Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BBR Volume 2 Issue 9
BBR Volume 2 Issue 9
WHAT’S INSIDE:
WANT TO TRAVEL?
EARN CREDIT FOR IT!
See page 23.
10 SIMPLE TIPS:
TRAVEL & SAVE
See page 20.
THINK GREEN:
eco-tourism
See page 25.
VOLUME II ISSUE IX
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM
2008-2009 BBR STAFF
Shannon Kung Christine Liu Stefanie Ju
President VP of Marketing Marketing Department
ABOUT US
2
Dear Readers:
Welcome to a new quarter of Bruin Business Review. Thank you to all our old readers who continue to support our
publication. Just as importantly, we would like to thank all our new subscribers for choosing Bruin Business Review as
a source for relevant business information. We hope that we can continue to write about issues and topics we think
will pertain to your interests and goals.
Bruin Business Review was founded to be a free source of information for students in regards to the business world,
job opportunities, current events, industries, and much more. We seek to provide this information to students in a
manner that is clear, non-technical, and easy to comprehend so that it may be applicable to the general student body
– regardless of their background.
The staff of Bruin Business Review dedicates themselves toward serving the student body and continually seek to im-
prove our publication in light of the needs of students. We greatly appreciate all the feedback that our readers have
submitted to us and we strive to incorporate these suggestions back into the magazine to better serve your needs
and preferences.
Due to our constant drive to improve our publication, we would like to inform our readers of a few changes that will
occur for this quarter. As you may have already noticed, our first issue for this quarter is not being released until the
fourth week. We hope this change will allow us to focus more on improving future issues. Subsequently, we will be
publishing our second official issue for the quarter during week eight. In between that time, during the sixth week of
the quarter, we will also be publishing a smaller supplemental issue, dedicated solely toward updating you on current
events.
Thank you again for continuing to actively subscribe to Bruin Business Review, as we would not be where we are to-
day without your support. With this being said, I hope that you continue to find this issue informative as well as our
issues to come.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Lo
Editor-In-Chief
3
April 20 April 23
Professional Conduct & Job Search Careers in Advertising, Marketing &
APRIL 2009 Ethics
Time: 5pm
Public Relations
Time: 5pm
Location: James West Alumni Center Location: Morgan Center Press Room
Description: UCLA employers, recruiters, Description: This program, featuring a
and HR professionals will share insights panel of professionals from advertising,
and anecdotes about the best and worst marketing, and public relations, will fo-
behaviors and the deals they witnessed cus on media, present current opportu-
when job candidates and young profes- nities, and discuss the hiring processes.
sionals tried to walk away with the best
advantage. Careers in Entrepreneurship and Intel-
lectual Property
Careers in Accounting Time: 5pm
Time: 7pm Location: UCLA Career Center, Third
Location: UCLA Career Center, Third Floor Conference Room
Floor Conference Room Description: Come hear what it takes to
Description: Discover the dynamic ca- make an idea into a successful business
reer of accounting, where the conflu- as we uncover how to embark on a ca-
ence of math and investigation solve reer as an entrepreneur and other ca-
perplexing problems and galvanize busi- reers involving intellectual property.
nesses.
April 24
April 21 Career Planning/Job Seeking in a Tough
Business Careers in Entertainment Economy
Time: 5pm Time: 11 am
Location: UCLA Career Center, Third Location: Morgan Center Press Room
Floor Conference Room Description: At this session, discover
Description: Informative program where the jobs are and how you can
where you will learn from a panel of pro- land one, plus get tips on becoming a
fessionals how you too can join the En- more competitive candidate.
tourage of business professionals driving
the entertainment industry. April 25
RSVP Deadline for SAS Spring Banquet
Applications due for SAS Scholarship Cost: $15 for SAS members and $20 for
Time: 5pm non-members
Location: Undergraduate Accounting Notes: Sign up online at
Office, Suite D413 www.uclasas.org and make sure to send
Description: To be eligible to apply, all your meal (chicken or vegetarian) and
sophomores must have completed Man- top-three firm seating preferences to
agement 1A and 1B or 100 and all jun- uclasas@gmail.com as soon as possible.
