Welcome to this comprehensive IELTS Reading practice test for Sustainable Tourism topic!
This exercise is designed to help you prepare for the Academic Reading section of the IELTS exam.
The IELTS Reading test consists of three passages with a total of 40 questions, and you have 60 minutes to complete the entire test.
Test Structure:
- Academic Reading: Features texts from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers, written for an academic audience
- General Training Reading: Contains texts from everyday sources like advertisements, company handbooks, and newspapers
This practice focuses on Academic Reading and includes one passage with 9 questions. We recommend completing this practice in 20 minutes to simulate exam conditions when combined with other passages.
Academic Reading Passage
The Science of Sustainable Tourism
A The rapid expansion of international tourism over the past five decades has fundamentally transformed the global economy. According to recent data from the World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals have increased from 25 million in 1950 to over 1.4 billion in 2018, generating approximately $1.7 trillion in export earnings. This unprecedented growth has established tourism as one of the world’s largest economic sectors, directly supporting 120 million jobs worldwide and contributing 10.4% to global GDP. However, this remarkable economic success story has come at a significant environmental cost, prompting researchers and policymakers to investigate sustainable tourism models that can maintain economic benefits while minimizing ecological damage.
B The environmental impact of mass tourism manifests in multiple ways, each presenting unique challenges for destination management. Carbon emissions from aviation represent perhaps the most pressing concern, with the International Air Transport Association reporting that commercial flights account for approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. This figure becomes particularly alarming when considering that air travel demand is projected to double within the next two decades. Beyond aviation, tourism infrastructure development frequently leads to habitat destruction, water pollution, and waste generation. Popular destinations like the Maldives and Venice have experienced severe environmental degradation, with Venice’s delicate ecosystem threatened by cruise ship emissions and the Maldives facing existential challenges from rising sea levels exacerbated by climate change.
C In response to these mounting environmental pressures, the concept of sustainable tourism has emerged as a potential solution. The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.” This approach emphasizes three fundamental principles: environmental protection, economic viability, and social equity. Research conducted by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council has identified key indicators for measuring sustainability, including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and community involvement in tourism planning processes.
D Several innovative technologies and methodologies are being implemented to reduce tourism’s environmental footprint. Smart tourism systems utilize artificial intelligence and big data analytics to optimize visitor flows, reducing overcrowding at popular attractions and distributing tourists more evenly across destinations. For instance, Barcelona has implemented a smart city platform that monitors tourist density in real-time, allowing authorities to redirect visitors to less crowded areas and protect fragile historical sites. Additionally, renewable energy adoption in the hospitality sector has accelerated significantly, with major hotel chains committing to carbon neutrality by 2030. Advanced water recycling systems and sustainable building materials are also becoming standard practices in new tourism infrastructure projects.
E Economic incentives play a crucial role in promoting sustainable tourism practices. Carbon offset programs allow travelers to compensate for their flight emissions by funding environmental projects, though critics argue these schemes may not provide genuine climate benefits. More promising are destination-specific sustainability taxes, such as those implemented in Amsterdam and Barcelona, which generate revenue for environmental protection while potentially discouraging overtourism. The European Union’s proposed digital travel levy aims to create a continent-wide funding mechanism for sustainable tourism initiatives, though implementation challenges remain significant.
F The measurement and certification of sustainable tourism practices present ongoing scientific challenges. Researchers have developed various sustainability indices, including the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index and the Environmental Performance Index, to evaluate destinations’ sustainability credentials. However, standardizing these measurements across different cultural and economic contexts proves difficult. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council has established internationally recognized standards, but compliance monitoring and verification systems require further development. Recent studies suggest that blockchain technology could provide transparent and tamper-proof sustainability certification systems for tourism businesses.
G Case studies from leading sustainable tourism destinations offer valuable insights into successful implementation strategies. Costa Rica’s comprehensive approach to ecotourism has generated substantial economic benefits while maintaining biodiversity conservation goals. The country has achieved carbon neutrality in its tourism sector through renewable energy adoption and forest conservation programs. Similarly, New Zealand’s “100% Pure” campaign effectively markets the nation’s environmental credentials while implementing strict environmental regulations for tourism operators. These examples demonstrate that sustainable tourism can achieve both environmental protection and economic prosperity when supported by appropriate policy frameworks and stakeholder cooperation.
Questions 1-9
Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
The following summary describes key aspects of sustainable tourism development discussed in the passage.
International tourism has experienced dramatic growth, with tourist arrivals increasing from 25 million to over (1) _____________ in 2018. This expansion has created significant (2) _____________ but also caused substantial environmental damage. The aviation industry alone contributes approximately (3) _____________ of global carbon dioxide emissions, and this concern is amplified by projections that air travel demand will (4) _____________ within twenty years.
Sustainable tourism has emerged as a response to these challenges, with the UN defining it as tourism that considers its (5) _____________ impacts on various stakeholders. Modern solutions include (6) _____________ that use artificial intelligence to manage visitor distribution and reduce overcrowding at popular sites.
Economic measures to encourage sustainability include (7) _____________ that generate funds for environmental protection, though some experts question their effectiveness. The scientific community faces ongoing challenges in (8) _____________ sustainable practices across different destinations.
Successful examples like Costa Rica demonstrate that sustainable tourism can achieve (9) _____________ while maintaining environmental conservation goals through comprehensive policy implementation.
Please write your answers (1-9) in the comments below. This will help you practice the actual test format and receive feedback on your performance.
For more IELTS Reading practice tests, you can also visit Architecture Topic.
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