I have had a long hard think over the last couple of years about what I would like from a job, which industry I would like to work in, what I would be good at and how it will fit into our future plans. I have finally come to the decision that I want to work in the field of tourism. Environmental stewardship/conservation/park rangering and journalism also appeal to me, but I love love LOVE working with, helping and serving people so at the moment working primarily with things/animals/natural resources doesn’t appeal to me as much.
The 3-year plan:
- Continue in my current job for the next 3 years and save (I figure I need $35,000 to cover tuition fees and being out of paid employment for 12 months);
- During these 3 years I need to really utilize my free time, concentrating on:
- getting fit
- trying as many outdoor pursuits as possible
- volunteering in the tourism and conservation sectors
- travelling BC
- writing
Phase Two:
- In Late Summer 2011 I will apply to the Tourism Management Co-op Program at Capilano College for January 2012 entry if I have reached my savings target (otherwise I’ll apply for the September 2012 entry).
- This Course lasts for 16 months full-time, with a 4.5-month paid practicum
Outcome:
By the end of 2013 I will have my diploma and be well-qualified to work in the tourism industry. I will also have 4 month’s proper work experience plus substantial volunteering experience in the industry.
We can either stay in Vancouver as currently planned, or move to elsewhere in BC if we want to, so long as my husband can find a good job in his field.
At the moment I think my ideal job would be something in eco-tourism – maybe working at a wilderness lodge, planning and organizing adventure itineraries – but it may turn out that after doing the Diploma and researching the industry I’ll have found a different interest.
If I follow through with my plan to take a writing course then that will also open up the possibility of travel writing. If I follow through with my plan to get myself fit and try as many outdoor pursuits as possible, that will open up the possibility of a career in outdoor recreation if I take further courses in guiding.
There is also the option of turning the diploma into a degree with 2 years more study. But I’m getting ahead of myself here…
Good luck with your study and life plans. That really sounds like you thought something trough
. I am already excited only reading about it!
Sorry, for not introducing myself, first: well, my name is Anna, I’m from Germany and I just tried to find some other geek on .wordpress who might be willing to exchange thoughts and information on tourism industry clusters especially in nature based tourism and outdoor recreation. I just searched “nature based tourism” on .wordpress and browsed on your blog a bit. So, there you go.
For your list of books: Ceballos-Lascurain and McCool are (from my study background) ‘must reads’ and they read easily.
If you’re looking for good case studies, I recommend: “nature-based tourism in peripheral areas” by C. M. Hall and S. Boyd and for the management side: “envrionmental management and the competitiveness of nature-based tourism destinations” by Huybers and Bennett. I liked that, too.
If you ever find out that you’re into cluster analysis in nature based tourism, please get back to me.
Greetz to B.C. (btw: you chose right! would love to live there myself … spent one year in ontario and absolutely loved it!)
Anna
PS: http://annaherbst.wordpress.com
(I blog mostly in German but sometimes in English as well.)
By: Anna on October 6, 2008
at 9:30 am