Tourism as Cultural Mediation
A project examining how tourism environments mediate cultural meaning across communities
BY TRAN NGOC VAN YEN
Tourism as Cultural Mediation
A project examining how tourism environments mediate cultural meaning across communities
BY TRAN NGOC VAN YEN
Project Overview
This website presents a student-led academic preparation project developed during my gap year, exploring tourism not only as travel, but as a space where culture and everyday interaction intersect.
It looks at how tourism shapes understanding across cultural differences, especially in Southeast Asia. Rather than offering policy conclusions, it focuses on real experiences, communication, and how meaning is created between hosts, visitors, and local communities.
The project draws on observations informed by public communication, translation work, and intercultural exchange.
Why Tourism explains the academic direction of the project
Language & Experience examines communication across cultures
Case Observations presents brief observations from Korean contexts
Academic Preparation connects the project to undergraduate study in International Studies
About the author
Tran Ngoc Van Yen is a Vietnamese student conducting an independent project on tourism and everyday cultural exchange from a youth perspective.