Tourism is a huge global industry. It's having a major impact on the economy, culture and environment of many different countries. These four films explore important examples from across the world.

CHINA: High up in the Himalayas, a poor Chinese community has called itself "Shangri-La" and is looking to tourism to boost its economy. Visitor numbers are climbing as people from all over the world come in search of the fictional utopia -- but both the wildlife and culture of the region are under threat.

USA: Alaska's sleepy fishing villages all but died when the gold rush ended 100 years ago. Now they're being overwhelmed by hordes of cruise ship tourists. Tourism has revived the economy of the area, but critics fear the impact on Alaska's environment and culture.

NEPAL: Every year 300,000 people come to Nepal to trek in the famous mountaineering country of the Everest National Park.

But with them come deforestation, soil erosion and piles of rubbish. The government is imposing bigger fees on the mountaineers - but will this solve the problem?

AFRICA: Gorillas are under threat - and many of their problems are caused by humans. But in the heart of Central Africa, ironically, tourism is helping to keep them alive. Eco-tourists pay high prices for expeditions to see this endangered species. Visitor numbers and the time spent with the gorillas are tightly controlled.

DUBAI: Dubai once depended on income from its oil. Now tourism in this desert kingdom is booming. But what about the cultural price and the impact on the environment? Developers have built a ski-resort in the desert, complete with 6,000 tons of real snow. Is this the face of modern tourism?

Antigua looks like a paradise island -- but for the locals it’s another story. They suffer from poorly paid jobs, all-inclusive hotels and cruise ship holidays..

Duration: 31 mins
Year: 1998
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Antigua looks like paradise but not for the locals. It suffers from an over-reliance on tourism. This threatens the environment, culture and economy. Most tourist jobs are poorly paid and most of the hotels are foreign owned. Cruise ship holidays, all-inclusive hotels and a new holiday development all promise to make matters worse.

Customers' feedback: “Recommended to all my colleagues.” P Hargreaves, Amersham & Wycombe College.

Duration: 31 mins
Year: 1998
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For 40 years the beautiful Island of Ruegen was behind the “Iron Curtain”. How is it coping with life after the fall of the Berlin Wall?

Duration: 26 mins
Year: 1999
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For 40 years the beautiful Island of Ruegen was behind the “Iron Curtain”. The state controlled people's holidays and visitors came to Ruegen all year round because there were few other options. But when the Berlin Wall fell, people expected prosperity. In reality it's brought too much traffic, too much building and high unemployment. Now the island is looking for “sustainable tourism”. What's the way forward - “quality tourism” or a less elite approach?

Duration: 26 mins
Year: 1999
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Too much development, too much traffic and too little water. What’s the way forward for tourism in Majorca?

Duration: 30 mins
Year: 2000
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Majorca has given millions of people cheap holidays and brought prosperity for Majorcans — but at a cost. There is heavy hotel development on the coast and there are outsiders buying second homes inland. There's too much traffic and not enough water.

Farming has declined, leaving people dependent on tourism. Traditional culture is disappearing.

The authorities have pulled down ugly old hotels and are promoting “sustainable tourism”. But can such initiatives succeed?

Customers' feedback: “Excellent video showing problems of mass tourism and more sustainable options.” L Bussel, Teesside University Business School.

Duration: 30 mins
Year: 2000
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Does tourism benefit developing world countries? Gambia is making money – but little stays with local people.

Duration: 32 mins
Year: 2001
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Gambia seems ideal for holidays. With plentiful sunshine and long, white beaches, tourism has become a major source of income. But tourism in a developing country is a double-edged sword.

Despite swelling numbers of visitors, little money ends up with local people. Holidays are run by foreign tour operators and tourists stay mostly in the foreign-owned hotels, eating imported food.

Is community tourism - for example getting people to spend money locally - the best hope for the future?

Customers' feedback: “Deals with conflicting issues of tourism in developing countries exceptionally well.” Simon Chapman, Warwick School.

Duration: 32 mins
Year: 2001
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Brazil now actively promotes the Amazon to tourists to bring money and jobs to locals.

Duration: 25 mins
Year: 2002
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Brazil now actively promotes the Amazon to tourists to bring money and jobs to locals. But how will tourism affect this environmentally vital area? And what form will tourism take?

One option is “nature tourism”. In the Amazon Ariau Towers, walkways give visitors a unique view of the rainforest and wildlife. But this is not necessarily eco-tourism.

Critics question the effects on the local economy and wildlife.

A more sensitive approach is taken at Mamiraua. Here a solar-powered floating lodge minimises visitor impact and trained local people work as guides.

Customers' feedback: “An excellent resource.” G Davies, St Cyres High School

Duration: 25 mins
Year: 2002
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