iors and seniors must have completed at
least four accounting classes. Please April 29
visit the website at www.uclasas.org to Bruin Finance Investment Banking Ca-
download an application. reer Panel
Time: 7-9pm
April 22 Location: Anderson
Let’s talk Internships! Description: Come network with Bulge
Time: 5pm Bracket investment banking firms such
Location: James West Alumni Center as Merrill Lynch, Barclays, and JP Mor-
Description: Featured panelists will con- gan. Bruin Finance will be inviting bank-
vey information about working in local, ers in various stages of their careers to
national, and international careers. speak to UCLA students. Sign up at
www.bruinfinance.com
4
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
6 New of the Week: Banks Taking the Lead
7 News Briefs
9 Economic Trends in the Hospitality Industry
11 Career Profile: Hotel Management
13 The Business of Gaming-Based Tourism
16 Spotlight on a Hospitality School
19 International Lease Finance Corporation
20 10 Money-Saving Traveling Tips
23 Studying Abroad: Traveling While Earning Units
25 Eco-Tourism
5
BANKS TAKING THE LEAD
By Benjamin Lo
Senior Staff Writer
Signs of Economic Recovery
As the week of April 13 drew to a close, the United States showed overall signs of recovery as major financial banks
released their quarter reports. While many investors were preparing for a season of declining profits, big banks such as
JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup provided positive results, despite a recession-driven economy.
On August 16, JP Morgan reported profits of $2.1 billion for the first quarter
of 2009. Its profits stemmed from strong results in their mortgage lending
and investment banking divisions. Before accounting for costs, the firm’s
revenues rose to $26.9 billion, a 50% increase from a year before. Prior to
the release of JP Morgan’s quarterly report, analysts from Bloomberg News
estimated that the firm would earn, on average, 32 cents a share. The firm
outdid these estimates, earning 40 cents a share.
Similarly, Goldman Sachs recently announced profits of $1.66 billion. The firm reported quarterly revenues of $6.56
billion, which were up $9.43 billion, 13% higher than what they were a year ago. These profits were focused mainly in
the bank’s divisions that deal primarily with mortgage and other credit instru-
ments.
Citibank closed the week with its release of its quarterly report, which an-
nounced profits of $1.6 billion, with revenues totaling $24.8 billion. The bank
had reported a loss of $5.11 billion in profits one year ago. This boost in reve-
nues was helped by strong results in its Institutional Clients Group. Analysts
from Thomson Reuters expected Citigroup to reports revenues at only $21.95
billion.
While these quarterly reports show signs of financial recovery, many still hold
conservative views on our economy’s growth. JPMorgan’s chairman and chief
executive, Jamie Dimon, said there were some “positive signs” for the industry, but he warned that a deteriorating
economy could cause losses to climb higher, according to The New York Times. The bank has set aside another $4.2
billion in case the economic environment worsens from pressures in ris-
ing unemployment and declining market confidence.
6
NEWSBRIEFS By Dmitry Shuster
Staff Writer
7
GOLDMAN SACHS TO REPAY FEDERAL LOAN
Goldman Sachs has sold $5 billion worth of stock in an at-
tempt to begin repaying the $10 billion loan that it re-
ceived as part of the government’s Troubled Asset Relief
Program. The firm sold 40.65 million shares at a price of
$123 per share. The company’s CFO, David Viniar, said that
Goldman considers it their “duty to return the funds.” Re-
paying the borrowed funds would loosen several govern-
ment restrictions such as caps on executive pay. The stock
sale came one day after Goldman announced a better-than
-expected quarterly profit. The bank’s shares have more
than doubled from their record low of $47.44 on November 21, 2008. Goldman Sachs is one of nineteen banks cur-
rently undergoing “stress testing” which is aimed at gauging how well these banks can weather a deep recession.
8
ECONOMIC TRENDS IN THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
2008-2009 By Christine Liu
Staff Writer
Come June, and it will be time for some fun in the sun; time for
us to spend some well-earned money vacationing, right? Well,
despite the traditional vacation time, the tourism, hospitality,
and leisure industry (THL) is experiencing a significant decline in
the U.S.
9
the THL sector experienced a measurable fallout in the hotel industry, resulting in a slowdown in the gambling sector
and a large switch from casual dining restaurants to quick-serve restaurants.
