EIB10103: WAP

Journal Writing | OCT 2023 | SET 1

Journal Writing Assignment: Personal Reflections on Tourism Experiences

Instructions:
In this 2-hour in-class journal writing assignment, you will explore your personal experiences,
observations, and insights gained within the realm of tourism. Reflect on specific moments, challenges, or
discoveries that have shaped your understanding of the tourism industry.
Aim: This journal writing assignment aims to encourage self-reflection and critical thinking based on
your encounters and insights within the field of tourism
Prompts:
A. Memorable Experiences:
o Recall and describe a memorable tourism-related experience that left a lasting impression on
you.
o What made this experience significant? How did it impact your perception of tourism?

B. Challenges and Learnings:

o Reflect on a challenge or obstacle encountered in a tourism-related setting (could be during
travel, studies, or work experience).
o What did you learn from this challenge? How did it shape your view of the tourism industry?

C. Observations and Insights:

o Share an observation about tourism trends, behaviours, or practices that struck you as
interesting or noteworthy.
o How did this observation influence your understanding of the complexities within the tourism
sector?
Guidelines:
1. Personal Reflection: Focus on your personal experiences, feelings, and thoughts related to tourism.
Your reflections should be authentic and genuine.

2. Specificity and Detail: Provide vivid details and specifics about the experiences or observations
you are reflecting on to make your writing more engaging.

3. Critical Reflection: Analyse the significance of these experiences or observations. Consider how
they've impacted your perceptions or attitudes towards the tourism industry.

4. Structured Writing: Organize your responses with clear introductions, body paragraphs for each
prompt, and concise conclusions.

5. Open-mindedness: Acknowledge different perspectives within the tourism industry. Reflect on

how your experiences might align or contrast with broader industry trends.

6. Conclusion: Summarize the key takeaways from your reflections. Consider how these experiences
have contributed to your personal and academic growth within the context of tourism
management.
 EIB10103: WAP
Journal Writing | OCT 2023 | SET 1

7. Word Limit: Aim for a concise yet comprehensive response. Your journal should be around
400-600 words.
-The end of instructions-

JOURNAL ENTRY : Personal Reflections on Tourism Experiences

One of the most memorable and impactful moments in my journey into the tourism industry occurred
during a visit to a remote village in Sabah. The way I see things has been forever changed by the
chance to interact with the local hill tribe community and take in their cultural customs. With the
background of their traditional way of life, the people's true kindness and recovery encouraged
awareness of the transforming advantages of community-based tourism. It also focuses on the
important impact that tourists can have on the preservation of cultural heritage and the improvement
of local communities, which makes me feel very responsible for those involved in the tourism
industry.

Through my experience doing an internship in a busy city hotel, I was exposed to a wide range of
complicated problems that are important to the travel and tourism industry. The challenge of
implementing change in an established system becomes clear when trying to find a balance between
the principles of sustainable tourism and the demands of large-scale establishments. To truly
implement sustainability in industry, systemic change is essential, as evidenced by the findings that
sustainable practices often require significant changes in infrastructure, consumer behaviour and
ways of thinking. These difficulties lead to a deep realization that significant changes in the tourism
sector require a comprehensive strategy and teamwork.

One thing that has really changed the way I think about tourism is the growing desire for real,
immersive travel experiences. There is a general trend towards meaningful, culturally immersive
travel rather than traditional sightseeing, reflecting a desire for real understanding and connection.
Participating in programmes that promote ethical and responsible tourism, I experienced actually
how travel can be a tool for promoting economic growth, responsibility towards the environment,
and multicultural understanding. This realization inspired me to support tourism policies that put the
well-being of local communities, environmental preservation and cross-cultural exchange first.

In conclusion, I have developed greater critical thinking and self-reflection through this process,
incorporating my personal experiences and observations into a more comprehensive understanding of
the opportunities and challenges that exist in the tourism industry. The application of this thinking
has clarified the great responsibility that all industry participants bear to shape tourism behaviour that
respects cultural diversity, protects the environment and promotes sustainable livelihoods.

(380 words)