🔶 Part 1 — Tutorial

Step 1 — Analyse the task & lock the scope (Advantages & Disadvantages)

Read the prompt twice and underline the command words and scope: “What are its benefits and drawbacks for host countries?” identifies an advantages–disadvantages essay focused strictly on host countries, not tourists or source countries. Do not switch the question into “Do advantages outweigh disadvantages?” unless that wording appears. Generate a concise list of 2 focused benefits and 2 focused drawbacks that you can fully explain with mechanisms and compact, realistic examples. For international tourism, benefits commonly include foreign-exchange earnings, job creation in services, infrastructure upgrades, and cultural exchange; drawbacks often involve environmental pressure, seasonal jobs/low wages, price inflation for locals, and cultural commodification. Decide whether to add a light evaluation in the conclusion (allowed) while keeping the body balanced. Avoid vague claims such as “tourism is good for the economy” without showing how money circulates or leaks out. Keep your lens on policies and outcomes inside the host country: local businesses, public budgets, infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems. Aim for ~280–310 words with two well-developed body paragraphs (one for benefits, one for drawbacks) rather than a long list. Plan your time: 7–8 minutes to plan, 25–28 to write, 3–4 to check accuracy and cohesion.

Example Box — Decoding the Prompt (International Tourism)

Prompt: “International tourism has grown rapidly. What are its benefits and drawbacks for host countries?
Focus: Explain benefits and drawbacks that affect the host country only; balanced coverage; optional mild evaluation in the conclusion.
Avoid: Turning it into an “outweigh” question; writing about tourist experiences; listing without mechanisms and examples.

Step 2 — Build a tight structure (Intro • Benefits • Drawbacks • Conclusion)

Use a four-paragraph plan for clarity and balance. In the introduction, paraphrase growth in international tourism and signal that you will examine benefits and drawbacks for host nations. Avoid announcing your opinion too strongly; a neutral line works well here. In Body 1 (Benefits), open with a labelled topic sentence, then explain two benefits with a reason → mechanism → micro-example chain: for instance, tourism injects foreign currency that supports small hotels and restaurants (mechanism: higher demand and tax revenues), and it accelerates infrastructure such as airports and public transport (mechanism: government investment justified by visitor numbers). Keep examples compact and plausible (e.g., “a coastal town expanding its bus network during peak season”). In Body 2 (Drawbacks), mirror the structure: environmental strain (mechanism: waste, water use, habitat disturbance) and economic risks (mechanism: seasonal jobs, price rises in rents and food, and profit “leakage” to foreign chains). Link each drawback to concrete local impacts on residents. In the conclusion, summarise both sides in fresh words and, if you wish, add a restrained evaluation such as: “tourism can be positive where managed capacity and local ownership are prioritised.” This approach demonstrates control, cohesion, and accurate task targeting without drifting into policy essays.

Example Box — Skeleton Plan (Tourism: Benefits vs Drawbacks)

Intro: Paraphrase growth + scope; say you will examine both sides for host nations.
Body 1 — Benefits: (1) Foreign-exchange + jobs → micro-example. (2) Infrastructure spillovers → micro-example.
Body 2 — Drawbacks: (1) Environmental pressure/overtourism → micro-example. (2) Seasonality/price inflation/leakage → micro-example.
Conclusion: Neutral summary + light conditional evaluation on effective management.

Step 3 — Craft balanced, high-impact body paragraphs

Start each body with a labelled topic sentence so the examiner instantly sees the paragraph’s function. Develop each point with a clear mechanism: how does money, infrastructure, or pressure move through the local system? Use micro-examples that sound real but take one line (e.g., “a UNESCO-listed old town introducing ticketed entry to limit footfall”). Keep numerical claims cautious and avoid unverifiable statistics. Maintain parallel structure across the two bodies to signal balance. Integrate evaluative phrases sparingly (“when effectively regulated…”, “if unmanaged…”), reserving your overall judgement for the conclusion. Vary sentence length (one concise, one complex) and use referencing to avoid repetition (“these inflows”, “such costs”, “this pressure”). End each body with a short link-back line that ties your analysis to host-country priorities (e.g., “local livelihoods” or “long-term carrying capacity”). This disciplined pattern demonstrates development, cohesion, and accuracy without verbosity.

