Quiz: Tourism Challenges - Vocabulary for English Exams

Download the PDFs at the end.

Koh Samui, Thailand (Joshua Resnick)

In this blog post, we look at the challenges that popular tourist spots face today because of tourism. This quiz is perfect for students preparing for English exams or anyone eager to improve their travel vocabulary.  

The first exercise is a reading comprehension test where you will match sentences detailing particular challenges with the corresponding countries they refer to. This activity will help you connect particular tourism-related issues with their locations, which will help deepen your understanding of how these challenges manifest in different parts of the world. As you work through the exercise, you will have the chance to answer thought-provoking questions and make notes about the specific challenges present in your own city or country that have been caused by tourism. 

The second exercise is a multiple-choice quiz where you will complete sentences by choosing the right words. This will help you practice using vocabulary about tourism challenges.​ 



READING COMPREHENSION TEST 


Read the sentences below. 

Write down the number of the sentence where each one of these challenges is mentioned and the name of the country. 

• Overcrowding ______________ 
• Water scarcity ______________ 
• Crime ______________ 
• Income instability ______________ 
• Cultural disruption ______________ 
• Economic leakage ______________ 
• Rising housing costs ______________ 
• Environmental degradation ______________ 

 

1. Tourism in Bali has significantly increased water consumption, causing major shortages for local farmers and residents, many of whom now struggle to access clean water. 
2. Bangkok’s economy is vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations in international tourism, which can result in unpredictable earnings in this industry. 
3. Due to the fact that Barcelona attracts millions of visitors each year, the rising demand from tourists seeking short-term stays has made it increasingly difficult for local residents to secure homes in desirable areas. 
4. During peak tourist season, Venetians often face challenges when navigating their city, as crowds of visitors make simple errands and commutes much more complicated than usual. 
5. Over time, the nearby trails and terraces at Machu Picchu have been worn down by the excessive presence of tourists. 
6. Kenya’s tourism sector is booming, but the earnings from luxury lodges and safari tours normally bypass local businesses, which in turn restricts the country’s economic development. 
7. Tourists visiting Cape Town are often warned about the risk of theft, particularly in busy areas where pickpockets are known to be active. 
8. Tourist-focused businesses have become more prevalent in Kyoto’s historic neighbourhoods, slowly replacing long-standing local shops and changing the city’s cultural atmosphere. 

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OVER TO YOU 
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1. What role does tourism play in the economic development of your country? 
   - How does it affect local employment opportunities? 
2. What are the most significant challenges that your city faces due to tourism? 
   - What measures are being take to address them? 
3. How has tourism affected the housing market in your city? 
   - Has it made housing more expensive or harder to find? 
   - How have short-term rental platforms, such as Airbnb, impacted the housing market in your city? 

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MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST 

​
Test your understanding of various challenges that cities around the world face. For every statement, select the appropriate answer from the multiple-choice options given. 


TOURISM-RELATED CHALLENGES QUIZ 

​1. A dramatic increase in visitors at certain times of year can _____________ affect the well-being of people living in popular tourist destinations. 
A. partly 
B. adversely 
C. positively 
D. favourably 

2. _____________ employment often leads to economic instability in regions that rely heavily on tourism. 
A. Menial 
B. Regular 
C. Manual 
D. Seasonal 

3. The overuse of local resources by tourists can result in _____________ shortages, which can negatively impact residents' quality of life. 
A. vehicle 
B. traffic 
C. water 
D. noise 

4. The rise in tourist numbers frequently results in elevated noise _____________, which negatively affects the overall well-being of local residents. 
A. quality 
B. pollution 
C. volume 
D. restraint 

5. Residents frequently express concerns about a loss of _____________ as a result of the continuous influx of tourists in popular cities. 
A. confidentiality 
B. privacy 
C. transparency 
D. publicity 

6. The increase in short-term rentals for tourists is leading to a _____________ of housing for local residents. 
A. surplus 
B. disruption 
C. shortage 
D. congestion 

7. The massive influx of foreign tourists into the city, especially during peak seasons, places a significant _____________ on the local infrastructure. 
A. burden 
B. pressure 
C. demand 
D. strain 

8. A massive surge in tourism can _____________ housing prices, ultimately pricing local residents out of the market. 
A. inflate 
B. exceed 
C. outstrip 
D. undercut 

9. Mass tourism may slowly _____________ the unique cultural identity of popular destinations. 
A. erode 
B. restore 
C. preserve 
D. evaporate 

10. Major companies and upscale resorts typically earn substantial _____________, whereas small businesses and local people find it hard to keep up or notice few positive changes in their quality of life. 
A. benefits 
B. amounts 
C. impacts 
D. profits 



Download the PDFs with and without key. 



Answers 


Reading Comprehension Test 

• Overcrowding - (4) Italy / Venice 
• Water scarcity - (1) Indonesia / Bali 
• Crime - (7) South Africa / Cape Town 
• Income instability - (2) Thailand / Bangkok 
• Cultural disruption - (8) Japan / Tokyo 
• Economic leakage - (6) Kenya 
• Rising housing costs - (3) Spain / Barcelona 
• Environmental degradation - (5) Peru / Machu Picchu 

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Multiple-choice Test 

Tourism-related Challenges Quiz 

1. B. adversely 
2. D. Seasonal 
3. C. water 
4. B. pollution 
5. B. privacy 
6. C. shortage 
7. D. strain 
8. A. inflate 
9. A. erode 
​10. D. profits 


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IELTS-related blog posts: 
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Hometown 
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a city you have visited 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist 


Other blog posts: 
English Conversation: Travel experience 
English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia 
English Conversation: Travel opinions 
Story Time: Travelling in Spain 
Story Time: Travelling in France 
Travel Tips: How to Ask for Information and Make Recommendations 

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The answers can be accessed via Google Drive. Click to download immediately.

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