and urban atmospheres which complement each other perfectly. Its rural aspects are quite evident in the presence of natural wildlife, agriculture, as well as parks and gardens throughout the town and within its outskirts. Of course, the primary urban atmosphere of the town is evident in the State University of New York wherein it houses a diverse population of students from different parts of America and the world. However, one atmosphere does not overshadow the other which is good since it helps preserve the relaxing mood of the town. Other than the college, another example of a place wherein both atmospheres combine that may be visited by tourists is the Moriello Pool  Park which houses a large community pool and other sets of pools for kids and those that want to do laps. It also has a park wherein those that do not wish to swim can simply relax. Overall, the town is covered with both natural and urban settings, most of which are recreational and educational facilities that make it such a scenic place to visit.
   
Scenic Beauty. Due to the harmonious combination of natural or rural and urban elements, the town itself becomes scenic. After all, the town is located near the Wallkill River Valley, as well as the Shawangunk Mountain in the west. Shawangunk Mountain offers an adventurous challenge for people who are into mountain climbing and rappelling. Tourists who are enthusiasts of the two sports can make their way here and simply have fun while enjoying a great view from the top. On the ridge itself, the Mohonk Mountain House and Mohonk Preserve can provide guests a more relaxing and adventurous experience since they offer lodging, a lake for boat rides and swimming, picnic spots, hiking trails, and even a nature study and environmental programs. Hence, from this side of New Paltz, tourists can sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery from this elevation. Of course, not all beautiful sceneries can be found on the mountains alone. The town boasts apple orchards that, when in bloom, become a magnificent display of beauty. In short, New Paltz displays a lot of sceneries which tourists can enjoy all throughout their visit.
   
Historical Heritage. As mentioned in the historical background section, New Paltz was founded by Calvinists most likely French who found refuge in Germany. Many of the original stone houses are still standing which included around seven houses, a church, a burial ground, and the DuBois Fort, which was converted to the visitor center of this preserved village Other than the village, Huguenot Street boasts a lot of history since most of the structures that line the streets are preserved in its original form. It has also been considered as a National Historic Landmark since it is one of the oldest streets in America which still has habitants to this date. Furthermore, tourists can also stop by the Huguenot Historical Society of New Paltz New York Museum Shop if they would like to take home some souvenirs of this town filled with history. Overall, this town is simply filled with so much history as it is pretty much evident in the historic district of Huguenot Street and the preserved village with its original structures.
   
Educational Opportunity. Not only does the town of New Paltz offer amazing sceneries and historic attractions, but also great educational facilities which also make it a premiere place to consider as residence. New Paltz is home to the State University of New York which offers excellent fine and performing arts courses within this region of the state. The presence of this college provides a perfect complement to the cultural history of this place. Other than the college which it houses, New Paltz also harbors the Unison Arts  Learning Center which is a non-profit organization that offers various performing and fine arts programs, as well as other workshops and classes for the sake of enriching community and cultural life. Of course, it is not only education in culture and art that New Paltz provides. It also provides education for elementary and secondary levels. Furthermore, the primary office of BOCES the agency of Ulster County Schools that provides technical education as well as services to students and faculty within the area is located in New Paltz. Overall, New Paltz provides a rich educational experience for its residents as well as the students that come over to study. It also provides jobs for those who are pursuing a career in education.
   
Recreational Resources. Like all tourist destinations, New Paltz also offers recreational facilities and resources designed to provide pleasure and relaxation to everyone. The usual recreational facilities that can be found in this town are the hiking and climbing trails located in its scenic Shawangunk Mountains. Of course, it is not limited to these mountains. There is also the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail which provides a pathway for biking, jogging, and even skiing during winter. There are also ballparks, community pools, parks, and even a golf course located for recreational use. The Mohonk Golf Course is one of the main recreational facilities in New Paltz located near the mountain house and the preserve. Of course, if relaxation is the purpose of the tourist, they can simply go to the mountains and enjoy the scenery, or they can also take a trip to the Jenkinstown Day Spa. They offer all kinds of services that may help rejuvenate tourists and relieve them from all kinds of stress that they experience in the busy urban setting. Thus, since New Paltz has a lot of recreational activities and facilities to offer for tourists, there is certainly a guarantee that they would never get bored while visiting this town.
   