Example Box — High-impact Sentences (Tourism)

Benefits — topic: “International visitors can strengthen host economies by injecting foreign currency and sustaining service-sector jobs.”
Mechanism: “Higher visitor numbers expand demand for local suppliers, which raises tax revenues for public projects.”
Drawbacks — topic: “However, rapid inflows also strain fragile environments and push up everyday prices for residents.”
Mechanism: “Peak-season demand lifts rents and food prices, while waste and traffic exceed local carrying capacity.”
Conclusion line: “Overall, tourism benefits communities where capacity limits and local ownership keep gains onshore.”

Step 4 — Language choices, cohesion, and accuracy

Use precise tourism lexis and collocations: foreign-exchange earnings, local supply chains, infrastructure upgrades, seasonality, carrying capacity, price inflation, revenue leakage, community consultation. Signal balance with varied connectors: on the one hand/on the other hand; while/whereas; nevertheless/however; in the short term/in the long term. Avoid stereotypes about cultures or tourists; keep a formal, neutral tone. Maintain paragraph unity by following a benefit/drawback → mechanism → micro-example → link-back chain. Check articles, prepositions, and countability (e.g., “tourism” is uncountable; “benefits” is plural). Prefer concise clauses over long strings of modifiers, and proofread for agreement and punctuation in complex sentences. Keep examples plausible but short—one line is sufficient—so development stays focused. Finish with a conclusion that synthesises, not a new argument. This control mirrors Band-7+ descriptors for task response and cohesion.

Example Box — Quick Quality Checks

Balance: Do both benefits and drawbacks receive comparable depth?
Mechanisms: Do you show how effects occur (not just that they exist)?
Cohesion: Are contrast and cause–effect linkers used naturally?
Accuracy: Articles, prepositions, and countability correct?
Scope: Every point relates to host countries (not tourists).

Universal Fill-in-the-Gap Template — Advantages & Disadvantages (International Tourism)

Replace […] with your ideas. Keep sentences concise and evidence-driven.

Sentence-by-Sentence Scaffold (Tourism in Host Countries)

Intro S1 (Paraphrase): International tourism has expanded rapidly in recent years, changing many host economies.

Intro S2 (Scope): This essay examines its benefits and drawbacks for host countries.


Body 1 S3 (Benefit — topic): A major advantage is [… e.g., foreign-exchange earnings and service-sector jobs …].

Body 1 S4 (Mechanism): As visitor numbers rise, [… mechanism …] which leads to [… outcome …].

Body 1 S5 (Micro-example): For example, [… one-line, plausible illustration …].

Body 1 S6 (Second benefit — topic): In addition, tourism can drive [… e.g., infrastructure upgrades or heritage restoration …].

Body 1 S7 (Mechanism): Governments/businesses invest in […], so locals also gain […].

Body 1 S8 (Link-back): Therefore, for host communities, tourism can strengthen [… local livelihoods/public services …].


Body 2 S9 (Drawback — topic): However, rapid growth brings costs, notably [… e.g., environmental pressure/overtourism …].

Body 2 S10 (Mechanism): During peak seasons, [… mechanism …] resulting in [… local impact …].

Body 2 S11 (Micro-example): For instance, [… compact illustration of waste/traffic/water use …].

Body 2 S12 (Second drawback — topic): A further risk is [… e.g., seasonal jobs, price inflation, revenue leakage …].

Body 2 S13 (Mechanism): Because […], households face […], while profits may [… go offshore …].

Body 2 S14 (Link-back): Thus, without regulation, residents can experience [… concrete harm …].


