My internship in Haida Gwaii has changed my industry perspective
“In searching for the opportunity to study in Canada, I came across Royal Roads University. I liked the Master of Arts in Tourism Management course content and could see it was perfectly designed to fit somebody with industry experience looking for a global view of tourism. I decided to enroll.
I quickly came to appreciate the program’s excellent academic base and highly skilled instructors; however, it’s the practical learning that I got on my internship in Haida Gwaii that has truly changed my perspective of the industry.
As the Destination Marketing and Sustainability Coordinator with the town of Sandspit’s Community Society, I had the chance to work with the local First Nation’s community members to build a plan to grow tourism, thereby creating jobs that would provide a sustainable source of income for the local people.
I made connections between the academic side of the program and my hands-on experiences. I got to see the importance of the host community’s involvement and the roles of sustainability and resources as they pertain to tourism. Plus, I got to enjoy the hospitality of a new community and its people. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.”