IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist

Get access to 97+ Part 2 topics given between January and November 2019. Click here. 

In this lesson, we are going to focus on six questions you might be asked in Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test. These are 'opinion' and 'ideas' questions which focus on places that tourists visit and being a tourist. 

Read our answers below and take notes of the new vocabulary.

PLACES THAT TOURISTS VISIT 

What areas of a town or city do tourists often like to visit? 

In general, most people like to see the sights when they visit a place. They tend to go sightseeing and have a look round the museums and historic monuments the city is famous for. Tourists always explore the main attractions in a city and that's the reason why most of them are absolutely packed. Buying a guidebook of a city gives you an overview of all the places that are worth visiting and all the things to do there. For instance, exploring the local markets and shopping areas are common tourist activities. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• explore | visit 
• go sightseeing | see the sights - visit famous places 
• have a look round - to explore a place, often on foot 
• tourist attractions | attractions | sights 
• worth + noun/-ing - We use it to say that it is a good idea to do something or go somewhere. 
• worth visiting | worth seeing 

How important is it for local governments to look after popular tourist attractions? 

Well, even though economies are dependent on tourism as a source of income, governments need to consider the negative impact it has on historic landmarks. For the most part, tourists visit the main attractions in a city to enjoy the scenery and to take photos, but at the same time there are people who will scratch and destroy the structures. One thing that local governments can do to prevent landmarks from vandalism is to hire security. Setting up new rules of visitation is another way to preserve the most popular tourist attractions. This means that entrance will be limited to a certain number of visitors per day. All these measures can help protect the attractions so that they will last far into the future. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• to be dependent on something 
• a source of income 
• historic landmarks 
• vandalism - the crime of destroying or damaging something, especially public property, on purpose 
• vandalise (British English) / vandalize (American English) (verb) 
• to prevent from vandalism 
• to set up rules 

Should people pay to visit tourist attractions such as museums and art galleries? [Why? / Why not?] 

I think tourist attractions should be more accessible to children, students and elderly people by giving them the chance of visiting museums and art galleries at a lower price. There could also be discounts for families and free admission days. On the other hand, more visitors would make museums more crowded and this would result in a less enjoyable experience. I think prices should apply to foreign visitors, for the most part, because they are actually the people most interested in exploring the cultural heritage of other countries. An entrance charge is necessary in order to protect institutions such as museums and art galleries. After all, we pay for every other cultural activity, for instance theatre, cinema, and so on. It seems quite reasonable to contribute to the financial needs of museums as well. 

Note: This is an 'opinion' type of question. You need to share your opinion of the topic. 
(What is your opinion? You can use some of our examples and vocabulary provided to help you express your point of view.) 

​
VOCABULARY 

• accessible to somebody (Example: These buildings are not accessible to the public.)  
• chance of doing something (Example: Is there any chance of getting tickets for the concert?) 
• free admission days 
• to apply to someone / something (Example: What I am saying doesn't apply to you.) 
• heritage (noun, usually singular) - the art, buildings, traditions, and beliefs that a society considers important to its history and culture 
• cultural / national / musical heritage 
• an entrance charge - a fee charged for entry 
• to protect institutions 
• to contribute to something - to give something, especially money, to help someone/something

​
BEING A TOURIST 

How should tourists behave when they are in a different country? 

First of all, I think that tourists should do as much research about their destination as they can before their departure. This will help them learn more about the culture and what is considered polite as well as rude. It is important for tourists to uphold local customs and to consider laws with respect. They need to be mindful of religious and cultural beliefs. Being aware of what is illegal and socially unacceptable will be beneficial for tourists during their stay in another country. Overall, when on holiday, people need to behave appropriately and they need to know what can get them into trouble. 

Note: This is an 'opinion' type of question. You need to share your opinion of the topic. 
(What is your opinion? You can use some of our examples and vocabulary provided to help you express your point of view.) 


VOCABULARY 

• to do research 
• to uphold something - to support something that you think is right 
• to uphold local customs | to uphold the law 
• ​to be mindful of something - to remember something and consider it when you do something 
• religious and cultural beliefs 
• to be beneficial (to/for somebody or something) 
• to get someone into trouble - a situation in which you can be punished  
• to keep yourself out of trouble 

What can local people do to help tourists enjoy their visit? 

Meeting local people is an important part of any travel experience. Interacting with the locals is a great way to experience the culture and the lifestyle people have. Local people can make your trip special and memorable, especially by sharing more about their authentic local cuisine and traditions they have. Being hospitable to tourists is a great way to make them feel comfortable during their trip. Another thing that locals can do is sharing more about their culture and customs as this will help tourists understand local etiquette and as a result they will enjoy and appreciate their trip even more. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• authentic local cuisine 
• hospitable (to/towards somebody) (of a person) - pleased to welcome guests; generous and friendly to visitors (Synonym: welcoming) 
• local etiquette 

What can tourists learn from visiting new places? 

For the most part, people can get a general understanding of a country's history by visiting museums and monuments. Besides that, travelling allows you to immerse yourself in a new culture. It also gives you a new perspective because you learn to appreciate other places and people, and you learn more about what the local customs are. In addition to this, exploring new places makes tourists more curious and open to new experiences. In general, I would say that travelling helps tourists learn how to adjust to new situations and how to be creative as well as more independent. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• to immerse yourself/somebody (in something) - to become or make somebody completely involved in something 
• local custom(s) - the way people behave in a community 

Click below to read some of our other IELTS related lessons: 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient 
​IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 

Other lessons: 
City Life - Going out 
Cities - Talk about your area 
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 
​

The course is updated every month. UNLIMITED ACCESS!
​Click on the image!

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PREPARATION COURSE

What if you could review all the recent Part 1, 2 and 3 topics in less than 12 hours? 😮 😏
✒ In the course, you will get access to:
🔸Grammar for IELTS Speaking
🔹IELTS Speaking Part 1 - 37 Topics - 215 Questions (+ Answers & Vocabulary)
🔸PDF files with Part 1 topics from May 2018 to September 2019
🔹IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Notes & Sample Answers)
🔸PDF file with IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3 Topics - April, June, July, August, and September 2019
🔹IELTS Speaking Part 3 - 37 questions (Answers & Vocabulary)
​🔸Two online IELTS tests (Academic)
👉 The course is updated with the latest news and topics every month.

More Info

Subscribe to our newsletter for any future lessons on this blog.
You will be notified via email.

Subscribe to our Newsletter