Buổi 110: Writing Task 2 – Discussion: có nên giới hạn số khách du lịch?

As international travel has become cheaper and more accessible, some of the world's best-known destinations have struggled to cope with the number of visitors they receive. While some people argue that such places should limit tourist numbers, others believe that travel should remain open to everyone. In my view, carefully targeted limits are justified, provided that they are designed fairly.

Those who favour limits point out that popular destinations have a finite capacity. Historic sites can be physically damaged by heavy foot traffic, fragile natural areas may be degraded, and city centres can become so crowded that they cease to function for the people who live there. Rising demand for short-term rentals may also push up rents, pricing local residents out of their own neighbourhoods. Ironically, overcrowding damages the visitor experience too: few people enjoy queuing for an hour to see a famous view.

Those who oppose limits, on the other hand, stress that travel has real value. It allows people to experience other cultures, broadens their understanding of the world, and supports the livelihoods of millions of workers in hotels, restaurants and transport. Restricting access, they argue, risks turning travel into a privilege of the wealthy, particularly if limits are enforced mainly through higher prices.

I believe both concerns can be addressed. Rather than general restrictions on entering a city or country, limits should target the specific sites and times where crowding is most severe – through timed entry to the busiest monuments, for example, or caps on the number of cruise passengers arriving on a single day. Such measures should be based on booking systems rather than price alone, so that access does not depend on wealth. At the same time, promoting less-visited areas can spread visitors more evenly, benefiting communities that currently see little tourism.

In conclusion, the freedom to travel is valuable, but it does not include the right to overwhelm the places being visited. Well-designed, targeted limits can protect both residents and the experience that visitors come for.

Riverside Hotel – 3.5/5

Good value for a short business stay. Rooms are clean and quiet if you ask for one at the back, and the staff were consistently helpful. Breakfast was simple but fresh. The main drawback was the Wi-Fi, which dropped several times during video calls, so I had to use my phone as a hotspot. Suitable for travellers who need a convenient base rather than luxury; not ideal if you depend on a stable internet connection.