Conclusion S15 (Synthesis): In summary, tourism offers clear economic and cultural gains but also significant pressures.

Conclusion S16 (Conditional evaluation): Its impact on host countries is positive when [… capacity limits/local ownership/sustainability policies …] are prioritised.

Paraphrase & Neutral Openings (Tourism)

Paraphrase Options

P1: Over recent decades, cross-border travel has become a key driver of local change in many destinations.
P2: The rapid rise of international visitors is reshaping host economies and communities worldwide.

Neutral/Framing Lines

N1: This essay considers the main benefits and drawbacks of this trend for host nations.
N2: The following paragraphs outline economic and social gains alongside environmental and affordability concerns.

🔶 Part 2 — Task
⏳ 40:00

[IELTS Academic] [Writing Task 2] — Online Learning

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Many universities now offer courses online as an alternative to on-campus learning. Do you think this is a positive or negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

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🔶 Part 3 — Sample Answers & Explanations

[IELTS Academic] [Writing Task 2] — International Tourism: Benefits & Drawbacks for Host Countries

Below are three sample answers written using the scaffold from Part 1. Each sample maintains a balanced structure: Introduction → Benefits (Body 1) → Drawbacks (Body 2) → Conclusion. After each sample, you will find a step-by-step explanation box describing why the answer is effective.

Band 6 — Sample Answer

International tourism has grown quickly in many places, and it now plays a visible role in local life. This essay will discuss the main benefits and drawbacks of this trend for host countries.

On the one hand, tourism can support the economy. When visitors come, they spend money on hotels, restaurants, and transport. This creates jobs for local people and brings tax income for governments. In some regions, these extra funds help pay for new facilities such as roads, airport terminals, or public parks. Tourism can also encourage the protection of old buildings and traditions, because visitors want to see local culture. For example, a small coastal town may repair its waterfront and museum to attract guests, and residents also enjoy these improvements after the tourist season ends.

On the other hand, rapid growth in visitor numbers can cause problems. Popular destinations often face noise, traffic, and waste, especially in the high season. Local services can be stretched, and beaches or historic streets may become crowded. Prices sometimes rise for residents, particularly rent and food, because businesses try to earn more from tourists. In addition, many jobs in tourism are low-paid or temporary, so families cannot rely on them all year. Some profits may also go to foreign companies that own large hotels or tour brands, so the money does not always stay in the community.

In conclusion, international tourism can bring income, jobs, and better facilities, but it can also put pressure on the environment and raise the cost of living for locals. Its overall effect is positive when visitor numbers are managed and when local people and businesses receive a fair share of the benefits.

Why this answer works (Band 6)

1) The introduction paraphrases the topic and sets a clear scope: benefits and drawbacks for host countries.

2) The structure follows a simple four-paragraph layout, which improves readability and cohesion.

3) Body 1 starts with a labelled topic sentence that signals “economic benefits”.

4) The mechanisms are clear: tourist spending → jobs and tax revenue → public facilities.

5) A micro-example (“coastal town repairs its waterfront and museum”) grounds the ideas in reality.

6) Cultural protection is briefly linked to visitor demand, showing a second benefit without over-explaining.

7) Body 2 balances the essay by opening with “problems” from growth, keeping parallel structure.

8) Environmental and service pressure are explained in plain, accurate language.

9) The answer mentions price inflation affecting residents, which is relevant to host-country welfare.

10) It notes seasonality and low wages to show that not all jobs are secure.

11) The idea of “profits going to foreign companies” introduces revenue leakage in accessible terms.

12) Sentences are mostly simple or compound, which supports clarity at Band-6 level.

13) Cohesive devices (“on the one hand / on the other hand”) are used correctly and not overused.

14) The conclusion synthesises both sides and adds a light condition on management.

15) Vocabulary is adequate and generally precise for the task (e.g., “tax income,” “low-paid,” “crowded”).

