B1 — Intermediate
Tourism is a very important industry in Scotland and brings in a lot of money. Social media apps like TikTok and Instagram are helping more people discover beautiful places.
Scotland quickly became popular with tourists through these platforms.
However, there are advantages and disadvantages to this.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how social media made Scotland popular.
https://newsinlevels.com/products/social-media-makes-scotland-popular-level-3
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “hotspot” mean? “Beautiful videos are going viral, and they turn quiet and remote natural places into famous hotspots overnight.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “short-term rental” mean? “To help save their communities, some cities are now introducing a new tourist tax and putting strict rules on short-term rentals.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What is a “camper van”? ”Thousands of visitors arrive in big camper vans, block narrow single-track roads, and leave lots of rubbish behind.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the pros and cons of a place becoming popular on social media?
- What is your opinion on imposing tourist tax and putting strict rules on short-term rentals in some communities in Scotland?
- Should influencers be careful and stop promoting tiny places that don’t have enough spaces for crowds? Explain.
- Have you ever wanted to visit a place after seeing it online? Why? Talk about it.
- What should visitors do to respect local people and the environment?