Colette Sosinski

ITMC alumnus Colette Sosinski shares her story about writing her thesis.

For me it was much harder to find a suitable topic than writing the thesis. I spent many weeks thinking about the “perfect” topic to write about, as I was quite demanding: I wanted my thesis to be challenging, innovative, and interesting to read, not too theoretical. It was also important for me that the outcomes could be applied in real life, that it was somehow relevant to the tourism industry.

I finally found my topic: wildlife tourism in Germany, by analysing which aspects had fascinated me most during my study and by evaluating what I was really good at. After I knew the topic it was quite easy for me to start researching and writing.However, I had difficulties structuring my thesis in the beginning because there was no specific approach or theory which I could apply to my research, as most potential analyses are based on specific regions or cities and mine had to cover a whole country. So it was essential to narrow down my research in another way. I achieved this by reading a lot of literature so I could find out which areas have not been covered yet and which knowledge gaps existed in this field. By means of this I received a better insight into what exactly I wanted to carry out and which aspects my research should cover.

Looking back I can say that writing the thesis was more difficult than I expected, not least because I carried out a lot of primary research, including two online surveys, participant observation and face-to-face interviews with tour participants and tour guides and interviews with tourism, wildlife and conservation experts. In total I conducted 17 expert interviews and 327 demand side interviews and took part in three wildlife-based tours in Germany. Nevertheless, the final mark and the nomination for the ITB Science Award and the Joop Jansen Award compensated for all the effort and time and I can say that writing the thesis was an interesting experience for me – it enabled me to get in contact with many tourism and conservation experts, to improve me research skills, to broaden my knowledge about the complexity of the relationship between tourism and conservation and I gained valuable insights into the possibilities and limitations of domestic wildlife tourism in Germany.

The NHTV University of Applied Sciences Breda organises an orientation day from the 12th until the 14th of January 2012. You have the change to participate in lectures, participate in workshops and meet other international students while exploring the student life in Breda. When you pay the flight, NHTV pays the rest.

For more information contact Esther Peperkamp (ilsinfo@nhtv.nl) for the Academic Bachelor in Leisure and Tessy Verhoeven (verhoeven.m@nhtv.nl) for the Bachelor Programmes in Tourism.

Last Tuesday on the 11^th of October a meeting was held for all the 2^nd year ITMC students concerning the fieldwork period in March and April. During this period students will go abroad for a period of 4 weeks to do research on tourism related aspects in a foreign environment. During this meeting preliminary information was given on different parts of the fieldwork abroad. Topics like the destination, important data, what to do, travel itinerary etc. were discussed.

After a brief introduction on what was expected from the students during this period abroad the different locations were revealed. Students were very enthusiastic when they found out that they will be spending one week in Singapore after which they will be traveling to Bali for the remainder of their fieldwork period. The next fieldwork meeting will be planned for December when more detailed information will be distributed.

Last week all third year ITMC students were invited to join a placement speeddating session at NHTV.

Argentina, Malaysia, United States or Belgium? Or more important a tourist board, consultancy organisation, NGO or touroperator?

All ITMC students have to go abroad for their placement during the second half of the third year. But what can they expect, how is the culture of a country and what are the do’s and don’ts?

No better way to find that out then ask fellow students who have been abroad already! Therefore the placement speeddate was arranged.

About 80 students had a chat with their 4th year colleagues to discuss the placement possibilities. Every 10 minutes they could visit another student to hear his/her experiences.

At the end of the afternoon there were drinks and snacks for the fourth year students in the NHTV bar, where they could finally chat with their fellow students who they had not seen for over six months.

A Portrait of Hoi An

Today I would like to talk a bit about my research destination, Hoi An in order to provide an insight to the fascinating and struggling character of Hoi An.