16) There are few errors, and meaning remains clear throughout.

17) Task achievement is complete: both benefits and drawbacks are covered with examples.

18) Overall, this meets Band-6 descriptors for clear position, adequate development, and generally accurate language.

Band 7 — Sample Answer

The sharp rise in cross-border travel has reshaped many destinations. This essay examines how international tourism benefits host nations while also creating pressures that require careful management.

A principal advantage is the injection of foreign currency into local supply chains. As arrivals increase, demand rises for accommodation, food services, transport, and guiding, which sustains small firms and expands tax receipts. Governments can then justify upgrades to airports, roads, and waterfronts that residents use year-round. Tourism also supports heritage conservation and community pride: historic districts, festivals, and crafts gain visibility and funding. For instance, several European old towns have channelled visitor fees into façade restoration and crowd-management signage, improving the experience for both guests and locals.

Nevertheless, unmanaged growth can undermine these gains. Overtourism strains carrying capacity through traffic, waste, and water use, and it can hollow out neighbourhoods when short-term rentals displace residents. Economically, tourism work is often seasonal and modestly paid, while headline profits may leak offshore if major hotels and booking platforms are foreign-owned. Price pressures are another concern: cafés and grocery stores in hotspots sometimes reorient to visitor spending power, nudging everyday prices beyond local wages. If communities perceive that they are paying more than they gain, public support for the sector erodes.

In summary, tourism can diversify local economies and revitalise cultural assets, but its benefits are secure only when capacity limits, fair taxation, and local ownership keep value onshore. With these safeguards, destinations are more likely to balance prosperity with liveability.

Why this answer works (Band 7)

1) The introduction frames a neutral, analytical stance appropriate for an advantages–disadvantages task.

2) Topic sentences clearly label paragraph functions (benefits then drawbacks), aiding coherence.

3) Economic mechanisms are explicit: demand growth → firm revenue → tax base → infrastructure upgrades.

4) Cultural benefits are tied to concrete outcomes such as conservation funding and community pride.

5) The example of European old towns is concise and plausible, avoiding unverifiable statistics.

6) Lexis is appropriate and varied: “local supply chains,” “carrying capacity,” “heritage conservation.”

7) The drawbacks paragraph mirrors the structure of the benefits paragraph for balance.

8) It names multiple risks (overtourism, displacement, seasonality, profit leakage) without over-listing.

9) Socio-economic impact on residents is foregrounded through prices and wages.

10) Cohesive devices are natural (“nevertheless,” “another concern,” “in summary”).

11) Complex sentences are controlled, with accurate punctuation and agreement.

12) The conclusion synthesises both sides and adds conditional advice (capacity limits, fair taxation, local ownership).

13) The argument stays within scope—effects on host countries—throughout.

14) Paragraph unity is maintained; no new ideas are introduced in the conclusion.

15) The tone is formal and objective, consistent with IELTS requirements.

16) Overall development and clear logic support a Band-7 score for task response and cohesion.

Band 8+ — Sample Answer

Few sectors have expanded as rapidly as international tourism, and its footprint is now visible in budgets, streetscapes, and community identities. This essay evaluates its principal benefits and costs for host countries and argues that outcomes hinge on how value is captured and how pressure is distributed.

The upside is twofold. First, tourism injects hard currency into local economies and multiplies through accommodation, food systems, transport, and creative industries. These inflows enlarge municipal revenues, enabling airports to be modernised and public spaces to be upgraded in ways residents also enjoy. Second, cultural assets gain both audience and finance: ticketing in heritage zones, for example, can fund conservation, interpretation, and skills training for local artisans. Where small firms anchor tour circuits—family-run hotels, independent guides, and regional producers—the value chain tends to remain onshore and employment is more resilient.