In April of 2009, occupancy rates fell 9.9 percent, from 62.3 percent of the same month in 2008 to 56.2 percent this
year. The average daily rate dropped 9 percent, while revenue per to data from the Department of Commerce, over-
seas arrivals to the United States plummeted almost 8 percent in January. Overseas visitors significantly contribute the
economy; they spend an average of $4,400 per person each trip.
The industry expects to experience continued difficulties well into 2009; Deloitte’s October 2008 survey showed that of
those who answered, 38% expect to spend less on vacation and leisure travel over the next year, while only 21% said
they expected to spend more. Consumers may not be as willing to take the longer, seven to fourteen day vacation and,
instead, will opt for the cheaper three to four day long weekend or a ‘mini-vacation.' Furthermore, the huge increase in
airplane ticket prices likely will prevent some
people from flying to a vacation destination,
and instead may lead people to decide to
drive to a spot closer to home.
In addition, the
cruise industry
showed growth in
the summer
months outside of
the United States.
To many travelers,
the value of having
the two-in-one deal
of transportation to a foreign destination as well as a vacation
spot on a luxury cruise is appealing. Cruise lines expect a strong
number of passengers, and consequently, are currently investing
in bigger and more spectacular ships. Within the next 15 months,
five cruise lines will debut their biggest ships at a combined esti-
mated cost of $4.47 billion. For example, Royal Caribbean will de-
but their new Oasis of the Seas, which is a 220,000-ton, 5,400 passenger cruise ship launching in December later this
year.
After experiencing a low from the September 11 attacks, the tourism, hospitality, and leisure industry recovered from
decreased rates of travel and experienced healthy growth. However, by 2008, the recent economic downturn has
proved to be another event the industry will need to overcome. Thus, corporations in this industry look to international
markets in hopes of expanding and building the brand name in other countries in order to survive the recession.
10
CAREERPROFILE
CAREERPROFILE:
PROFILE:
HOTEL MANAGEMENT
By Sunny Wong
Senior Staff Writer
In addition to a friendly disposition, hotel staff must be professional at all times. Their uniforms must be neat and
clean as the first impression often determines whether the customers will come again. Hotel staff must possess
strong and professional communication skills, especially when answering telephone calls. They should also be well-
versed in the details of the hotel, such as the hotels’ room rates, room availability, and special discounts.
Finally, hotel staff must have a degree of flexibility, versatility, and patience, especially when dealing with the many
demands of the hotel guests. For instance, there are several times during the year when guests are somewhat
stressed due to various circumstances, such as tax season and the holiday season. However, regardless of the cus-
tomer’s actions, hotel staff should respond with patience and a smile.
Unpredictability is another characteristic of this profession. Hotel staff should be prepared to handle various ob-
scure scenarios that may come up abruptly, including credit card failures and guest lock-outs. Whatever the sce-
nario may be, hotel staff must display a sense of professionalism and patience at all times.
11
PREPARATION
Because competition is fairly stiff, it is nearly a prerequisite to obtain a degree in hotel or hospitality management. For
the universities that do offer a degree in hotel management, they typically offer a Bachelor of Science degree in hotel
administration. Some schools might even have their own school in hotel management, such as Cornell’s School of Hotel
Administration and UNLV’s Harrah Hotel College. If cost is an issue, or if you want to test the waters, there are schools
that also offer two-year Associate degrees in hospitality. However, if you are set on this field and want to work at the
very top hotels, it would be highly beneficial to obtain a Master’s degree in hotel administration.
A liberal arts degree is also acceptable if one has some prior work experience in a hotel or resort. Although there is no
particular liberal arts degree that provides a distinct edge, majors such as economics or global studies are good choices
because they have some relationship to the profession. In regards to work experience, many hotel chains around the
nation offer various summer internship programs. Westin Hotels and Resorts, for instance, offers a summer as well as a
winter internship program for students enrolled in a hospitality major.
Two colleges that excel in this field are Cornell University and UNLV. They stand out among the rest because they both
have dedicated hotel schools that specialize in this curriculum. While most other universities offer degrees for hotel
administration under the business administration, Cornell and UNLV provides students with more choices. UNLV for
instance, offers degrees in beverage management, food service management, and hospitality, all of which fall under
their Bachelor of Science in hotel administration.