Spiritual Vitality. Being founded by Calvinists that migrated to America, New Paltz is definitely a religious community which is one of the key aspects of New Paltz that tourists should be aware of. There are a diverse range of Christian denominations in New Paltz, the largest of which is St. Joseph s Roman Catholic Church. Of course, other religions can also be found in New Paltz since it is open to all faiths. In short, tourists can experience the spiritual diversity in New Paltz without any boundaries that may hinder them to do so. With that being said, New Paltz opens it arms to all cultures and faiths.
   
Government. The entire area of New Paltz is primarily composed of the township which expanded from the original location, and the original village that lies within the center as the entire town s core. The village, being the core of the entire town, is actually its main business district since it houses many of the historical attractions that can be seen in the town, as well as the Village Hall. The township expanded around the radius of the village. Moreover, the village and the town are two separate jurisdictions which provide government services to each area. However, the police force provides coverage for the entire area of New Paltz since these two jurisdictions are considered as a single town. Basically, tourists can be assured that the police, fire, and health departments and services all cover the entire New Paltz area which is a plus for their safety.
   
Business Diversity. The main business district may be located in the village, but it does not mean that the other areas of New Paltz are barren spots for businesses to open up. In fact, there are more than three hundred businesses, big and small, that reside in New Paltz. The types of business services available vary from satisfying hunger, providing recreational activities as well as places for lodging such as hotels and bed  breakfasts. Basically, there are hundreds of places for tourists to go to for food, fun, excitement, education, and lodging. With the definite number of places present in New Paltz, there is certainly no problem in accommodating tourists. Tourists can also check out the web site of the New Paltz Chamber of Commerce wherein listings of the different businesses under specific categories can be found.
   
Area Connections. New Paltz is located in Ulster County which is a big area wherein the City of Kingston is its largest community and closest large community to New Paltz. Furthermore, the areas that surround New Paltz also have great tourist attractions which would be worth visiting. Being the center of it all, New Paltz will be the ideal place for tourists to park themselves and visit each tourist attraction in other communities and areas from there. In short, New Paltz is a great start off point for touring other areas, other than the town of New Paltz itself.
  
These are the most significant offerings services and attractions that New Paltz can provide for tourists. It ranges from historical attractions to recreational facilities. With the opportunities that await travelers, New Paltz is indeed a place worth visiting.

Places to Stay
One of the most important factors in promoting tourism for the community is to provide places which can accommodate tourists especially if their numbers are quite high. Tourists tend to add this part to their traveling plans before departing from their hometowns. There are also times when tourists tend to scan for places where they can lodge as soon as they arrive at the place of their destination. Thus, all tourist destinations more or less have places wherein they can accommodate tourists, depending on the availability of the spaces within the place. It can also vary, depending on the tourist spot. For example, camping trips often accommodate travelers in camping grounds for better security since it protects them better from wildlife.
   
In the case of New Paltz, there are ideal places wherein tourists can be accommodated. Of course, these places would depend on the tourists since they all have various tastes and are separated with different economic opportunities. For tourists who want to enjoy a scenic view when they wake up, then they should stay at the Mohonk Mountain House wherein the cool breeze in the morning can sooth their senses as well as rejuvenate them. The view from this mountain resort is also incomparable to that of the other places for accommodations. For tourists that enjoy wildlife, exploring, and camping, then they can stay at one of the many camping grounds near New Paltz such as the Yogi Bear Jellystone Park. For tourists that are strict with their budget or just staying in for the night, then they can go for motels and bed  breakfasts located around town such as Moondance Ridge BB and Econolodge. Thus, it is necessary for tourists to know places for accommodation beforehand so that they may spend more time in enjoying the trip rather than wasting time looking for places to stay during the whole vacation period.

