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INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT (PARTS A & B)

(a) IMAGE GALLERY

https://www.snowmonkeyresorts.com/smr/snowmonkeypark/snow-monkey-park-information/

📍 Jigokudani monkey park in nagano, japan

Onsens, or hot springs, is where water flows naturally to the earth’s surface. They are commonly seen in Japan and are popular with both locals and tourists. That is no exception for this onsen in Nagano as well, but can you imagine bathing in an onsen where you can see wild monkeys bathe as well? Well, I cannot for sure, but if you think about it another way, it is pretty cool too. I chose this monkey park because although onsens are cool and rarely seen here in Singapore, I am still unable to try it (if you know, you know 😉) but when I am ready, I will go for it!

📍 Dead sea, jordan/israel

When I heard of the Dead Sea for the very first time, I remembered going like "😲😲" and I thought: "How can one sit or sleep on the water without drowning (exactly like the woman in the image ➡️)?" Turns out, it IS possible because the Dead Sea has high salinity, which also means that living organisms cannot survive in it. I thought the Dead Sea is fascinating, so I chose it. Interestingly enough, Dead Sea is not a 'sea' but a LAKE as it is smaller than the size of a sea! Not only that, it is located between Jordan and Israel because the east side belongs to Jordan and the west belongs to Israel, hence the location as stated above.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/first-time-dead-sea

https://www.caveworld.co.nz/glow-worm-tours/footwhistle-glowworm-tour/

📍 waitomo caves, new zealand

From the picture, can you tell that those blue lights are actually glowworms? Aside from being famous for their glowworms, Waitomo Caves is also a responsible ecotourism site in New Zealand. Ecotourism is the practice of responsible travel to natural areas with aims to conserve the environment and improve the well-being of locals. Therefore, if one wants to visit Waitomo Caves, they would have to go to a tour managed by the New Zealand government and the local Maori (indigenous people of NZ). When more people visit, the local Maori can use the entrance fees to fund the conservation of the natural environment better. Not only that, it generates income for them and provides them with job opportunities as well. I chose Waitomo Caves because, without the numerous measures put in place to minimise human impact on the natural environment, we would never get to see this awe-inspiring sight of the cave like the one shown in the image (⬅️). This sight alone attracts many tourists (including myself too!) to view the glowworms in the cave for themselves and help in conserving the environment at Waitomo Caves. If I have the chance to, I would love to visit this cave one day! 😆

📍 jiufen old street in taipei, taiwan

Jiufen Old Street is one of the locations that inspired the award-winning Studio Ghibli film, 'Spirited Away' (rewatched it 3 times! 🤫). Knowing that as a Ghibli fan, how can I not choose Jiufen Old Street? Diving into Taiwan's history for a bit, it was Japan's first "model" colony back in 1895, which explains the heavily inspired Japanese architecture and street layout in Jiufen Old Street as seen in the image (➡️). Still, can you believe that Jiufen is a narrow pedestrian street filled with food and shopping on alleyways located not in Japan, but Taiwan? Many tourists are attracted to Jiufen not just because of Spirited Away, but for its food, rich history and architectural style as well! Thanks to Spirited Away, Jiufen has now become one of my top want-to-visit places on the list! :-)

https://redaroundtheworld.com/2016/06/01/tea-in-the-hills-of-jiufen/

https://www.traveloka.com/en-sg/activities/france/product/louvre-museum-tickets-2001606102819

📍 Louvre museum in paris, france

Home to thousands of historical objects and works of art such as the famous Mona Lisa, Louvre Museum is the largest art museum and historical monument in Paris. From the empire-style architecture of the art museum to the Louvre Pyramid, we can see how Louvre Museum is one of the distinct landmarks and a must-not-miss attraction in Paris, drawing millions of people worldwide to view the arts on display yearly. I believe that this has got to do with people's increasing desire to explore cultural heritage sites like the Louvre itself. Likewise, I chose the Louvre Museum mainly because of my interest in the rich French history and arts scene in France, which has made the art museum one of my top want-to-visit places on the list! 🤩

(a) INFOGRAPHICS

(B) my straits times online article review

Ng, K. G. (2020, October 22). STB and Airbnb join hands to promote local virtual experiences globally. The Straits Times.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/stb-and-airbnb-join-hands-to-promote-local-virtual-experiences-globally

Summary:

International tourism has drastically dropped worldwide because of the travel restrictions imposed in many countries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many travel businesses, big and small, struggle to stay afloat during this period. However, many of them are still trying to adapt and stay resilient by being innovative and optimistic for the future. As portrayed in the article, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Airbnb resorted to using technology to give international tourists a taste of Singapore through various virtual experiences on Airbnb’s page. Simultaneously, this provides a platform for international tourists to connect with like-minded people and their closed ones across the globe.

Takeaways from the Article:

On the bright side, technology has firstly allowed travel businesses to reach out to more customers regardless of their geographical location, as mentioned earlier. This is only possible because there is no restriction on where and who can view the information online, saving time and money for businesses to spread information around. The evolution of technology has also accelerated the spread of information digitally, allowing more people to view that same information in no time. The same applies to travel businesses as well.

They can bring what they offer closer to customers worldwide. With technology such as virtual reality (VR), customers can explore and experience endless possibilities solely from the comfort of their homes. As much as losing the sensory experience when visiting an actual destination, it still enriches people’s experiences and is more exciting and interactive. Therefore, VR makes it possible to whisk one away to a new or even a remote destination without leaving their home, potentially shaping the future of travel.

Embracing technology is the only way travel businesses could sustain in the long run. Although technology is a disruption to the travel industry, it has allowed them to remain relevant during the COVID-19 situation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of travel is uncertain. However, during times like this, it becomes more evident that technology is crucial for the travel industry, as it is the only way people can ‘travel’ and relive the times they were overseas. If they can seize the opportunity to grow their business and overcome the crisis, it does not mean that they are bound to fail.

(373 words)

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