JOB OUTLOOK
Job growth appears average in comparison to other professions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates
growth to be around 12 percent from 2006 to 2016. This is because most job vacancies in this field will be the result of
hotel managers transferring to other occupations or retiring. However, job growth will increase as more businesses
expand overseas and more people increase their recreational travel. For instance, 600 new hotels opened in 2007, in-
creasing the demand for more hotel managers. It is also important to note that managerial jobs in this industry will be
much slower than those of the industry as a whole. There is a general trend of consolidation as privately- owned hotels
are being bought out by larger hotel chains, which decrease the need for managers.
12
THE BUSINESS OF
GAMING-BASED TOURISM
By Eric Park
Staff Writer
Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Macau, and Monaco are all cities that are regarded as popular tourist hotspots. The cities lure
millions of visitors annually and generate enormous streams of revenue. What distinguishes these cities is that their
tourism is primarily based on legalized gaming or gambling.
While many tourists plan trips to these locations solely for this
purpose, their total expenditures provide tremendous reve-
nues not only for the casinos but for the entire local economies
as well.
GAMING REVENUES
The American Gaming Association defines Gross Gambling
Revenue as “the amount wagered minus the winnings returned
to players.” This is a measure of gross revenue that a gambling
based business earns before salaries, taxes, and other expenses
are paid. According to the American Gaming Association, from
1997-2007, the total GGR in the U.S. has climbed from $50.9
billion to $92.3 billion. While these statistics shows that the
legalized gaming industry is thriving in the United States, inter-
national gaming cities have grown tremendously as well.
13
In 2006, Macau officially overtook Las Vegas as the world’s most profitable gaming capital by bringing in $6.95 billion,
in comparison to Las Vegas’ revenue of $6.5-6.6 billion. Gaming revenues benefit local economies because they allow
casinos to raise local employment rates by hiring more local workers. States also benefit from tourism spending
through the taxes levied on these revenues. For example, the state of Colorado received $115.41 million in revenue
from its 45 casinos and spent it to improve local communities, historic preservations, and general funds such as infra-
structure and education.
These hotels exist in numerous varieties. There are Spartan rooms for the thrifty traveler, and other rooms that have
luxuries such as private bowling alleys and personal assistants that can cost more than $25,000 per night. Many pro-
spective casino owners and investors choose to create massive casinos within their hotels in an effort to collect both
gaming and hotel revenues from tourists. Many of these casinos will compete with other hotels by offering rewards
such as gaming credits and discounts on other entertainment and attractions, in efforts to build brand loyalty with cus-
tomers and to maximize revenues.
14
OTHER FORMS OF TOURIST REVENUE
Gaming cities throughout the world are renowned not only for their gambling but for their individual tourists attrac-
tions as well. Scattered throughout the casinos and surrounding areas are numerous restaurants, bars, night clubs,
shows, and various other types of entertainment. The tourism brought in by gaming expands to other industries in
these cities. Food and beverage and attractions from consumer expenditures bring in high revenues for the cities’
other businesses. In 2006, the top 17 casinos in Las Vegas earned 26.9% of their combined $1.2 billion revenues
through food and beverage sales and other consumer ex-
penditures.
CONCLUSION
Gambling is always in high demand with consumers and its revenues support many casinos and cities throughout the
world. Gaming-based tourism seems to be a lasting and permanent business, because of the revenues and economic
stimulation it brings to its residents. The positive effects extend beyond the reach of simple casino revenue, as the
tourism it brings in is vital to the success of many cities, states, and countries.
15
SPOTLIGHT ON A HOSPITALITY SCHOOL:
LAUSSANE
HOTEL SCHOOL
~ École hôtelière de Lausanne ~
By Shannon Kung
Senior Staff Writer
Switzerland is known for its secretive and highly exclusive Swiss banks, which cater to the wealthy elite. Aside from
being known for its crème de la crème banks, Switzerland also boasts some of the best hospitality schools. In a study
on hospitality management done in 2007 by Taylor Nelson Sofres Travel & Tourism, the largest custom research and
analysis firm, Swiss hotel schools took the top three spots. To take such a prominent role in the $61 billion hospitality
industry is no small feat.