Hoi An, received Unesco world heritage status in 1999 due to its distinctive architecture especially in the Old Town. I was astonished by the beauty of Hoi An. At first it reminded me to a romantic village at the French Atlantic coast but as time passed by Hoi An developed its own charm. Sitting in the tiny family-owned waterfront restaurant and eating Cao Lau and Spring rolls during sunset is quite amazing as well as a morning walk, which means to get up at least at five and to take a walk to the central market which is not yet flooded with tourists but remains to its original use as trading hub for fishermen who just come in with their trawlers bringing the catch from last night. Afterwards it is wise to wander through the narrow streets avoiding the stream of tourists and sellers but instead focus on the architecture of the city which can be much better experienced like this.

Hoi An has a reputation for qualitative good tailor-made clothing at considerably cheap prices which mirrors in the amount of tailors that can be found in the city. The figures are set at around 400 different tailor shops and the competition is huge. Looking at this amount of tailors I am actually wondering how trustworthy the reputation as a tailor city at good conditions is. Sometimes it seems as if Hoi An just consists of tailors which is in my opinion a negative impression. The focus on tailors let the city appear/appeal artifical and anyhow let the amazing architecture become a side product.

Anyways this development can also be seen as a negative impact of tourism. Since tourists often come for tailoring reasons many inhabitants see the chance of making a living in opening a tailor shop. I think governmental restrictions would improve the city image but anyways that’s not my decision to make.

I have been staying in Hoi An for almost eight days. Since it was my group’s research area and we decided to stay in the centre of the city I had quite a lot of time to get a feeling for the city and its inhabitants. Though it was a nice time in Hoi An I have to say that I would not stay longer than 4 days if I was a tourist. Hoi An is nice and impressive but also a small-scale town which has been discovered more or less discovered within one day.

Some of you might wonder with what kind of research assignment NHTV entrusted us. In groups of nine students we all were responsible for different identified areas within Hoi An. Hoi An market, my group’s chosen area of research is located in the city centre of Hoi An and there was a lot going on. It was one of the livelier indentified areas within Hoi An. Other groups were asked to research far more remote areas such as Cam Nam Island.

During the time of research we mainly had to observe, interview and collect information which could be useful to get an insight of the area and its functions, people and its historic development with regard to tourism. Being on the field we began writing a Destination Analysis which lasted until previous week. It gives the commissioner, in this particular case my university an insight into the researched destination area in order to measure if an involvement is beneficial or any other contribution fits the commissioner’s perspectives.  Suchlike analyses are a perfect example of what you can expect after graduating as International Tourism Consultant and applying for a job in a tourism consultancy firm.

Greetz,

Nils

Koen Ruisch

As part of my bachelor in tourism management and consultancy at NHTV Breda University of Applies Sciences I am currently enjoying my internship of six months with Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels on Bali, Indonesia. Here I mainly am based out of their Jimbaran Bay resort while I will also be doing an inter-resort exchange with their Sayan Resort. This combination gives me the opportunity to see two different styles of resorts, one being a beach resort while the other is a more secluded and jungle based resort. Next to that I have been given the opportunity to do a management trainee programme especially designed by four seasons to meet my needs and interests, therefore I can only applaud the amazing support and flexibility the company has offered me. The programme rotates me in 6 months trough 7 departments, including 5 food and beverage outlet, front of house as well as back of house and an inter resort exchange.

While NHTV offers a wide variety of internships within the programme this one was just right for me, having always been interested in resorts and hotels, which play a huge part of tourism in Bali. This is the ideal learning ground for me to see how a big international hotel chain works, enjoy a highly multi-cultural environment and see how 5 start resort fits into a world famous tourism destination.

While this was not the first time for me to live abroad it is the first time for me to live in Asia, and that can create quite a culture shock in the beginning. I was fortunate to have this experience, although this can be tough in the beginning it is an experience of which you can learn a lot, personally and professionally.