New Paltz A Great Tourist Getaway 
Based on the factors such as tourism demand and the issues tied to tourism from Murphy, Hall, and Page as presented in the introduction section, it is quite certain that New Paltz can be considered a premiere tourist destination. There are a number of reasons which may explain the claim.
   
The first reason would be that New Paltz is rich in culture and history. Basically, tourists visit places to see historical attractions for themselves, especially those that they see in magazines, newspapers, web pages, and the like. Normally, their curiosity would be stimulated once a featured historical attraction caught their attention. In places like New Paltz, historical monuments and buildings have been preserved in order for tourists to see what their history is. Also, historical places would tend to exhibit a culture that may be slightly different from the quick-paced urban culture. Furthermore, there are also art galleries, museums located in New Paltz which showcase artwork done by students of the State University of New York and other local artists. Therefore, a town like New Paltz is worth paying a visit for those interested in wonderful historical sites and artwork.
   
Second, New Paltz has a lot of recreational facilities which are more inclined to nature and different from urban recreational facilities. The place is surrounded by a natural environment which hikers, explorers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts can simply enjoy. There are a lot of camping grounds within the proximity of the town as well as in the  Shawangunk Mountain Range. Other outdoor activities such as biking, mountain climbing, skiing, and rappelling are also available for those who are into a more energetic and exciting lifestyle. For those who want to sit back and relax, then the numerous parks, botanical gardens, and the scenic view from the mountain should make their day. New Paltz is also known for its numerous apple orchards which, when in bloom, can be such a wonderful sight. Therefore, New Paltz is a town which possesses both urban and rural lifestyles that certainly give city dwellers a feel of home while exploring and experiencing a different way of life.
   
Finally, New Paltz provides a lot of opportunities for people to simply enjoy a fun, relaxing, and scenic environment. Educational opportunities such as art workshops, short courses, as well as environmental study courses are all available within the area of New Paltz. Furthermore, there are services which can make the trip more enjoyable for people such as those that provide safety so that tourists need not worry much. There are also valuable web sites that can help tourists answer their inquiries about places within New Paltz. There are also opportunities and services that can be affordable for people who do not have that much purchasing power, but can still enjoy recreational and relaxation activities, as well as lodging expenses. Therefore, New Paltz is indeed a place which can cater to all enthusiasts who are indeed looking for something different and on the natural side of things.

Tourist safety, terrorist attacks, and the environmental impact big businesses have on underdeveloped nations are just a few dilemmas tourism professionals are faced with on a daily basis. In addition to these concerns, observing the development of future trends in tourism and engaging employees in solution-based thinking are major keys to the success of those who work in the tourism management field. In fact, the industry as a whole is impacted by the publics perception of tourism- hence the need for innovative thinking, to help combat negative publicity and appeal to a broader consumer-base. Since tourism impacts the world in a variety of ways- from financial to social- an in-depth analysis of the negative and positive aspects of tourism will be addressed here. Starting with challenges the tourism industry faces, then delving into the areas that can aid in turning challenges into triumphs, a well-rounded research-based report will be delivered as an answer to the question What can be done to overcome the negative and accentuate the positive aspects of the tourism industry

NEGATIVE ASPECTS
DANGERS POSED TO TOURISTS
    Keeping in mind the primary purposes for local and global travel, which are either for business, education, or leisure, it is important that future initiatives in tourism focus on protecting the health and safety of all local and global travelers. Among the common dangers posed to domestic and international tourists are kidnappings, identity theft, price gouging, and other scams. The dangers are not limited to those mentioned above, particularly in those areas known for having an unstable politicalsocioeconomic climate. The United States Department of State website issues frequent travel warnings and alerts that include the names of countries viewed by the American Government as dangerous or unstable(USDS, 2010). At this time, due to the recent earthquake damage in Haiti, it is at the top of the listing. One recent example of how price gouging can impact- and possibly repel- large numbers of tourists is given in an article  written in a foreign briefing in the Los Angeles Times, With about 500,000 sports fans expected to descend on South Africa and spend an estimated 850 million during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, it was stated by tourism officials a month ago that they feared visitors would be put off by exorbitant costs as hotels and guest lodges raise their prices (LA Times, 2010). Solutions will be offered in the Tighter Security in Response to Tourist Safety Concerns section of this paper.
   