16
Located in Lausanne, Switzerland, the École hôtelière de Lausanne not only focuses on the science or business aspect
of management, but the art aspect of management as well, focusing on creativity and innovation. Students take
courses such as “Wine Knowledge and Cellar Management” or “Gastronomy and History of Taste” to satisfy the art of
hospitality side. The science of hospitality requirement can be fulfilled by completing classes such as “E-Commerce and
Technology” or “Competitive Strategy.” An international school, the École hôtelière de Lausanne boasts alumni from
more than 100 different countries, and connects the students with industry specialists. Known for their intensely loyal
alumni, the EHL connects students with graduates working in both developing and industrialized countries. The school
offers three different programs: a Bachelor, a Diploma, and a Master’s.
Internships 2 2 0
Average Age 19.5 24 28
18
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
By Jaeman Kim
Staff Writer
The International Lease Finance Corporation, also known as ILFC, is an aircraft lessor (they rent out airplanes)
headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company is currently the largest aircraft lessor by value, boasting an
inventory of more than 1000 planes. Its customers include Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and other large
airline companies.
A company like ILFC sounds like it would have a strong financial standing considering how successful the business has
been since its inception in 1973, but in the last year, the company is in serious jeopardy thanks to the economic
pressures that many other companies are currently facing. However, the problem is not that ILFC’s business model has
failed. Rather, the problem is that ILFC is owned by American International Group (AIG), the very same AIG that has
recently received billions of dollars in bailouts.
Father and son team Leslie Gonda and Louis L. Gonda founded ILFC in 1973 along with Steven F. Udvar-Hazy. Then in
1990, AIG bought the company for $1.3 billion. Until 2008, ILFC continued to post record profits year after year. In 2007,
ILFC earned revenues of $4.73 billion and income of $604 million. However, the international economic crisis brought
problems for ILFC. The problem is that AIG’s credit rating is also ILFC’s credit rating, since the former owns the latter.
Before the current economic crisis, AIG’s AAA credit rating gave ILFC access to funds at rates that other lessors could
not possibly obtain. However, as AIG’s credit fell,
so did ILFC’s. A lower credit rating means that it
becomes much more expensive to borrow money,
since a lower rating means higher risk. Therefore
ILFC’s costs of operations began to soar. Then by
late last year, word came out that ILFC was looking
for a new buyer, perhaps even current CEO and
company founder Udvar-Hazy. However, to this
day, it does not seem that there are any potential
buyers.
Another problem that a potential buyer would face is ILFC’s unsecured debt, or debt that is not tied to any property. It
is currently backed by AIG. However, if the company were to change hands from AIG to another owner, this debt would
be re-priced by the holders of the debt, forcing ILFC to pay even more interest than it already is.
The current problems that ILFC faces are also having an effect on other companies, mainly Boeing and Airbus. ILFC is
one of Boeing and Airbus’ biggest customers. In fact, many of the decisions that the airplane manufacturers make also
go through Udvar-Hazy. Rising interest rates will cause the prices that ILFC pays for planes to rise, and may even
possibly lead to order cancellations. That, along with possible cancellations from other lessor companies, could mean
disaster. Still, there are countless other companies that will suffer, including airlines, airline maintenance companies,
engine manufacturers, and parts suppliers.
Udvar-Hazy has stated that ILFC is currently seeking to refinance billions of dollars in short-term debt and a failure to
come up with cash to finance its short-term operation may threaten its survival. Refinancing may include lower interest
rates, or possibly a different schedule to pay the money back. However, with no potential buyers, it remains to be seen
whether ILFC will be able to come up with the cash that it needs.
19
TEN
By Dmitry Shuster
Staff Writer
MONEY-SAVING
travel tips
As summer approaches, many people are planning various trips and vacations. In this type of economy, it behooves
us to save as much money as possible while still embarking on rather memorable and enjoyable trips. Fortunately, it
is not difficult to take a pleasurable trip or vacation without breaking the bank. Here are several travel tips that can
benefit your travel experience without making your wallet too angry.
20
4. If you cannot fly, stay close to
home
Many airlines still have high ticket prices, so it may be more
advantageous to travel to destinations that are within driving
distance. Globe Pequot Press publishes guides in Day Trips and
Quick Escapes series which contain numerous ideas for itiner-
aries and trips in local cities.
