Letter of motivation
I’m from a new first-tier city Chengdu, hometown of famous pandas on earth. However,
due to the basin terrain and air pollution, the persistent and thick smog in winter always
makes tourists wear masks and complaining it is like London in industrial period. This cast
me to suspect if my city can be sustainable to attract foreigners; Also, Sichuan is more
than panda, it is rich in natural and cultural heritage, including five UNESCO Sites and
scattered mysterious ethnic tribes. But due to lack of integrated resource planning,
Chengdu citizens would still take gas-guzzling flights around the globe instead of choose
low-carbon trip around so it can form virtuous cycle, i.e., suburban population make
consumption in city if citizens spend in suburb. In addition, Chengdu government is
forging it into China’s silicon valley with a reputation of leisure tourism, but what can
practitioners do to help government that without rich experience in tourism industry
professionally to form a smart city for leisure tourism in the future?
During past 6 years working as a guide, operator and later market manager, I sensed
increasing Chinese and foreign travelers have grown tired of the standardized approach
of large tour groups and are seeking not just high value products or services but novel
experiences. More well-educated white collars and intellectuals see trips as not only an
escape from the daily pressure, also as a journey of exploring self-worth and selfsatisfaction in their own attitude towards world and life, like picking up skills in a
traditional workshop, taking low-carbon trips in suburbs to have equivalent relaxation,
lead a different life by volunteering in a temple near mountain, these more enduring
happiness can be energy power when back to work. In addition, the aging of urban
population is getting obvious. If taking flights is the mainly way to travel for retired people,
it will increase carbon emissions. Exploring go-green tourism is of far-reaching impact for
both government, environment and future generations.
What really directly make me want to apply now is I saw heart-breaking pities in this
pandemic that even with experience of decades in tourism cannot immunize tourism
practitioners against this crisis. Many bus drivers, tour guides, travel agencies took
months to figure out how to respond to this unexpected pandemic. It reminds me that
tourism industry is not just about daily detailed experience, also crucial to observe
scientifically and theoretically. The industry needs researchers and scholars stands on the
lighthouse giving practioners forecasting signals for guidance and advise tourism
government department with advanced knowledge to form backup policies so that can
cushion the damage in low season and boost industry in prime time. For myself, being a
researcher or teacher in tourism vocational school is a meaningful career path to devote
myself with job satisfaction, especially after an NGO activity “Academic pathway design
for migrant children”, migrant children in cities have the opportunity to be accessible to
richer educational resources than in rural areas, but due to intricacies of local policies, the
educational level of parents, the possible limitations of educational institutions, etc., they
may experience pain points in career planning. Being a knowledgeable teacher in
vocational school could help improve individuals lives in a long lasting way.
The forward-looking courses offered are what I’m looking for. it can help me reflect on
my questions and equip me with advanced ideas. I’m eager to know strategic planning
processes for sustainable tourism development with a variety of local and international
case studies. And my major is politics which helps me better understand tourism policy
initiatives in sustainable tourism, ecotourism and other new tourism trends. Learning is a
continuous combination of theory and practice, a process of unifying knowledge and
action. After 6 years of practice, it is time to sort out theories, think globally at the CUHK,
and act locally after returning to hometown.
Recent 2 years’ work experience in a fast-pace consulting company with excellent
colleagues not only gear me to work with efficiency under huge stress, set Olympic
standards for myself, but also instills me the importance of fact and equip me with the
tool of problem-solving, which are transferable skills for doing research in the future.
Conducting interviews of customers and suppliers before every project teaches me to be
customer-centric with feedback-based continuous improvement. Only based on reality by
collecting and analyzing data that interpreting is possible for the information into
strategic planning of tourism industry. I know there are failures ahead in this process of
achieving sustainable tourism but will treat every step as learning opportunities to be
reflected on.
I think with the upgrade of cities and the surge in the number of tourists, sustainable
tourism is a topic that cities have to face in the near future. This program is like a
lighthouse for tourism practioners with hands on experience. Also, it fits my personal
career path. I hope could share my work experience with other classmates as well.