2.(iv) Which of the following is/are economic benefit(s) of eco-tourism for local communities ? (Paragraph 3) 1. It increases government tax revenues only. 2. It creates jobs through spending on lodges, guides and food. 3. It primarily supports large international corporations. 4. It reduces the need for community involvement. 5. It increases income and infrastructure. 6. Locals adopt unethical methods to attract tourists. Select the correct option. (A) Only 1 (B) 2 and 6 (C) 3 and 5 (D) 2 and 5
2.(iv) Which of the following is/are economic benefit(s) of eco-tourism for local communities ? (Paragraph 3) 1. It increases government tax revenues only. 2. It creates jobs through spending on lodges, guides and food. 3. It primarily supports large international corporations. 4. It reduces the need for community involvement. 5. It increases income and infrastructure. 6. Locals adopt unethical methods to attract tourists. Select the correct option. (A) Only 1 (B) 2 and 6 (C) 3 and 5 (D) 2 and 5
Options
(D) 2 and 5 — Paragraphs 3-4 confirm tourist spending creates local jobs/income (Statement 2) and improves rural infrastructure (Statement 5); the other statements either contradict or misrepresent the passage.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for selecting option (D) 2 and 5.
- 2No marks for any other option; both correct statements (2 and 5) must be identified together.
Hint
Match each numbered statement to Paragraph 3 (and 4); reject any statement that adds 'only', 'primarily', or a negative not stated as a benefit.
Quick Oral Answer
Statements 2 and 5 are the real economic benefits — tourist spending on lodges, guides and food creates jobs, and this raises income and improves infrastructure, so the answer is (D).
Analysis & Explanation
This multi-statement MCQ tests whether you can separate real economic benefits of eco-tourism (Paras 3-4) from distractors that misstate or invert the passage.
Concept
- Check each numbered statement individually against the passage before matching it to an option.
Key points
- Statement 2 is true: tourist spending on lodges, guides, food and souvenirs creates jobs/income (Para 3).
- Statement 5 is true: this approach leads to better income and infrastructure in rural areas (Para 4).
- Only option (D) pairs 2 and 5, so it is correct.
Common mistakes
- Picking (B) because Statement 6 (locals adopting unethical methods = greenwashing) is mistaken for a benefit; it is actually a challenge from Para 5.
- Picking (C) because Statement 3 wrongly claims tourism mainly benefits large corporations, when the passage stresses community-based benefit.
Real-world
- This mirrors how policy-makers evaluate tourism schemes: genuine local job/income creation versus greenwashing claims.
Common Mistakes
- 1Choosing (B) 2 and 6 by mistaking greenwashing (a challenge in Paragraph 5) for an economic benefit.
- 2Choosing (A) 'Only 1' because tax revenue sounds economic, ignoring that the passage never restricts benefits to tax and the word 'only' makes it false.
- 3Reading just Paragraph 3 and missing that Statement 5 (income and infrastructure) is confirmed in Paragraph 4.
Interesting Facts
The passage notes Costa Rica has turned over 21% of its land into national parks and reserves through eco-tourism-driven support — a real figure often cited in tourism policy studies.
Community-based tourism (CBT) is recognised by the UN World Tourism Organization as a key tool for keeping tourism income within local economies rather than leaking it to outside operators.
The UN declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, highlighting eco-tourism's role in rural job creation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Statement 6 not an economic benefit?
Statement 6 says locals adopt unethical methods to attract tourists. This reflects greenwashing and misuse discussed in Paragraph 5 as a challenge of eco-tourism, not a benefit, so it cannot be part of the correct answer.
Where in the passage is Statement 5 (income and infrastructure) confirmed?
Paragraph 4 states 'This approach has led to better income and infrastructure in rural areas', which directly supports Statement 5 even though the question tag points mainly to Paragraph 3.