    TERRORIST ATTACKS
    While vulnerability to terrorist attacks is an issue on domestic and foreign soil, tourists are exceptionally vulnerable to terrorist threats. According to USLegal.com, a terroristic threat is communicated with the intent to terrorize another, or it can be one that causes the evacuation of a building, or that causes serious public inconvenience, in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience.  Furthermore, it may mean an offense against property or involving danger to another person that may include but is not limited to recklessly endangering another person, harassment, stalking, ethnic intimidation, and criminal mischief (USLegal.com 2009). Since it is already difficult to control the travel habits of ill-willed travelers, as tourism increases (even in an economic downturn), it will become more difficult to control terrorist actions. However, as difficult as it may become to control violent political attacks, innovations will soon change the way the tourism industry handles this. These innovations will be addressed on the section of this paper regarding Combating Terrorism.
   

EPIDEMICS
    Diseases that have now reached epidemic proportions such as HIVAIDS, SARS and Swine Flu (H1N1) might have taken far longer to reach their current scales if infected international travelers were not involved in the picture.  As international travel and tourism increase, epidemics are becoming harder to control.  In fact, it is now easier for regionallocalized illnesses to become global as more tourists set their sights on previously undiscovered parts of the world. While vaccinations can prevent the spread of such diseases as Malaria, H1N1 and yellow fever- limiting unnecessary travel to high risk locations is one way to ensure safer travel.  This in addition to obeying the laws of the host country, and locating health centers prior to heading to the planned destination, are other guidelines that can make for a safer, more positive experience.
While the health concerns are generally the responsibility of the individual, the role of the tourism management professional is to ensure that travelers are made aware of the numerous tools available to them this knowledge can make major differences in future global disease control efforts. While knowing of such harsh realities as the symptoms of diseases typical to tropical climates may not be a topic of choice for dreamy-eyed honeymooners, it is certainly not to be diminished for the sake of securing reservations. According to the Center for Disease Control, which offers comprehensive resources online for travelers seeking health-related info on destinations, being careful about food and water is another tip tourists should be made aware of (CDC 2010). While digestive issues resulting from eating contaminated food are the harsh reality of ill-prepared international travel, advances made in medicine, in response to travel-related illnesses such as travelers diarrhea are now available and will be addressed in the section of this paper titled Disease Control.
   
POPULATION CONTROL
    According to Transitions Abroad, an online safe haven for expatriates, The number of Americans living abroad has steadily grown over the past decade, as more people have become interested in living abroad, exploring another language and culture, or finding an overseas job, the site also shares that According to recent estimates by the U.S. State Department, there are 6.6 million Americans living overseas, a little more than the entire population of the state of Massachusetts (TransitionsAbroad.com, 2010).  While these estimates are small in comparison to the number of global and domestic tourists that simply visit each year, it is a good indication of the effect the tourism industry has had on attracting Americans to foreign soil on a long-term or permanent basis. In underdeveloped countries, this migration could provide a boost to the economy. Adversely, in densely populated countries, regardless of the host countrys socioeconomic climate, the added residents could pose a problem in the form of over-population. While longer life-expectancy is one reason for the rapid population growth in nations such as England, According to the Optimum Population Trust, a charity that highlights the environmental dangers of absorbing more and more people- as cited by Jeff Randall, a writer for the Telegraph online Immigration is responsible for at least 70 per cent of the UKs projected population increase, which will take the UK from 61 million today to 85 million by 2081 (Randall, 2008) These numbers prove that increased tourism can lead to increased relocation, which is not an easy process for ill-prepared newcomers. There are, however, upsides to these recent increases in expatriatism and immigration rates throughout the world. The positive aspects of relocation to foreign soil, as a result of tourism, will be addressed in the section of this paper titled A Borderless World.
   
