This blog post explores how to naturally link travel experiences to major motivation in a tourism studies academic plan. It details writing strategies to convincingly demonstrate suitability for the major by expanding beyond simple travel to include observation, documentation, and critical awareness.
Reasons for Choosing the Major
Thanks to my parents who loved traveling, I had many opportunities to visit not only Korea but also various countries around the world from a young age. Even in high school, when traveling with friends, I pursued journeys that involved self-reflection through communication with locals, rather than simply seeking fun. While traveling here and there, I often collected materials and posted my travel reflections and travelogues on my blog, thinking about how I would introduce these places to others. This experience sparked my fascination with the profession of travel product developer.
Recently, travel trends have shifted from package tours to customized trips, and preferences for individual travel, such as backpacking tailored to consumer needs, continue to grow steadily. Furthermore, the surge in overseas travelers and the Korean Wave boom within Asia have accelerated the growth of the tourism industry attracting foreign visitors. Consequently, the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea is rapidly increasing. This makes product development a critical issue for the survival of travel companies. Therefore, I aspire to become a travel product developer capable of planning diverse travel products under the guidance of your esteemed professors.
Academic Plan and Goals
First, since extensive work experience in related fields or abundant domestic and international travel experience would be advantageous for employment, I will focus on accumulating as much travel experience as possible during my school years. Furthermore, as frequent overseas business trips and handling international travel-related materials are common, I will dedicate significant time and effort to mastering foreign languages such as English and Japanese. I will strive to maintain my language skills by taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test and TOEFL exam every two months.
Furthermore, I will utilize the internet effectively to engage in conversations with students from various countries around the world, fostering an open-minded perspective toward the global community. To broaden my interpersonal connections, I plan to participate in club activities focused on volunteer work, diligently engaging in social service activities that I neglected during high school due to the pressure of college entrance exams. If given the opportunity, I also intend to participate in night schools opened for those who cannot receive proper education due to difficult living conditions in society.
Post-Graduation Plans
After diligently completing your institution’s academic program, I aspire to work as a travel product developer. I want to find professional fulfillment by recommending optimal travel itineraries tailored to customer preferences and developing new travel products. I am particularly interested in eco-friendly living and plan to further study and research the field of ecotourism after graduation.
I want to develop diverse Korean eco-tourism products, such as incorporating environmental protection or volunteer activities into itineraries—for example, tree planting, forest weeding, observation tours of specific flora and fauna, or experiences of rural and fishing village cultures.
I also aspire to develop and promote eco-tourism products that beautifully harmonize humans and nature, and eventually compile this work into a book.
Self-Introduction (Life Philosophy, Values)
My family motto is “Do your best in any given situation, then leave the outcome to heaven” (진인사대천명). I grew up embracing this motto as my guiding principle, learning to live each moment with sincerity and a strong sense of responsibility. My family’s trust and warm encouragement fostered a bright, positive, and optimistic outlook on life.
I believe a life filled with dreams and challenges is the most beautiful life. Though the path ahead may seem long now, I aspire to be someone who advances future dreams with enterprising and creative ideas. Truly loving myself, cherishing my life, and never losing my understanding and love for others—while being a steadfast, professional human being in my work—this is the life I strive for.
