Impacts of and responses to globalisation, migration and tourism

Welcome to Your Geography Journey!

In this chapter, we are going to explore how the world is more "connected" than ever before and what that actually means for people and the planet. We’ve already looked at what causes globalisation and why people move; now, we are going to look at the impacts (the good and the bad) and how governments try to manage these massive global changes. Whether it's a big company like Apple building a factory or millions of people going on holiday to Spain, everything has a consequence!

1. The Impacts of Globalisation and TNCs

Globalisation is led by Transnational Corporations (TNCs)—these are massive companies that operate in many different countries. When a TNC moves into a "host country" (usually a developing or emerging country), it brings a mix of benefits and costs.

Benefits for the Host Country:

• Investment and Jobs: TNCs provide thousands of jobs, often in areas where there was little work before.
• The Multiplier Effect: This is like a "success cycle." New jobs mean people have more money to spend in local shops, which helps those shops grow and create even more jobs!
• Infrastructure: TNCs often help build better roads, power lines, and internet connections so they can run their business, which locals can then use too.
• New Skills: Workers learn how to use modern technology and management techniques.

Costs for the Host Country:

• Profit Repatriation: This is a fancy way of saying the TNC takes the money it makes back to its "home" country (like the USA or Japan) instead of keeping it in the local economy.
• Low Wages: While there are jobs, the pay is often very low compared to what workers get in developed countries.
• Environmental Damage: TNCs might move to countries with "weak" environmental laws so they can save money by polluting more easily.
• Economic Dependency: If the TNC decides to close the factory and move to a cheaper country, the host country is left with massive unemployment.

2. The Impacts of Migration

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. It can be voluntary (by choice, usually for work) or forced (fleeing war or disaster). It can also be national (within a country, like moving from the countryside to a city—rural-urban migration) or international (moving to a different country).

Impacts on the Source Country (Where people leave):

• Positive: Migrants often send money back home to their families. These are called remittances and are a huge help to the economy.
• Negative: Brain Drain. Often, the most educated and talented people (like doctors and engineers) leave, which can slow down the country's development.

Impacts on the Host Country (Where people arrive):

• Positive: Migrants fill "skill gaps" (jobs locals can't or won't do) and contribute to the economy by paying taxes. They also bring new cultures, food, and ideas!
• Negative: There can be pressure on local services like schools, hospitals, and housing if the population grows too quickly. Sometimes, cultural tensions can also arise.

Quick Review: Remember that voluntary migration is usually for "pull factors" like better pay, while forced migration is caused by "push factors" like safety concerns.

3. The Impacts of Tourism

Tourism is one of the world's biggest industries. Mass tourism happens when huge numbers of people visit the same place (like a Mediterranean beach resort).

The "Sunny" Side (Positive Impacts):

• Economic Growth: Tourists spend money on hotels, restaurants, and tours, creating millions of jobs.
• Conservation: Money from tourism can be used to protect wildlife or historic buildings that would otherwise be lost.
• Cultural Exchange: It helps people from different backgrounds understand each other better.

The "Cloudy" Side (Negative Impacts):

• Environmental Footprint: More people means more waste, higher water use, and pollution from flights and transport.
• Loss of Culture: Sometimes local traditions are changed or "watered down" just to entertain tourists (often called Disneyfication).
• Economic Leaking: Just like TNCs, many big hotel chains are owned by international companies, so the profit doesn't stay in the local area.

4. Geopolitical Relationships

Countries don't exist in isolation; they have geopolitical relationships. This means they have to work together to manage trade, migration, and tourism. Organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) help set the rules for global trade and lend money to countries in need. Managing these relationships is a balancing act between keeping borders open for trade and money, but secure for safety.

5. Managing the Issues (Case Studies)

To do well in your exam, you need to know how these issues are managed in specific places. The syllabus requires you to look at migration and sustainable tourism.

Management of Long-Term Migration

Governments use different strategies to manage people moving into their country. For example, some countries use a Points-Based System (like in the UK or Australia).
• How it works: Potential migrants "earn" points for things like speaking the language, having a specific job skill, or having a job offer.
• Why do it? It allows the country to control the volume of people arriving and ensures that the people who come have the skills the economy needs.

Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism means visiting a place in a way that doesn't damage the environment or the local culture for future generations. You need two examples:

Example 1: A Developed Country (e.g., The Lake District, UK)

In developed countries, management often focuses on reducing congestion. Strategies include:
• Public Transport: Encouraging "park and ride" schemes so tourists don't clog up narrow country lanes with cars.
• Footpath Repair: Using local stone to fix paths damaged by thousands of walkers to prevent soil erosion.

Example 2: An Emerging or Developing Country (e.g., Costa Rica or Kenya)

Here, the focus is often on Ecotourism. Strategies include:
• Small-scale lodges: Using local materials and renewable energy (like solar power) instead of massive high-rise hotels.
• Local Involvement: Ensuring local people are the guides and owners, so the money stays in the community instead of "leaking" out to TNCs.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse Globalisation with just Trade. Globalisation is the whole "package"—it includes culture, technology, and people moving, not just buying and selling goods!

Key Takeaways for Your Revision:

• TNCs: They bring jobs but often take the profits home (\(profit - local\) \(investment = leakage\)).
• Migration: It helps the host country's economy but can cause a "brain drain" in the source country.
• Tourism: It’s a great money-maker but can destroy the very environment people come to see.
• Sustainability: The goal is to balance economic gain with protecting the environment and people.