The downside, however, is equally structural. When arrivals exceed carrying capacity, waste, congestion, and water stress accumulate, while short-term lettings price out residents and hollow out civic life. Tourism’s seasonality exposes workers to unstable hours and incomes, and revenue frequently leaks to foreign-owned platforms and hotel groups. Price signals then skew supply toward visitors’ spending power, inflating café menus and groceries in central districts. Without deliberate policy—zoning, visitor caps, progressive taxation, and incentives for local ownership—destinations risk trading cultural authenticity and affordability for short-run receipts.

Overall, international tourism can be a durable engine of place-based prosperity when its scale matches local capacity and when the institutional design keeps benefits circulating locally. Where those conditions hold, communities secure both improved infrastructure and liveable neighbourhoods; where they do not, the sector erodes the very qualities that drew visitors in the first place.

Why this answer works (Band 8+)

1) The opening frames a precise thesis about “how value is captured” and “how pressure is distributed,” signalling analytical depth.

2) Paragraphing mirrors the required structure and keeps a tight benefits→drawbacks→evaluation flow.

3) Mechanisms are explicit (currency inflows → multiplier effects → public revenue → infrastructure upgrades).

4) Benefits extend beyond GDP to institutional capacity (skills training, interpretation, public realm).

5) The essay names conditions under which gains are maximised (small-firm anchoring, local value chains).

6) Drawbacks are structural rather than anecdotal (capacity exceedance, seasonality, leakage, displacement).

7) Key concepts are precise: “carrying capacity,” “revenue leakage,” “short-term lettings,” “institutional design.”

8) Cause–effect links are consistently maintained, supporting cohesion and logical progression.

9) Examples are compact and plausible (heritage ticketing → conservation funding; central-district price inflation).

10) The conclusion synthesises and evaluates, avoiding new ideas while adding a clear conditional judgement.

11) Lexical resource is varied yet controlled, with accurate collocation and minimal repetition.

12) Complex sentences are accurate, showing range in subordination and referencing.

13) The tone is formal and balanced, free of generalisations about cultures or visitors.

14) The answer remains strictly within scope: host-country outcomes.

15) The evaluation line (“erodes the very qualities…”) provides insight without rhetorical exaggeration.

16) Overall, the response demonstrates sustained development and precise language characteristic of Band 8 or higher.

🔶 Part 4 — Vocabulary (10 Key Words)

Key Vocabulary from the Task

Each item below includes British & American IPA, part(s) of speech, common patterns, a clear definition, a model sentence with a short gloss, useful synonyms, and typical learner mistakes. All terms are relevant to discussing the benefits and drawbacks of international tourism in host countries.

tourism — BrE /ˈtʊə.rɪz.əm/ • AmE /ˈtʊr.ɪzəm/ — noun (uncountable)

Patterns: the tourism sector/industry; growth in tourism; tourism revenue/income; sustainable/mass tourism; tourism policy in [country].

Definition: the business activity of people travelling for leisure or business and the services that support them (hotels, transport, attractions).

Example: Tourism now accounts for a large share of tax income in coastal towns. (It brings significant money to local government.)

Synonyms: visitor economy; travel industry.

Common mistakes: ✘ “tourisms” (uncountable); ✘ “a tourism” → say “the tourism sector”; avoid using it to mean “tourists”.

infrastructure — BrE /ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃə/ • AmE /ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃɚ/ — noun (uncountable)

Patterns: transport/energy/digital infrastructure; invest in infrastructure; upgrade/expand/maintain infrastructure; infrastructure projects.

Definition: the basic physical systems a society needs (roads, airports, water, power, broadband) to function and grow.

Example: Tourist demand can justify infrastructure upgrades such as airport terminals and bus lanes. (Visitors help pay for improvements.)

Synonyms: public works; basic facilities; civic systems.

Common mistakes: ✘ “infrastructures” (rare/pluralised only in technical contexts); don’t confuse with “institutions”.

heritage — BrE /ˈhɛr.ɪ.tɪdʒ/ • AmE /ˈhɛr.ɪ.tɪdʒ/ — noun (countable/uncountable; often uncountable)

Patterns: cultural/natural heritage; protect/preserve heritage; a UNESCO heritage site; heritage assets/attractions.

