【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. accommodation /əˌkɒm əˈdeɪ ʃən/ (n.) – food and lodging for visitors or tourists
Example: The city’s tourist accommodations are simple yet affordable.
2. influx /ˈɪnˌflʌks/ (n.) – the arrival of many people in an area
Example: The influx of tourists in our town has helped local shops earn more profit.
3. diminishing /dɪˈmɪn ɪʃ ɪŋ/ (adj.) – lessening or decreasing in value
Example: The tourist attraction’s diminishing popularity forced the government to increase advertising.
4. vendor /ˈvɛn dər/ (n.) – a person who sells something, especially on the street
Example: There are many vendors outside the school.
5. iconic /aɪˈkɒn ɪk/ (adj.) – referring to a person or thing that is deeply respected or is very famous
Example: The old museum is an iconic building.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
The mayor of Barcelona has stopped giving out licenses for tourist accommodation in the city starting July.
Ada Colau [kuh-LOU], Barcelona’s new mayor, implemented the year-long ban in hopes of reducing and limiting the number of tourists who visit the city. The boost in the city’s tourism started after Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics in 1992. Since then, Barcelona has become one of Europe’s most popular and most visited cities.
Professor Francesc Lopez Palomeque [pa-LO-me-ke] from the University of California said that Barcelona’s tourism grew rapidly in the last 25 years. However, this significant growth had some negative effects on the city. Palomeque stated that the influx of tourists resulted in “tourismophobia”, or fear of tourists, among the locals.
Many of Barcelona’s citizens are also concerned about the city’s overpopulation and diminishing character. Vendors, on one hand, complained that fewer locals and traditional shoppers visit the market because of the large number of tourists flocking around the market. For instance, one vendor experienced a decline in fish sales in the past few years.
As the ban takes effect, city officials are also investigating Barcelona’s current accommodation capacity and how it affects the economy and the locals. Early next year, the city will also initiate a public debate on how to develop and ensure sustainable tourism.
Other recent attempts to reduce the number of tourists in Barcelona include introducing an 8-euro entrance fee for Parc Guell [park gwel] in 2013 and banning larger groups of tourists from the city’s iconic market, La Boqueria [boo-ke-REE-yuh].
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· In your country, is having many tourists a good or bad thing? Why do you say so?
· What are some types of tourist behavior in your country that you dislike? Please explain your answer.
Discussion B
· What can be the other negative effects of tourism on a country?
· How do you think a country can ensure sustainable tourism?
