Practice E.3 Tourism and sport at the international scale with authentic IB Geography exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 structure, covering key topics like physical geography, human geography, and geospatial analysis. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Paper
Level
Question 1
SL & HLPaper 1
The following graph shows the relationship between the number of leisure facilities and catchment areas across several major cities
1.[1]
State the city with the smallest catchment area
2.[1]
Identify the city with the lowest catchment to leisure facility ratio
3.[2]
Outline one reason why cities with smaller catchment areas might still have a high number of leisure facilities
4.[6]
Explain two factors that influence the number of leisure facilities in urban areas
5.[10]
Evaluate the relative importance of factors impacting the distribution of athletic facilities in at least one urban area.
Question 2
SL & HLPaper 1
The following table shows 5 cities with the highest number of international arrivals in 2024:
| City | Country | International Arrivals (millions) | Growth from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mecca | Saudi Arabia | 19.3 | +20% |
| Bangkok | Thailand | 32.4 | +37% |
| London | United Kingdom | 21.7 | +7% |
| Hong Kong | China (SAR) | 20.5 | +19% |
| Istanbul | Turkey | 23.0 | +14% |
1.[1]
State the number of international arrivals (in millions) to Mecca in 2024.
2.[2]
Identify the country with the highest number of international visitors
3.[2]
Outline two potential reasons why not every international arrival is considered tourism.
4.[6]
Describe two strategies used to manage environmental damage caused by tourism using one named example.
5.[10]
Examine the perspective that the economic benefits of tourism in one named country outweigh its social and environmental consequences.
Question 3
SL & HLPaper 1
The table shows the top 10 performers in the world by total medal count in the Olympics
Source: International Olympic Committee (IOC)
1.[2]
Calculate the range in total medal count among the top ten countries shown in the table.
2.[1]
Explain two ways that national success in international sports can contribute to:
i. Increased national pride or unity
3.[1]
Explain two ways that national success in international sports can contribute to
ii. Greater investment in sports infrastructure and training
4.[6]
Describe two possible geographical or economic factors that could explain why two countries would perform at the top of the medal table.
5.[10]
To what extent does success in global sporting events reflect a country’s level of development?
6.[10]
Discuss the role of government and private investment in influencing a nation’s success in international sporting competitions.
Question 4
SL & HLPaper 1
Below is an image of a coastal tourist destination.
1.[1]
Identify one visible feature in the image that suggests this is a coastal tourist destination.
2.[1]
State one reason why coastal areas are popular with tourists.
3.[2]
Outline one environmental problem that can be caused by overtourism in coastal areas.
4.[6]
Explain two challenges that overtourism can create for local communities in coastal destinations.
5.[10]
To what extent does overtourism threaten the sustainability of coastal environments?
Question 5
SL & HLPaper 1
The infographic shows the Most Visited Cities in The World in 2024
Source: Euromonitor International (2024)
1.[2]
Describe the spatial distribution of the ten most visited cities shown in the infographic.
2.[2]
Outline one reason why religious tourism may contribute significantly to the ranking of one of the cities listed.
3.[3]
Suggest two possible physical or human geographic factors that might explain why Bangkok received the highest number of international visitors in 2024.
4.[3]
Contrast the visitor numbers between the most visited city and the tenth most visited city, and suggest one possible reason for this difference.
5.[10]
Using examples, examine how urban environments manage the challenges associated with being a top global tourist destination.
6.[10]
Discuss how global interactions and connectivity influence tourist flows to major cities.
Question 6
SL & HLPaper 1
The photograph shows a crowded beach resort.
Source: Heart My Backpack
1.[2]
Identify two tourist-related activities or services shown in the photograph.
2.[2]
Outline one way tourism may benefit the local economy in this location.
3.[6]
Explain three possible negative impacts of tourism visible or suggested in the photograph.
4.[10]
Examine the ways in which tourism can contribute to the development of low-income countries.
5.[10]
To what extent does income affect people’s ability to participate in leisure and tourism activities?
Question 7
SL & HLPaper 1
The graph shows The Visitor Totals in Machu Picchu between 1980 - 2012
Source: MINCETUR (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism)
1.[2]
State the year when visitor numbers to Machu Picchu first exceeded 1 million.
2.[2]
Describe how the number of foreign visitors changed between 1990 and 2012.
3.[6]
Suggest three possible problems this increase in tourism could cause at the site.
4.[10]
To what extent does the hosting of global sporting events benefit the host country?
5.[10]
Examine how levels of economic development influence patterns of participation in leisure activities.
Question 8
SL & HLPaper 1
The photograph shows a newly constructed sports stadium in Hong Kong.
1.[1]
State one visible feature suggesting that the area is still under development.
2.[1]
Identify one transport-related feature visible in the image that supports stadium accessibility.
3.[2]
Outline one reason why a stadium in a major city like this might have a large sphere of influence.
4.[6]
Explain two ways this stadium could influence urban development in the surrounding area.
5.[10]
To what extent can large sports stadiums contribute to sustainable urban development?
Question 9
SL & HLPaper 1
The graph below shows The World’s Biggest Tourism Spenders.
Source: United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
1.[2]
Describe two changes in outbound tourism expenditure between 2021 and 2022 shown in the infographic.
2.[2]
Suggest one reason why outbound tourism spending from the United States increased significantly between 2021 and 2022.
3.[6]
Explain three possible factors that may account for variations in outbound tourism spending between countries shown in the infographic.
4.[10]
Evaluate the role of mega-events in promoting long-term economic and social benefits for host cities.
5.[10]
To what extent can ecotourism be considered a truly sustainable form of tourism?
Question 10
SL & HLPaper 1
The following information shows the approximate international tourist arrival numbers (in millions) by continent based on recent global tourism data (UNWTO estimates and regional trends for 2023–2024):
| Continent | International Tourist Arrivals (millions) |
|---|---|
| Europe | 550 |
| North America | 200 |
| South America | 40 |
| Africa | 45 |
| Asia | 340 |
| Oceania | 25 |
1.[1]
State the level of tourism arrivals in Africa.
2.[1]
Identify the continent with the lowest tourism arrivals
3.[2]
Outline one reason why South America receives only moderate levels of tourism.
4.[6]
Explain two potential economic impacts of high tourism arrivals on a region.
5.[10]
Examine the factors influencing variations in international tourist arrivals.