Definition: valued traditions, buildings, and natural features passed from previous generations.

Example: Visitor fees can fund heritage conservation in old town centres. (Money helps protect historic areas.)

Synonyms: patrimony; legacy (context-dependent).

Common mistakes: Avoid “hereditary” (genetic) for cultural heritage; don’t pluralise casually (“heritages”).

conservation — BrE /ˌkɒn.səˈveɪ.ʃən/ • AmE /ˌkɑːn.sɚˈveɪ.ʃən/ — noun (uncountable)

Patterns: conservation of wildlife/buildings/water; conservation funding/policies; to promote/advance conservation.

Definition: protection and careful management of the environment or heritage so it is not damaged or lost.

Example: Ticketed entry supports conservation work in fragile coastal parks. (Fees pay for protection.)

Synonyms: preservation; protection; stewardship.

Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with “conversation”; use “conservation of”, not “conservation for” (most cases).

inflation — BrE /ɪnˈfleɪ.ʃən/ • AmE /ɪnˈfleɪ.ʃən/ — noun (uncountable)

Patterns: price/rent/food inflation; inflation rises/falls; inflation in [sector/area]; to drive/cause inflation.

Definition: a general increase in prices that reduces the purchasing power of money.

Example: In popular districts, visitor demand can cause rent inflation for local residents. (Rents go up.)

Synonyms: price rises; cost increases (contextual).

Common mistakes: Avoid “inflation of prices” (redundant); say “price inflation” or “prices increased”.

seasonality — BrE /ˌsiː.zəˈnæl.ɪ.ti/ • AmE /ˌsiː.zəˈnæl.ə.t̬i/ — noun (uncountable)

Patterns: high/low season; strong/marked seasonality; reduce/manage seasonality; seasonal employment/demand.

Definition: regular changes across the year that affect demand, prices, or jobs (e.g., summer peaks, winter lows).

Example: Hotels face staff turnover because tourism seasonality creates unstable hours. (Work is not steady.)

Synonyms: seasonal variation; peak–off-peak pattern.

Common mistakes: Don’t write “seasonability” for this meaning; use “seasonal jobs/demand”, not “seasonal works”.

livelihood — BrE /ˈlaɪv.li.hʊd/ • AmE /ˈlaɪv.li.hʊd/ — noun (countable/uncountable)

Patterns: secure/lose/protect livelihoods; a source of livelihood; livelihoods depend on [sector].

Definition: the means of earning money needed to live.

Example: Many families’ livelihoods depend on small guesthouses and local tours. (They earn money from tourism.)

Synonyms: means of living; income source; subsistence (formal).

Common mistakes: Spelling errors (“livehood”); countability—plural is “livelihoods,” not “livelihoodes”.

capacity — BrE /kəˈpæs.ɪ.ti/ • AmE /kəˈpæs.ə.ti/ — noun (countable/uncountable)

Patterns: carrying capacity; capacity of/for [system/site]; to exceed/reach capacity; build/add capacity.

Definition: the maximum amount a place or system can handle effectively (people, waste, traffic, water use).

Example: The old town has limited capacity, so authorities cap daily visitor numbers. (They set a limit.)

Synonyms: limit; capability; throughput (technical).

Common mistakes: Wrong preposition—say “capacity of the system” or “capacity for growth,” not “capacity to growth”.

displacement — BrE /dɪsˈpleɪs.mənt/ • AmE /dɪsˈpleɪs.mənt/ — noun (uncountable)

Patterns: displacement of residents; tourist-driven displacement; prevent/mitigate displacement; displacement pressures.

Definition: the forced movement of people from their homes or neighbourhoods due to economic or social pressures.

Example: Short-term rentals can cause resident displacement in city centres. (Locals must move away.)

