Final answer:
Tourism is a growing sector of the service industry that can bring wealth to various island groups. It is important to consider the environmental impact of tourism and promote sustainable practices such as ecotourism and geotourism. While poorly managed tourism can harm local economies and the environment, many destinations strive to create a thriving tourist economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tourism is a growing sector of the service industry and a major means of gaining wealth for various island groups. To attract tourism, the islands must invest in the necessary infrastructure, such as airports, hotels, and supporting services. Long distances between islands and remote locations make tourism transportation expensive. Not every island has the funding to support these expenditures to draw tourists to their location.
One important aspect of tourism is the consideration of environmental impact. High-traffic tourist sites can be degraded by the mass of people visiting, so the concepts of ecotourism and geotourism have been developed to promote sustainable and responsible tourism. These concepts aim to preserve the essential character of the land and respect its attractions while making tourism economically beneficial and environmentally friendly.
Additionally, tourism can have both positive and negative effects on local economies. Poorly managed tourism can fail to benefit local economies and cause environmental havoc. In some cases, tourist destinations in developing economies are run by outside interests, with profits flowing out of the local economy. However, many locations work hard to establish a vibrant tourist economy that can be a valuable source of income.