7. Couch surfing
You may or may not have heard of this particular term. It has
been gaining popularity as of late, and refers to the world’s
largest hospitality exchange network. Through the website,
www.couchsurfing.com, you are able to connect with over 1
million members in 232 countries and territories, all of whom
are willing to accommodate you free of charge. The exchange
is entirely voluntary and you can work out the details of your
trip in advance with your host. The entire purpose of this or-
ganization is to immerse yourself in the local culture while be-
ing accommodated by a local resident at his or her dwelling.
21
8. Join frequent flier programs
You may think that it is practically impossible to earn
free trips, but on the contrary, it is quite simple and of
no cost to you. Whether you travel rarely or fre-
quently, it is still beneficial to join a frequent flier pro-
gram. Nearly all airlines offer these types of programs
and you begin collecting reward miles on your very
first flight. Each time you fly, remember to give them
your membership card, and you will
continue to earn miles which you can
then redeem for free flights, merchan-
dise, hotel stays, and more. Web-
Flyer.com is a good website for fre-
quent fliers as it allows you to com-
pare various programs and get the
best upgrade for the miles you’ve
earned.
9. Dining opportunities
Food can be especially expensive in many places. Many
tourists often limit the number of meals that they eat at
a restaurant to one per day. It is also a good idea to pur-
chase snacks (such as fruits, vegetables, sandwiches)
that can be taken back to the hotel and eaten there. An-
other great way to stretch your budget is to eat break-
fast at the hotel. Many hotels offer continental or buffet
breakfasts with your accommodations and it is certainly
in your best interest to take advantage of this conven-
ience rather than going out in search of breakfast.
22
STUDYING ABROAD:
TRAVELING WHILE EARNING UNITS, TOO!
By Stefanie Ju
Staff Writer
Traveling to foreign countries,or even within the United States, has always been a popular pastime, especially for
young college students who are not yet tied down by full-time careers. College is one of the prime times to travel—
whether it be with student groups, tours, or a type of work study or study abroad program. Many students choose to
participate in these programs during their 4 years in college, spending entire semesters or years abroad in such coun-
tries as Greece, Spain, or the United Kingdom, all the while completing units toward their degree. There is a certain
appeal to studying in a foreign country—it so perfectly combines the travel and exploration aspects that many young
people thirst for, but at the same time allow students to stay reasonably within graduation and unit deadlines. Today,
many universities have created large study abroad programs.
The costs of travel study programs vary by the type of program and
location in which the student is interested. If students choose to
study through a program that UCLA offers, then tuition fees will be
the same amount that they currently pay. However, based on what
a host university charges for room and board, overall fees can fluc-
tuate greatly depending on the program. In the end, the UCLA Inter-
national Education Office (IEO) has tried to make each program as
affordable as possible.
23
The most significant difference between travel study and study abroad programs is the emphasis on the type of mate-
rial that students will be studying. Travel study programs provide an in-depth focus on the specific region that students
are studying in, while study abroad programs lack an underlying theme in the types of classes that students can take;
they can choose from any of the classes that the host university is offering.
UCLA offers many travel study options, including programs in Archaeology, Global Studies, International Business Law,
and Political Science. These programs allow students a much more specific cultural concentration in their studies. UCLA
also offers a large array of study abroad programs through the Education Abroad Program (EAP). Through EAP, the Uni-
versity of California system offers over 140 exchange programs in more than 30 countries. Within the EAP’s study
abroad programs, students also get the choice of studying in immersion, UC Construct or International School pro-
grams. Students in immersion programs enroll directly in a host university in a foreign country and take courses along-
side regular, degree-seeking students. Students who choose to
study in UC Construct programs take courses developed by the
University of California with other UC students only. Interna-
tional School Program students take courses with other study
abroad students from around the world, but generally not with
other students from the host country.
Deadlines for study abroad and travel study programs for Fall
Quarter of the 2009-2010 school year have already passed. How-
ever, applications for Spring Quarter are still open, so students
who wish to participate should explore it as soon as possible.
HOW TO APPLY?
In order to apply for any of the previously mentioned programs,
or learn about other programs that UCLA offers its students, it is
important to visit the International Education Office. It supplies
students with pamphlets detailing dates of programs and application deadlines, and arms students with information
about specific programs that may interest them. Applications differ from program to program, but many can be com-
pleted online, with a hard copy turned into the IEO and later forwarded to host universities.