    Multinational Corporations (MNCs) Targeting UndER-Developed     Countries
    The development of the MNC is one negative aspect of tourism. When travel to a foreign destination is done with the sole intention of targeting less-advanced countries for big business needs, without regard for any negative effects on the host country- this is when it becomes problematic. In an article by James Ahiakpor, the author shares the impact MNCs have on the host countries they expand in. Ahiakpor points out to readers that
MNCs engage in very useful and morally defensible activities in Third World countries for which they frequently have received little credit. Significant among these activities are their extension of opportunities for earning higher incomes as well as the consumption of improved quality goods and services to people in poorer regions of the world. Instead, these firms have been misrepresented by ugly or fearful images by Marxists and dependency theory advocates. Since many of these firms originate in industrialized countries such as the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Germany...they have been viewed as instruments for the imposition of Western cultural values on Third World countries, rather than allies in their economic development. (Ahiakpor, 2010)
Furthermore, the writer goes on to say that The fact that some MNCs command assets worth more than the national income of their host countries also reinforces their fearful image. And indeed, there is evidence that some MNCs have paid bribes to government officials in order to get around obstacles erected against profitable operations of their enterprises. (2010) While these are all justifiable reasons for the MNCs bad reputation, the positive aspects of MNCs as these businesses relate to tourism will be addressed in the section of this paper titled Increased Multinational Corporation Accountability.

POSITIVE
    Tighter Security in Response to Tourist Safety Concerns
    As discussed in the section titled Dangers Posed to Tourists, one major concern tourists and tourism professionals share is that of price gouging. One reason for the longtime success of businesses that engage in price gouging practices against tourists is due to the ignorance of ill-prepared travelers who purchase goods from local shops and do not know the language or the true value of goods in the region. In recent news, as a sign of the changing times, price-gouging shops in Venezuela were temporarily closed. These shops had reportedly increased prices as much as 80 after the devaluation of the bolivar (the nations currency). According to an article written on the matter for the Sydney Morning Herald online, 619 retail stores in Venezuela were impacted by the closings (Associated Free Press, 2010).
    Other concerns faced by travelers such as kidnappings are answered with solutions like Kidnapping  Ransom insurance, to cover them in case they are kidnapped while traveling abroad. Although this insurance is typically offered to corporations in order to cover executives and their families during overseas travel, this insurance can prove invaluable for those times when it is needed. Most American travelers expect the United States government to perform a search and rescue mission for each American that is kidnapped overseas, but this is not a reality, therefore investing in insurance that pays ransoms to kidnappers and that can ensure an increased survival rate for those who are kidnapped is money well-spent. As more expatriates are assigned to their companies overseas counterparts, it can be expected that the sale of this type of insurance will rise to meet the demands of cautious immigrants. Identity theft and other scams tourists are typically targeted by will see a decrease as knowledge is dispersed over the internet and through various media outlets on what red flags tourists should look out for.
   
Combating terrorism
    As large nations militaries successfully infiltrate the secret hide-outs and meeting places of organized terrorist regimes, intel is often discovered that results in the capture of terrorists on the lam. Even in instances where captured terrorists are not forthcoming, preventative measures are being taken to combat potential terrorist threats to airline passengers. According to statistics and trends featured on traveldailynews.com, body scanners (Figure 1) have been created to make flying safer and security checks faster. Also, according to this report, trials with the body scanners are already taking place in some airports and train stations across Europe and the US, including Manchester Airport in the UK. How the body scanner works is, the technology blurs facial details ensuring that passengers cannot be recognized and images are viewed by staff in walled-off rooms where they cannot see travelers who are being checked. Furthermore, Passengers who prefer not to be scanned will be able to opt for the traditional pat down check instead (traveldailynews, 2010)

