Effects of Traditional Tourism in Busan

 Busan is one of the most beloved cities in Korea by both local and international tourists. Characterized by features of delicious foods, diverse sea, and delightful atmosphere, this representative port city is considered to be a very special place for the tourists. Also, as the cradle of cinema industry of Korea, Asia’s greatest international film festival BIFF is held in Busan every year collecting millions of people from all over the world. With so many attractions, an average of 190,000 foreign tourists visits Busan every month. However, with traditional tourism growing in large scale, side effect follows as well. The most important effects of traditional tourism in Busan are pollution of the environment and weakening of the local economy.

 One side effect of traditional tourism in Busan is pollution of the environment. Excessive development for constructing hotels has already caused loss of sand and decrease of white sand beach at Haeundae beach. If this kind of indiscriminate development continues to build large shopping centers and hotels, we might lose the natural beauty and clean environment of Busan. Also, people in Busan are having trouble with so much tour buses and traffic. As too much traffic causes serious air pollution, air condition of Busan can get worse and this can cause many health problems to citizens of Busan if mass group tour continues as now.

 The other side effect of traditional tourism in Busan is weakening of the local economy. Almost every tour that is guided by large travel agencies includes plans for visiting big department stores and duty-free shops. If tourists go to big shopping centers managed by large companies rather than traditional markets, local people cannot benefit from the tourism and regional economy can contract. Furthermore, traditional tourism can cause gentrification. As tourists pour into the specific spot, small traders and local people are pushed out by risen rent and big franchise companies take the place from them. If the spot which became famous for local reason is shifted with big companies, the place loses its own characteristic and can also lose tourists. In turn, the money from tourists does not go to the local economy and the place can even lose the identity.

 In conclusion, traditional tourism in Busan has side effects of environmental pollution and economic devastation for area communities. If these problems are not straightened out well, Busan will suffer in environmental and economical aspects. Therefore, much effort of the region and interest on the sustainable tourism by tourists will be needed. Such efforts will make Busan more widely loved city with sound and healthy tourism.