If students cannot find what they need from any of the programs that UCLA offers, they can also directly apply to a for-
eign university at which they would like to study. However, it is a student’s responsibility to keep track of how his or
her own units transfer into credits towards a degree once they return to UCLA. Some students enjoy the flexibility of
finding their own programs separate from the UC office.
24
ECOTOURISM
TRAVELING TO SAVE THE WORLD
By Julie Chen
Staff Writer
WHAT IS ECOTOURISM?
In an attempt to lessen the adverse side ef-
fects of conventional tourism, more environ-
mentally and socially conscientious modes of
tourism have been promoted, usually re-
ferred to as ecotourism and sustainable tour-
ism, though it may also been known as re-
sponsible tourism, nature- based tourism,
green tourism, or alternative tourism. Gener-
ally speaking, ecotourism focuses on personal
growth, volunteering, and learning better
ways to live on our vulnerable planet. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) describes ecotourism as “responsible
travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people,” and it defines sus-
tainable travel as “tourism that meets the needs of present tourist and host regions while protecting and enhancing
opportunities for the future.” Ecotourism usually involves traveling to protected areas, in order to benefit the eco-
nomic development and political empowerment of local communities. Tour guides in many eco-destinations are
trained to communicate environmental awareness. Ecotourism not only reminds us how much we impact the world,
but also allows us to better appreciate our own natural habitats. Tourists are encouraged to build meaningful connec-
tions with local people to cultivate respect for different cultures; responsible ecotourism includes programs that en-
hance the cultural integrity of local people. Initiatives by groups in the hospitality sector promote recycling, energy effi-
ciency, water reduction, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities.
ECOTOURISM AS A BUSINESS
According to the World Tourism Organization, ecot-
ourism is seen as one of the fastest growing mar-
kets in the tourism business. With an annual
growth rate of 5% worldwide, ecotourism repre-
sents 6% of the world gross domestic product and
11.4% of all consumer spending. The travel industry
has joined forces with various environmental or-
ganizations and park agencies to sponsor nature
travel as the trendiest activity to partake in that still
benefits the environment. Nature-based tourism is
promoted by the travel industry as a distinctive opportunity to see and experience natural environments and local cus-
toms in ways not offered to participants in mass tourism. Some companies, such as Intrepid Travel, Frontier, and Ma-
rine Conservation Society, specialize in ecotourism by designing their trips to be environmentally, culturally and socially
friendly. This form of tourism is especially important to developing countries, as tourism is the principal export for 83%
of developing countries, and the leading export for a third of the world’s poorest countries. Businesses are creating
25
camps and eco-lodges in these underdeveloped nations, while natural resource managers are designing trails and
tours. Tourism is changing rapidly as it is required to meet stricter environmental requirements. This presents a chal-
lenge to the government and private businesses to create new approaches to the tourism market. Businesses aim to
get people to enjoy and learn about the natural, historical, and cultural characteristics of unique environments, while
preserving the integrity of those sites. However, strategies must be economically feasible if private investors are to
support the projects.
2. Norwegian Fjords: The strict environmental regulations of Norway have helped protect the pristine beauty of their
snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls. Along with the region’s natural attractions, the fjords are also home
to several small fishing villages where local traditions have survived for hundreds of years.
3. Kerala, India: Often referred to as “God’s Own Country,” this small state on India’s southwestern coast is home to
hundreds of unique animal species, including elephants, bison, wild boar, and the endangered nilgiri tahr. The lush
virgin forests and clean sandy beaches are carefully protected by the local population.
4. Costa Rica: With misty cloud forests, black sand beaches, and rushing river rapids, Costa Rica offers many outdoor
activities for both nature enthusiasts and hardcore adventurers. A wide variety of creatures live in Costa Rica’s na-
tional parks and wildlife refuges, including monkeys, manatees, sea turtles, sloths and poison dart frogs.
5. Kenya: Best known for the lions and elephants that populate its wide savannas, Kenya is also home to mountains,
lakes, rainforests, deserts and beaches. Its incredible natural diversity is protected in about 50 national parks and re-
serves across the country. All tourism is overseen by Ecotourism Kenya, which protects the local environment through
community outreach and education projects.
26