Figure 1. Travel Daily News. (January 2010). Retrieved January 15, 2010 from
httpwww.traveldailynews.compagesshow_page35122-6625-favour-airport-body-scanners-says-Skyscanner.     Disease Control
    As discussed on the section titled epidemics, while digestive issues resulting from eating contaminated food are the harsh reality for ill-prepared international travelers, advances made in medicine, in response to travel-related illnesses such as travelers diarrhea are now available. Approved for persons at and above the age of 12, rifaximin (Xifaxan, Salix Pharmaceuticals) entered the U.S. market in 2004. So far the benefits of this drug appear to outweigh the side effects and can help tourists if taken within the first 24 hours of onset of travelers diarrhea- depending on the source of the problem. According to the CDC online, rifaximin represents a significant addition to the few oral drugs currently available for the treatment of the most common cause of bacterial travelers diarrhea. The website also notes that other recommended drugs for the treatment of travelers diarrhea are the quinolone antibiotics and azithromycin. The combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole had been used in the past, but is no longer recommended because of the high level of resistance (CDC, 2010).
    One popular trend employers across the world are developing that may someday translate into decreased traveltourism-related ailments, has come in the form of incentives for workers to develop healthful habits, hoping not only to save on healthcare costs but also to increase productivity because employees are out sick less (Dance, 2009). These initiatives may not be warmly welcomed at first, especially not by those employees who feel they are negatively impacted by smoking bans and insurance premium increases imposed according to policyholders Body Mass Index and waist-to-hip ratio.  If the tourism industry, however, can jump on the bandwagon and empower consumers to have a safer, healthier travel experience, this could make healthier living more successful in other aspects of their lives. Especially if the health initiatives that are created are more in alignment with the health initiatives already predominant in their home countries. A more globalized standard for healthy living is one solution tourism professionals can rally behind.
    Also worthy of discussion is the prevention of HIVAIDS and the positive strides that are being made to contain future cases. While consistent condom use and abstinence are the top ways to prevent the transmission of the virus that causes AIDS, researchers are working on a microbicide gel (called Pro 2000) designed to block the transmission of the AIDS virus to women (Maugh, 2009). How the gel works is that it will tie up or kill the virus in the vagina before it can penetrate the tissues and infect the woman.  Although the results of testing have not been very promising, according to Dr. Sheena McCormack who serves on the Medical Research Council, Nevertheless, we know that this is an important result and it clearly shows the need to undertake trials which are large enough to provide definitive evidence for whether a product works (Maugh, 2009). The trials initially involved 9,385 African women in four countries according to Maughs article. If this gel is perfected and approved for global use, perhaps a cure will soon accompany this prophylactic serum. Future trends in tourism could be positively impacted with these medical developments in a number of ways. Countries known for high HIVAIDS rates would no longer be considered off limits to concerned travelers, and the resulting alliances could lead to additional scientific breakthroughs.    

