VOA标准英语2008年-Tourism Studies Expanding Rapidly

By George Dwyer
Washington
08 January 2008
 

Last year Afghanistan's Ministry¹ of Information and Culture announced the government's decision to establish a new teaching center for the promotion² of tourism. As part of that effort, students will receive training in fields such as travel marketing³, hotel management, and tourist services. As VOA's George Dwyer reports, the field of Tourism Studies in the United States has been on the ascent⁴ for years, particularly at one prestigious⁵ university in Washington, D.C.

Stephanie Smith recently graduated from Washington, D.C.'s George Washington University and found work with the U.S. Travel Industry Association.

"It is an umbrella organization for all of the U.S. travel industry, and I am currently doing communications and public relations for them," Smith said.

Stephanie is just one of thousands of young people now working in the travel industry who found their jobs with the help of a university degree in the rapidly expanding field of Tourism Studies.

Smith explains why she chose the Travel and Tourism program, "And it is really interesting to be behind the scenes, and I chose the program because of that, and I wanted to really focus my previous work in marketing into a specific industry."

Today travel and tourism is a trillion-dollar industry in the United States alone. Worldwide that figure is believed to be $6 trillion (U.S.). And in many developing countries, stimulating⁶ growth in the tourism sector⁷ is seen as an effective tool for lifting entire economies.

"Politicians in particular have become very sensitive to how important tourism is to local economies," says Dr. Sheryl Elliott, who is an associate professor of Tourism Studies at George Washington University. "Tourism can start on a very small scale without tremendously huge investments. There are special forms of ecotourism and cultural tourism that fit many developing countries. So developing countries can get on board, can get involved with the tourism sector and realize very, very good economic benefits in a very, very short term," she said.

That is certainly the hope for nations like Afghanistan, which boasts world heritage sites such as Bamiyan as well as many other spectacular scenic⁸ treasures. Though they once drew as many as two million visitors a year, the industry collapsed⁹ during the nation's 30 years of conflict.

Elliott believes that success can be recreated, and that the benefits are not just financial. She adds, "In a way I think that tourism actually - if planned correctly, if done correctly - can actually protect and promote cultural identity and cultural heritage."

One lesson these students are learning is that enhancing the experience of visitors today can not only help preserve the past but also serve as an engine for future economic growth.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

3 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

4 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。

5 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

6 stimulating   

adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的

参考例句：

• shower gel containing plant extracts that have a stimulating effect on the skin 含有对皮肤有益的植物精华的沐浴凝胶
• This is a drug for stimulating nerves. 这是一种兴奋剂。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

9 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。