IELTS writing task 2 answer (23) (should foreign tourists be charged more than locals?) Question: "Some people think the foreign visitors should be charged more than the local visitors when they visit the cultural and historical attractions in another country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?" Answer: Whether tourists from abroad should pay more than the locals to visit domestic places of interest is a controversial issue. I do agree that tickets should be more expensive for foreigners. However, I also believe it is not wise to charge them too much. Raising ticket prices of local scenic spots and historic sites to an appropriate extent for foreign visitors can improve local living standards. Tourism revenue can be a major part of a nation’s income. By charging foreign tourists more money, therefore, can help governments earn more every year. People can thus lead a more wealthy life. This is particularly pronounced in impoverished countries where tourist industry plays the main role in local economy. Besides, people travelling abroad would normally not consider paying a little more to see must-visit sites a big problem. International traveling is usually a luxury and inevitably involves large spending, at least more costly than domestic trips. This is why international travellers can accept and are already prepared for relatively larger expenditures. After all, they are aware that the places they are visiting are not every day sights to them, therefore worth the money. On the other hand, if the entrance fee is set outrageously high, it would do harm to local tourist markets. Nowadays mass tourism is in full swing, there are countless destinations for potential tourists to choose from. So a country which charges visitors unbearable amount of money is not able to attract a large number of tourists. This will absolutely hinder a nation’s profit in tourism industry and may even pose a threat to national economy. In conclusion, charging foreign tourists a little bit more than local visitors for tourist spots can have a beneficial effect on national economy. However, these fees should be in an acceptable range.