A Borderless World
    Expatriates and the problem of increasing over-population were discussed in regards to the subject of population control. According to an article published for the International Journal of Management, in response to a boom in international and domestic travel in emerging countries... several of the developing countries that entered World Trade Organization (WTO) have expanded their international travel policy. Due to this expansion, the article states that Many citizens in the involved countries are allowed to travel internationally with required travel documents. This policy change boosts international travel by allowing consumers in emerging countries to travel internationally to visit their relatives in Australia, America, Europe or parts of Asia. An astonishing fact, which may not be common knowledge to those who have never traveled to the countries in question is that until the invention of these new policies, under the previous system, some individuals never had the right to fly in their life. (Mamaghani, 2009)   This could be another attributing factor in the boost in population in already densely populated nations such as England and China- the immigration of those who were once unable to visit relatives or travel on business to larger nations.
    As travel restrictions are lifted across the globe- and as E-commerce makes travel possible to most corners of the world- the possibility of a borderless world gleams clearly on the horizon. Low-cost airlines are another addition to the market that aid in the decrease in national dividers. Initially, however, the safety of low-cost airlines were an early concern of aviation regulators in 2004. According to Jim Eckes, head of airline consultancy Indoswiss Aviation, it was a major concern that low-cost airlines would not operate as safely as all other airlines. He also added that regulatory authorities of some Asian countries are not prepared to supervise their airlines. Eckes then went on to advise regulators that start-up carriers, without in-house training facilities, should be forced to send flight crew overseas to train on flight simulators, and said that China, India, Malaysia and Thailand would be the main areas to target.(AllBusiness, 2004)
While advances in technology allow for more cost-efficient and fuel-efficient travel, travel and tourism marketing strategies must continually evolve to match information technology advancement and consumer usage patterns in order to minimize the negative aspects of migration for new arrivals to the host country, as well as those who already reside in the host country. (Mamaghani, 2009) A few ways tourism management professionals can evolve, and better plan for future trends is by encouraging travel  tourism consumers to focus on cultural awareness when engaging in overseas travel, or by encouraging travelers to objectively observe the mannerisms of local residents when traveling internationally- especially if the reason for the visit is as a pre-relocation trip. While being armed with these tools may not immediately solve the problems associated with rapid population growth, a newcomer who is armed with knowledge of (and appreciation for) the host countrys local culture may have a smoother and quicker adjustment rate - even if they have no prior experience traveling or living abroad.
    With the surge in life-expectancy being another reason for the rapid population growth in nations such as England, it has been observed that longer living goes hand-in-hand with increased travel. This information can be an excellent tool for tourism professionals to use in developing travel packages and accommodations that would appeal to the 40 and over crowd. According to Dr. David Lipschitz, director of the Center on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the two most important factors for longevity are health and happiness, and travel helps to foster both. (OBrien, 2010) As more of the worlds population reaches retirement age, the upcoming trends in travel and tourism must take into account the possibility that internet savvy may not be a strong-point of this group, and therefore, continuing to offer traditional travel planning services that are available by way of telephone or in person is important.
Another idea that could be of interest to this group would be for those agents who offer in-office services to also provide internet kiosks to travelers who know how to operate the internet but do not have access to internet connections or computers for a nominal fee. This offering in addition to onsite virtual tours to an array of destinations could help bridge the digital divide as it translates to modern day travel.
Increased Multinational Corporation Accountability
If  multinational corporations are held accountable (by their home country and the
countries they do business in) for how they operate, and their role in either helping or hindering the countries they set up shop in- this may improve relations for all businesses who wish to expand, eventually leading to better prices for importedexported goods- and perhaps improving the outlook for travelers who wish to explore or relocate to these locales. Furthermore, as argued by Ahiakpor, the author mentioned in the section of this paper titled Multinational Corporations Targeting Under-developed Countries, there are several advantages to the impact of MNCs on the economy of the host countrys tourism and local infrastructure
these firms pay higher wages to local employees than they typically would receive elsewhere, and higher rents for land and buildings. But they often argue that the wages in Third World countries are lower than those paid by MNCs in the more developed countries, and the working conditions are not of the same standard. However, the comparison misses several key points. For example, the skill or educational levels of workers in the Third World and those of the more developed countries are not the same. The amount of machinery and equipment handled by workers in the two locations are also different. In short, the amount of output generated by a worker in the Third World is typically smaller than that produced in the more developed world. Indeed, if MNCs could hire enough of higher skilled workers in the more developed countries at the wages workers are paid in the Third World, they would gladly do so. They would thus earn higher profits while selling their goods and services at lower prices. But the fact is that the voluntary exchange system in which MNCs operate would not permit them. Besides those working for charity, few others would for long accept wages they consider to be less than their contribution to an enterprise. (Ahiakpor, 2010)
With this in mind, as cultural awareness (and accountability) is fostered throughout a corporate setting, increased sensitivity to the environmental state of the host country MNCs expand to may also increase- thereby bringing about a decrease in instances where small countries are swallowed whole by MNCs.