Made for tourism

Did you always want to study Tourism Management, or was it more of a coincidence?

Johanna: “Sometimes I think it might have always been meant to be for me. My parents have vacation rentals in the Spreewald, so I grew up around tourism. I never wanted a run-of-the-mill desk job where I’d sit in front of a computer in an office every day. That’s why I chose tourism—it brings new challenges every day.”
Alina: “I’m from Rostock, which is also a tourist region. Both through my previous work at a hotel and because of where I’m from, I’ve always had a lot to do with people in the tourism industry. The decision to pursue tourism was therefore an obvious one, and in hindsight, completely the right choice for me. As Johanna says—maybe it’s always been in you.”

How did the orientation process go beforehand, and what ultimately led you to study in Görlitz?

Alina: “I was pretty desperate at first and had a lot of meetings with a career counselor at school. Together with her, I sorted out what wasn’t a good fit at all and what I really wanted. Actually, I didn’t want to go that far from Rostock—but Görlitz was a good option for me, offering everything I’d hoped for. In hindsight, it was the right decision.”
Johanna: “After graduating from high school, I did a one-year internship at an event and advertising agency. I enjoyed it and felt right at home there. My coworkers then recommended Görlitz to me for my studies. I submitted applications there and at other universities as well. Originally, Stralsund was my favorite, but that didn’t work out, so I decided on Görlitz, and I’m now glad it turned out that way.”

What do you particularly like about Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences?

Johanna: “It has an incredibly close-knit atmosphere; all the professors know our names—that’s really nice. Plus, the faculty and the teaching system are very flexible. You often get a say in how things should be done. The university isn’t big, so you keep running into each other. I feel like I’m in good hands.”
Alina: “There’s a friendly atmosphere, what feels like one-on-one support, and reliable communication—for example, via WhatsApp. Plus, you know all your fellow students personally, and the small seminar groups of six to ten people create a nice and pleasant collaborative atmosphere.”

What are the advantages and unique features of the program?

Alina: “The program includes modules in business administration, accounting, economics, marketing, and management—afterward, you’ll have the foundation for practically everything. Ultimately, it’s entirely up to you what you make of it. Plus, the content is very practical, since we work directly with tourism businesses in Görlitz. For example, as part of a module focused on sustainability, we helped improve the city’s reusable container system.”
Johanna: “The specialization modules in the fourth semester give us students plenty of options to specialize. For example, I’ve focused on event management. I like that you get to plan something and then see how a small idea grows into something big. It’s a great feeling to be “bustling about” at an event you’ve organized yourself—and that’s exactly what I’ve always wanted to do.”

Now that you’ve graduated six times, what still fascinates you about the degree programme?

Alina: “I’m fascinated by the diversity. Tourism is such a broad field, and each individual area has its own distinct facets. Plus, you’re always interacting with people, no matter what you’re doing. Tourism is simply a wonderful thing—because everything we do is driven by the idea that it should be inspiring and enriching for others, allowing them to create wonderful memories.”
Johanna: “We can work in so many different areas of tourism—such as hotels, recreational facilities, museums, or transportation—and interact with many different kinds of people. It’s incredibly varied, and that’s very important to me personally. You bring people together, and that’s a wonderful feeling. Plus, tourism will always exist—it’s simply a basic human need. That means we have job security.”

In your eyes, Görlitz as a city is…

Alina: “...small, but diverse and surprising. Many people don’t even have Görlitz on their map, but it’s so beautiful here and shouldn’t be underestimated.”
Johanna: “Görlitz is international; you’ll find people from all corners of Germany, and some are spending their study abroad semester here. That lets you get to know many different cultures, and great friendships develop.”

And what’s (student) life like?

Johanna: “To be honest, I’d never even been to Görlitz before starting college. But after six semesters, I can say: Finding a place to live is easy, and rents and the cost of living are affordable. And there’s always something going on, whether at the student club in the dorm or at the bars.”
Alina: “When you go out in Görlitz, you always run into familiar faces. The city is very cozy, and it’s nice that everything is within walking or biking distance. Plus, there’s Lake Berzdorf, where you can spend the summer. That really makes exam time bearable.”

What are your plans after obtaining your degree?

Alina: “Of course, we’re going to finish our bachelor’s degrees first. After that, I’m thinking about staying in Görlitz and pursuing a master’s in ‘International Tourism Management’ there, because the coursework sounds really cool and it even includes a semester abroad. That really appeals to me.”
Johanna: “After obtaining my degree, I’d like to gain even more experience abroad, preferably in the events industry. But before that, we’re going to enjoy our time in Görlitz—because we’ve both grown very attached to our life here.”

The interview was conducted by Annafried Schmidt.

Source: Pack-dein-Studium.de