Tourism, Culture, and Connection: Lessons Learned in Japan
－ Why did you want to participate in this program?
When I first found out that the program was going to be held in Japan, I was pretty excited, because Japan is renowned for its culture, history, and respect for everybody. So, when I first heard about it, I was excited--especially coming from Hawaii, where there's a large Japanese population. I wanted to see the nuances and the crux of how things are different in Japan compared to my home in Hawaii, especially within the tourism industry.
－ What are the most valuable things you learned from participating in this program?
My biggest takeaway from this program is the importance of cooperation. There's a lot of cooperation that needs to be done, first and foremost, between tourists and locals. There needs to be a mutual understanding between those two, in order to have a successful industry and a successful society.
Finally, I'd also say that cooperation between my peers in this program was very important to me. All of us come from different places around the world, so it's important for us to understand each other's cultures--not only for us to be successful in this program, but to become lifelong friends as well.