Synonyms: relocation; removal (contextual); (related: gentrification).

Common mistakes: Use “displacement of people,” not “displacement from people”; avoid using it for voluntary moves.

leakage (economic) — BrE /ˈliː.kɪdʒ/ • AmE /ˈliː.kɪdʒ/ — noun (countable/uncountable)

Patterns: revenue/foreign-exchange leakage; leakage to foreign firms; reduce/limit leakage; value leaks out of [economy].

Definition: money leaving the local economy (e.g., profits paid to foreign owners or imports), reducing local benefits.

Example: If large hotel chains are foreign-owned, profit leakage can be substantial. (Money leaves the country.)

Synonyms: outflow; capital drain (contextual).

Common mistakes: Don’t use “leaking” for the economic sense; specify what leaks (profits/revenue), not “it leaks”.

🔶 Part 5 — Phrases & Expressions (10 Items)

Key Phrases & Expressions from the Task

Each item below includes British & American IPA, part(s) of speech, common patterns, a clear definition, a model sentence with a short gloss, useful synonyms, and typical learner mistakes. These expressions help you discuss the benefits and drawbacks of international tourism in host countries with precise, natural language.

inject foreign currency into (the local economy) — BrE /ɪnˈdʒɛkt ˈfɒr.ɪn ˈkʌr.ən.si ˈɪntuː/ • AmE /ɪnˈdʒɛkt ˈfɔːr.ən ˈkɝː.ən.si ˈɪntuː/ — verb phrase

Patterns: inject A into B; inject cash/capital/foreign currency into the economy/sectors.

Definition: to bring new money from abroad into local markets through tourist spending.

Example: International visitors inject foreign currency into small towns via hotels and restaurants. (Tourists bring new money.)

Synonyms: bring in hard currency; channel funds into.

Common mistakes: Wrong preposition (✘ “into to”); avoid passive without agent if unclear (“was injected” by whom?).

upgrade public infrastructure — BrE /ʌpˈɡreɪd ˈpʌb.lɪk ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃə/ • AmE /ʌpˈɡreɪd ˈpʌb.lɪk ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃɚ/ — verb phrase

Patterns: upgrade/expand/modernise infrastructure; infrastructure upgrades to roads/airports/transport.

Definition: to improve roads, airports, buses, water systems, etc., often justified by visitor demand.

Example: Tourism revenue helps cities upgrade public infrastructure that residents also use. (Money improves systems for everyone.)

Synonyms: modernise facilities; improve civic systems.

Common mistakes: ✘ “do infrastructure better” → use “upgrade/modernise”; avoid plural “infrastructures” in general writing.

preserve cultural heritage — BrE /prɪˈzɜːv ˈkʌl.tʃər.əl ˈhɛr.ɪ.tɪdʒ/ • AmE /prɪˈzɝːv ˈkʌl.tʃɚ.əl ˈhɛr.ɪ.tɪdʒ/ — verb phrase

Patterns: preserve/protect/restore heritage; heritage sites/assets; fund heritage conservation.

Definition: to protect historical buildings, traditions, and landscapes from damage or loss.

Example: Entry fees can be used to preserve cultural heritage in historic centres. (Money protects old areas.)

Synonyms: safeguard heritage; conserve historic assets.

Common mistakes: Don’t confuse with “hereditary” (genetic); use “preserve heritage,” not “preserve culture of people” (too vague).

strain public services — BrE /streɪn ˈpʌb.lɪk ˈsɜː.vɪsɪz/ • AmE /streɪn ˈpʌb.lɪk ˈsɝː.vɪsɪz/ — verb phrase

Patterns: strain/overstretch services; pressure on waste collection/transport/water/emergency care.

Definition: to put heavy pressure on local systems so they operate near or beyond capacity.

Example: Peak-season crowds can strain public services such as buses and waste management. (Systems are overloaded.)

Synonyms: overburden; overstretch; put pressure on.