This brings me to the point of working in Bali in an international company, which is very rewarding. Mainly due to the amazing culture the Balinese people have in their work and daily life, they are famous for their smile (some might say this is something Thailand has trademarked, but  a Balinese smile is also very beautiful), this is something you will come into contact with each day while working in Bali. But to be honest it isn’t always easy working in a country where western people are looked at different and speed of work is slower, it can create tensions between colleagues and friends. I am the only western trainee in our hotel, this is of 70+ trainees and 550+ employees, and in the beginning when you’re the only western person sitting in the room or the cafeteria and everyone is speaking a language you can not understand this can be frustrating, but when you start to get to know the people and work with them you can see how kind they are, interested and open to new experiences, something which is also highly encouraged by Four Seasons.

After having been on Bali now for about 3 months and I have another 3 months to go I am grateful for this amazing opportunity and hope that I will be able to enjoy many more of these chances, as well as I hope (and know) that for future students these experiences are waiting. As a final note I would like to especially thank all the management and staff of Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels Bali for all their support and knowledge they have shared and are sharing with me.

Three days of Phnom Phenh seemed to be enough so that we continued our journey through Cambodia. On Wednesday, we took the bus to go from Phnom Phenh, Princess Hotel to Siem Reap, Casa Angkor Hotel. After a five to seven hour drive with an obligatory flat tire, we arrived in Siem Reap, Casa Angkor Hotel. In my eyes, taking the bus was a beneficial way to transfer from Phnom Phenh to Siem Reap. The landscapes and the gaining impressions on countryside life are priceless even though not only in a positive way.

Lakeview Restaurant

The lunch provided in between the ride was contributing the beauty of the country. A wooden restaurant apparently located in the middle of nowhere turns out to have the most amazing lake view terrace I have seen so far.

Pool of Casa Angkor

 Anyways, Arriving at Siem Reap and checking in Casa Angkor was quite a pleasure feeling since the hotel used to be very comfortable. Making myself comfortable for the next two nights, I was looking forward to the Shinta Mani Presentation but mainly to the visit of ‘Smach’ village two hours away from Siem Reap the following day.

Presentation by Salomon of Shinta Mani

After two presentations and a proper lunch prepared by the Shinta Mani kitchen staff, we left for the village visit. The ride took around two hours. I did not have any expectations beforehand but the more we came into the rural areas the more I was concerned about the fact that there was a group of seventy people on its way into a quite isolated village with people who rarely have seen foreigners. Seeing a rural village and talking with locals can be an outstanding experience though has to be approached carefully.  Visitors should be aware of the fact that they enter other people’s environment and according to this should act like guests. I observed intrusive and disrespectful behavior during the group’s stay in the village and especially the school kids which were just on their lunch break playing in the garden were highly distressed by our group. I would have expected something else from tourism students and think it is a real pity that several students do not have the sense for that.

The youth of the 'Smach' village

In general I enjoyed my days in Siem Reap. The contrast between Siem Reap and Phnom Phenh is huge but interesting. Siem Reap as the closest town to the Angkor temples has a unique position within Cambodia’s tourism and is by far one of the most developed cities in case of tourism. On the other side stands the pulsating capital of Cambodia, Phnom Phenh. Its tourism is weakly developed which attracts me more because it keeps its authenticity.

On Tuesday the first shift of the ITMC Fieldtrip 2011 had the opportunity to meet two workers of ‘Friends International’ and attend a presentation hold by them. ‘Friends International’ is an NGO located in Phnom Penh working with poor street children who causing problems in life. The presentation introduced us to ‘ChildSafe’, one of four main projects created by ‘Friends International’ to protect children from any kind of abuse.

Friends International Presentation

The Romdeng restaurant is another facility established within the ‘friends social businesses’ project which is worth mentioning. The restaurant targets mainly rich Cambodians or tourists in an upscale ambience. It is established to encourage Phnom Phenh’s street children and provide them with reasonable skills in hospitality management in order to match the needs of high class restaurants in Cambodia.

