ENGLISH FOR TOURISM LEVEL III

UNIT 2: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

LISTENING COMPREHENSION ASSIGNMENT

Introduction

Steve Walsh works for Intelligent Tourism

Initiative, which is a private sector international
tourism organization.

In the audios you will listen, we join him towards

the end of a talk on sustainable tourism to a group
of tour operators and travel agents.

Answer the questions and check your work with the Answer Key at the end of this file.

Firstly, complete the 2004 UNWTO description of sustainable tourism below by selecting the correct term. Then
continue with the Listening tasks.

Get the gist

Consider the 2004 UNWTO description of
sustainable tourism on the left. Listen to Steve
(Sustainable Tourism1.wma audio file in the virtual
classroom) and answer:
Which one of the three guidelines for sustainable
tourism do you hear him talk about?

Listen in more detail

1. Which three of the following issues does this
part of his talk include?

a. how tourism can help to reduce poverty

b. long-term economic tourism operations
c. the cost of local tourism infrastructures
d. the distribution of tourism’s socio-economic
benefits
e. the loss of tourism revenues to multinational
companies.

2. Steve talks about two reasons why organizations speak of sustainable development of tourism rather than
sustainable tourism. What are those reasons?

Listen to Steve ending his talk (Sustainable Tourism2.wma audio file in the virtual classroom)
1. Where would you place Steve on the continuum of commitment to sustainable tourism? Why?
2. Which option shows the structure of the ending of the talk?

Ending A
1. Concluding remarks
2. Summary of talk contents
3. Thank the audience and invite questions
Ending B
1. Summary of talk contents
2. Concluding remarks
3. Thank audience and invite questions

In case of any doubt that you may have, post it in Doubts about this week? in the virtual classroom. I’ll be
glad to help you!

This is it for the week! Go ahead and enjoy!

Note: Keep the notes of all the answers to this week proposal. You will need those notes for a production next
term whose title will be: Sustainable Tourism: Today for Tomorrow. I’ll give details about this production next
term. Just keep the notes now. For that production, also consider:

Tourism Intelligence International. Explain, comment on the following idea of Tourism Intelligence
International, the organization Steve Walsh work for.

Answer Key:
2004 UNWTO description of sustainable tourism: 1. guidelines 2. mass tourism 3. principles 4. sustainability 5. optimum 6. biodiversity
7. authenticity 8. values 9. viable 10. stakeholders 11. stable 12. host communities
Get the Gist: guideline 3
Listen in more detail 1: b, d, and a
Listen in more detail 2: reasons: 1. In order to be sustainable, tourism needs to be integrated into all aspects of development. 2. Some
aspects of tourism are not sustainable today, even with current technologies and best practices. An example of this reality is long-haul travel.
Listen to Steve ending his talk: 1. Answers will vary but you should justify your answer appropriately.
2. Ending B