Common mistakes: Avoid “make services stress”; use the noun “strain” or the verb “strain (something)”.

push up prices/rents — BrE /pʊʃ ʌp ˈpraɪ.sɪz | rɛnts/ • AmE /pʊʃ ʌp ˈpraɪ.sɪz | rɛnts/ — phrasal verb

Patterns: push up rents/prices/costs; push prices up in [area/sector].

Definition: to cause prices or rents to increase, often due to higher demand from visitors.

Example: Short stays in the city centre can push up rents for local residents. (Rent becomes higher.)

Synonyms: drive up; inflate; raise.

Common mistakes: ✘ “push to up prices”; remember object position (push prices up / push up prices).

price out (local residents) — BrE /praɪs aʊt/ • AmE /praɪs aʊt/ — phrasal verb

Patterns: price sb out (of an area/market); be priced out (passive).

Definition: to make something too expensive for a group, forcing them to leave or stop buying.

Example: Holiday rentals can price out local residents from historic districts. (Locals can’t afford to live there.)

Synonyms: make unaffordable for; exclude financially.

Common mistakes: Include the object (who is priced out); avoid ✘ “price out from”. Use “price out of an area/market”.

cap visitor numbers — BrE /kæp ˈvɪz.ɪ.tə ˈnʌm.bəz/ • AmE /kæp ˈvɪz.ɪ.tɚ ˈnʌm.bɚz/ — verb phrase

Patterns: cap/limit/restrict numbers; impose a cap on daily/annual visitors; ticketed entry.

Definition: to set an upper limit on how many tourists can enter a site or area within a period.

Example: Authorities cap visitor numbers at fragile beaches to protect ecosystems. (They set a limit.)

Synonyms: limit; restrict; set a ceiling on.

Common mistakes: Don’t mix “cap” with percentage incorrectly (say “cap at 5,000 per day,” not “cap to 5,000 percent”).

keep value onshore — BrE /kiːp ˈvæl.juː ɒnˈʃɔː/ • AmE /kiːp ˈvæl.juː ɑːnˈʃɔːr/ — verb phrase

Patterns: keep/retain value onshore; keep profits locally; local ownership keeps value onshore.

Definition: to ensure profits remain within the host country rather than flowing abroad.

Example: Family-run hotels help keep value onshore instead of sending profits overseas. (Money stays local.)

Synonyms: retain profits locally; reduce revenue leakage.

Common mistakes: Avoid vague “keep value inside”; specify where (onshore/locally/in the community).

leak out of the local economy — BrE /liːk aʊt əv ðə ˈləʊ.kəl ɪˈkɒn.ə.mi/ • AmE /liːk aʊt əv ðə ˈloʊ.kəl ɪˈkɑː.nə.mi/ — verb phrase

Patterns: profits/revenue leak out of; leakage to foreign owners/suppliers/platforms.

Definition: for money earned from tourism to leave the host economy through imports or foreign ownership.

Example: When big chains dominate, a large share of profits can leak out of the local economy. (Money leaves the country.)

Synonyms: flow abroad; go offshore; revenue leakage.

Common mistakes: Use a clear subject (what leaks—profits/revenue); avoid ✘ “it leaks economy”.

balance prosperity with liveability — BrE /ˈbæl.əns prɒˈspɛr.ɪ.ti wɪð ˌlɪv.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ • AmE /ˈbæl.əns prɑːˈspɛr.ə.ti wɪð ˌlɪv.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ — verb phrase

Patterns: balance X with Y; balance growth with sustainability/affordability/liveability.

Definition: to manage economic gains while protecting residents’ quality of life.

Example: Effective tourism policy aims to balance prosperity with liveability in popular districts. (Money and daily life stay in harmony.)

Synonyms: reconcile growth and quality of life; find a sustainable equilibrium.

Common mistakes: Don’t use “balance between X and Y” with the verb “balance”; prefer “balance X with Y”.