In recent years, tourists have paid attention to preserving both the culture and environment of the places they visit. However, some people think that it is impossible to be a responsible tourist. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

In recent years, tourists have paid attention to preserving both the culture and environment of the places they visit. However, some people think that it is impossible to be a responsible tourist. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

It is argued that there is no chance for tourists to take responsibility in protecting the environment and culture of host countries. However, I disagree with this view and believe that this is a worthy aim that can be achieved by various ways.
Firstly, if everyone was equipped with the knowledge of cultural diversity and the vital importance of the environment, they would be more aware of their behavior. For example, children should be educated to avoid throwing rubbish into surroundings or touching fragile historical objects in museums when they travel abroad. Besides that, western holiday-makers who flock to tourist destinations in Asian countries should wear suitable clothes because they are insensitive to local youngsters there. This could prevent children from copying negative attitudes such as rowdiness and outbound tourists may set a good example of good manners.
Secondly, it is possible to promote cultural differences through both local and international media in order to reduce the risk of having unintentionally offensive actions to indigenous practices. The clearest example of this is that cow which is an edible animal in most countries is a sacred animal and is worshiped in festivals in India. Without such knowledge, tourists may bring with them cow meat and this could leave a bad impression on locals.
Finally, local authorities could enact and enforce strict rules on protecting the environment and core traditional value, which could act as a deterrent. In Singapore, for example, throwing away garbage, even a small thing like chewing gum could be fined severely and this rule is widely-known in many nations. As a result, every tourist coming to this country abides by rules and makes efforts to preserve historical sites as well as natural scenery.
In conclusion, I would contend that sustainable tourism development could be achieved through education, media, and laws, and tourists could definitely become culpable for the environmental and cultural problems.