Romdeng Restaurant

The concept behind the restaurant and its quality led to a very good reputation so that successful participants of the program may have great perspectives in order to find a good job.

‘Friends Internastional’ is a non-commercial organisation, all income made through the restaurants as well as products and services sold in the friends’n'stuff shops and others goes directly back into the program in order to improve its efficieny.

Since ‘Friends International’ approach to help children who causing problems is highly successful, the institution has facilities all over the world. Started in 1994 in Cambodia, the concept has expanded to Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Honduras, Mexico, Egypt and Hong Kong. Together with similar NGO’s ‘Friends International’ cooperates to increase its positive impact.

Romdeng Restaurant

Royal Palace of Cambodia

We began our first day with a classic guided round-tour through Phnom Penh including visiting tourism hot spot the Royal Palace and visiting the organization friends international where we got a presentation about the organization itself and its projects. Around noon we had time to explore the city on our own and it’s definitely worth it, just walking around the city and soaking up the impressions of the pulsating capital of Cambodia. Its authenticity where tourism seems to be a side product made me feel comfortable.  With every day I learned appreciating this city more and more even if it is the complete opposite of what I am used to. It exceeded all my expectations and my awareness of poverty to another level. The daily life takes place on the streets. Cambodians are selling food or souvenirs in its mobile stalls on the streets. Markets are still the reference point of daily life and bargaining is part of Cambodians culture. If it comes to daily expenses I am fine with 25 US Dollars per day including two times dining in a restaurant per day. On one side I really appreciate it but on the other side it is quite shocking to see how Cambodians have to fight for their earnings. Sometimes I even feel a bit ashamed to bargain since I could easily afford the prices set in first instance by the sellers and tuk-tuk drivers but for the long-haul it would definitely minimize my travel budget to great extends.  Another aspect I pretty much appreciate is the fact that Cambodians seem to be a quite happy folk. Smiling faces everywhere and a unique sleaziness carried by the Cambodians supported my comfortable feelings about Phnom Penh and whole Cambodia. Especially, the historical background of Cambodia in mind, it puts another complexion on things, the genocide of the Khmer Rouge costs 1.3 million Cambodians’ life between 1975 and 1979. Overall, Phnom Penh is a very impressive and contrasting city between the rich and poor, where one half drives Lexus and Range Rovers while living in huge villas next to street selling families living in small self-made sheds.

Suburbs of Phnom Phenh

  With its borrowings from French imperialism and soviet communism in architectural matters as well as its high amount of temples and pagodas emerging from Cambodia’s main religions, the Buddhism and Hinduism it is one of the most interesting cities I have been to.

Fieldwork in Cambodia and Vietnam

– A journey between research and cross-cultural clash

Angkor Wat Temple

In about twenty hours the first shift of second year students will leave the Netherlands to Southeast Asia for four weeks. For most of us the journey to Cambodia and Vietnam is going to be a big adventure facing us with a completely different culture, values and living.

The fieldtrip is not only about experiencing different cultures and having an amazing time but also contributes to our studies since we are going to conduct a research on different locations around Hoi An, Vietnam. It is our first opportunity to use our gathered study knowledge in the field.

During the first week we discover Cambodia and its famous Khmer culture and architecture. A guided Khmer architecture tour and the visit of the UNESCO world heritage site complex Angkor Wat are scheduled during this week. The following two weeks we are going to spend in Vietnam. Starting with scheduled program and booked accommodation until 23^rd march we are going to move group-wise to our fieldwork locations. From that point in time we are on one’s own, responsible for accommodation and living so that the real challenge may begin.

For all those, who are curious about this journey and our experiences the blog will keep you updated about current events and happenings from Southeast Asia as for example Angkor Wat, guided tours and the experiences as well as perception of life in Cambodia and Vietnam. Therefore I will launch a sort of an Asian Diary with stories about our experiences during the time in Asia. On the other side posts about official events and the research activities will be published.

Enjoy reading,

Nils