Ejercicio Option 1 - Question 1 · Inglés PAU Cantabria Extraordinaria 2024

Is social media creating overtourism and ruining travel?

1 Social media has undeniably transformed the travel industry, altering how people plan their trips. Instead of using guidebooks and searching on Google, people follow travel influencers for details on exotic locations. Although sharing glamorous travel photos has become normalized, this oversharing of travel content has negative consequences.

2 Some travelers prioritize capturing the perfect Instagram shot, leading to long lines at well-known monuments. Content writer Katie Birtles notes deceptive practices, such as the use of mirrors at sacred temples like Pura Lempuyang in Bali, creating an illusion of reflecting water and fostering a culture of inauthenticity. «Within such a large amount of shared content, it is sometimes hard to distinguish what is real and what is not», she states. Moreover, broadcasting precise travel plans, locations and activities poses risks to personal privacy and safety, making individuals more susceptible to security threats like theft.

3 The obsession with being in front of the lens takes away from living in the moment, reflected in rising phone usage during travel. Passport Photo Online ’s travel statistics indicate that 60 % of vacationers and 97 % of Millennials post photos on social media while away. Additionally, 46 % of Americans aim to make their followers jealous, and 40% of Millennials select holiday destinations based on Instagrammability.

4 Despite the surprising statistics, the negative effects of social media extend beyond excessive phone use. Mindless scrolling and uploading contribute to overtourism, defined by worldbackpackers.com as a place being negatively impacted by the overwhelming number of visitors. This excessive amount of tourists has been a concern for a long time as it harms local communities, animals and the environment. This negative impact can look like the degradation of historical and cultural sites due to the constant movement and contact, the littering of beaches and natural areas or the rising cost of food and goods driven by the desire to maximize profits from tourists.

5 To address issues of tourist misbehavior, certain governments, like Bali, have introduced new guidelines. These regulations now require tourists to obtain a license for motorbike rentals and prohibit them from accessing any mountains or volcanoes in Bali due to their sacred nature. Additionally, travelers must only stay in registered hotels and villas (which will impact a number of Airbnb properties).

6 In an article on France24.com, Maller-Bitton emphasizes that overtourism is frustrating for travelers and tourists as well. “We need tourism, but a balance needs to be found. The tourists themselves would benefit the most. Many of them leave angry after having spent several hours in the car without being able to find parking, some place to eat, or toilets because there isn’t enough infrastructure. This mass tourism satisfies nobody”.

7 Now that you see how social media has affected tourism and travel, it’s time to do something about it. The solution isn’t to stop geo-tagging or going back to Polaroid cameras. It starts with becoming a more conscious traveler.

Adapted from https://blackgirlnerds.com, 16 September 2023

Question 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate clearly by writing the words TRUE or FALSE whether the following statements are true or false according to the text and write down the sentence or the part of the text that you consider justifies your answer. The evidence must make sense and be grammatically and lexically coherent.

No points will be given if the evidence is not correct or if the handwriting is not sufficiently clear.

a)

Sharing detailed travel information can increase the probability of security issues.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

The majority of Millennials deliberately avoid sharing their vacation photos on social media.

TRUE

FALSE

c)

Social media's negative effects are related only to overusing the phone.

TRUE

FALSE

d)

According to the text, overtourism is a recent phenomenon.

TRUE

FALSE