In this day and age, international tourism is 

generating enormous financial

wealth and has become the primary source of income for numerous countries
around the globe. While some assert that international tourism does not unite but
rather divides people of different cultures, I partially advocate the statement that
international tourism is effective in encouraging cultural exchange.
On the one hand, it cannot be disputed that international tourism engages people
in the cross-cultural interaction between citizens of different countries and hence
helps in deepening understanding and peaceful relations. While mass media
gives people some exposure to foreign cultures, overseas tourists tend to have
more authentic and unique experiences that lead to a more profound
understanding. Furthermore, tourism paves the way for trade relationships
between countries; which naturally facilitates mutual understanding and
harmony among nations.
On the other hand, tourists fairly often, out of carelessness or ignorance,
singularly fail to respect local moral values and customs, which in turn, lead to
intense irritation in locals. Foreigners’ attitude sometimes disturbs the local and
show disrespect to the tradition and culture of local people. In India, for
example, people get very offended when someone shakes hands with women or
passes the money with their left hand. Thus, the lack of understanding of custom
and culture quite often creates tensions between locals and tourists. Moreover,
open tourism facility often deteriorates the relationship among nations as
criticism is widespread from both sides.
In conclusion, though international tourism can divide cultures due to
the unethical actions of a certain segment of foreign tourists, it can also unite
those cultures by fostering valuable exchanges between them.