1.the daily activities/ placement assignments
During the last weeks I have been working on the placement report. I finished most of the NHTV assignments. I was able to complete the Quality Improvement plan because I had the chance to interview tourists of Golden Empire Tours, who have recently done the Inca Trail. One assignment about the marketing strategy is still missing because I need specific information from Violeta to finish it. Moreover I continued working on the feasibility study.
Violeta and I were busy with putting in order all her package tours. We also worked on the manual of Golden Empire Tours, that includes all the prices, tour and package descriptions.
The communication within the organization has not changed. I get along with other colleagues very well and have nothing to complain about.
Although it is June and high season in Cusco, the number of people has not increased as it did the years before. The effects of a worldwide crisis and the Swine fever reduced the number of visitors to Cusco. Many travel agencies in the Main Square are suffering from lack of tourists and have troubles paying its rent. Therefore, the workload in the office is quiet modest.
The other student apprentice did not arrive as it was intended.
2.attainment targets
During the last two weeks Cusco converted into a city of daily festivity. Every day the Main Square was full of visitors, who appreciated watching dances and parades of the schools, universities, different institutions and organizations such as banks. The highlight was Inti Raymi, the Celebration of the Sun on the 24. June. I went to see the ceremony which started at 9 o'clock in the morning and lasted the entire day. During these weeks I have experienced a lot of cultural activities, folklore and traditions of Cusco. It was an exciting time that gave me insight into the colorful and diverse culture of Peru.
3.personal aspects
Generally speaking, I have not been working specifically on personal weakness. I continued my work on the assignments with the desire to finish them as soon as possible. The festivities in Cusco gave me to opportunity to discover something from the culture. I was happy about it because of work absence in the office. This way I used the time learning something about tourism activities, that attracted thousands of visitors, mainly Peruvians, to Cusco on a daily basis.
4.future action items
In the following weeks I would like to finish the placement report. I need to receive the missing information about Golden Empire Tours to do so. Because there is not much work in the office, I would like to take vacations and visit the jungle resort of Manu. I talked with Violeta and she agreed with the idea.
Freitag, 26. Juni 2009
Inti Raymi
The Inti Raymi "Festival of the Sun" was a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti. It also marked the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere. Since 1944, a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Sacsahuamán (two km. from Cusco) on June 24 of each year, attracting thousands of tourists and local visitors.
During the Inca Empire, the Inti Raymi was the most important of four ceremonies celebrated in Cusco, as related by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The ceremony was said to indicate the mythical origin of the Incas, lasting nine days of colorful dances and processions, as well as animal sacrifices to ensure a good cropping season. The last Inti Raymi with the Inca Emperor's presence was carried out in 1535. After that the Spanish conquestand the Catholic Church suppressed it. Some natives participated in similar ceremonies in the years after, but it was completely prohibited in 1572 by the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, who claimed it to be a pagan ceremony opposed to the Catholic faith.
In 1944, a historical reconstruction of the Inti Raymi was directed by Faustino Espinoza Navarro and indigenous actors. The first reconstruction was largely based on the chronicles of Garcilaso de la Vega and only referred to the religious ceremony.
Here you can see some of the colorful pictures that I have taken. Due to a huge crowd, it was almost impossible to see anything from the ceremony at Sacsahuaman.
During the Inca Empire, the Inti Raymi was the most important of four ceremonies celebrated in Cusco, as related by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The ceremony was said to indicate the mythical origin of the Incas, lasting nine days of colorful dances and processions, as well as animal sacrifices to ensure a good cropping season. The last Inti Raymi with the Inca Emperor's presence was carried out in 1535. After that the Spanish conquestand the Catholic Church suppressed it. Some natives participated in similar ceremonies in the years after, but it was completely prohibited in 1572 by the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, who claimed it to be a pagan ceremony opposed to the Catholic faith.
In 1944, a historical reconstruction of the Inti Raymi was directed by Faustino Espinoza Navarro and indigenous actors. The first reconstruction was largely based on the chronicles of Garcilaso de la Vega and only referred to the religious ceremony.
Here you can see some of the colorful pictures that I have taken. Due to a huge crowd, it was almost impossible to see anything from the ceremony at Sacsahuaman.
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| Inti Raymi |
Samstag, 6. Juni 2009
Interim report week 16 – 18
1.the daily activities/ placement assignments
I have consulted my friend to ask the price for putting the German explanations on the website. He asks 100 US$ to include the text, and another 100 US$ to apply a SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which is very time consuming. I forwarded this to Violeta, and she is going to think about it and decide later.
I also worked at the NHTV assignments and the placement report. The destination analysis is almost done. I interviewed several people to obtain their opinion about my CCS story. I read the articles and included them, as well as the reaction of the people and my fellow students into the analysis. With this information I was able to complete the CSS part of the destination analysis. The only things that are missing is a summary, a typification with the explanation, and a final spell check. I also continued working on the placement report and the NHTV assignment. I decided to write the feasibility study about the Inca Trail and made the first draft.
I translated the brochure into German with the intention to send it to German Tour operators. Because Violeta was very busy and hardly in the office, and travelled for some time, I still did not receive the introduction text that she wanted to write.
On Saturday and Sunday of week 16 Violeta, Ingrid an I made an excursion of getting to know the new Inca Trail. Violeta did not know this route, which has gained in popularity since this year. It is an alternative way to reach Aguas Calientes and Machupicchu. She went there with the intention of observing the tourism supply, i.e. restaurants, hotels, transportation, figuring out the costs and getting an idea what type of market is interested in that service. I helped her with the research and observation, and took pictures.
The number of tourists is increasing and several people came to the office to ask about prices and tours. Violeta showed me how to put together an individual package tours, and calculate the prices for it.
2.attainment targets
During the 2-day excursion I got to experience how an unknown area is analysed by a tourism professional. This practical education was very interesting and gave me an idea on how to do research. Going around, visiting hotels and restaurants and talking to people to get an impression of the area within a short period. This information can then be used to compose a tour for example. In my case, I am planning to write a feasibility study on the Inca Jungle. Having visited the area, I now have a clear picture in my mind and in combination with desk research, I will be able to write a report about it.
Additionally, I visited new places in Peru and are familiar now with new areas such as Santa Maria, Santa Teresa, and Hidroélectrica. Because these villages are located on a lower altitude there is a milder climate. Therefore it is called “ceja de selva”, i.e. edge of the jungle.
3.personal aspects
From my experience so far, Violeta and I are very different personalities. During the excursion, we had to work in a team, i.e. travelling and doing research together. Sometimes it was not easy and I had to be very patient. However, I tried my best and in the end it was a very successful and enjoyable journey.
4.future action items
In the following weeks another student apprentice from France is going to start working in the travel agency. I will be helping her to get familiar with the working environment in the office. Moreover, I would like to continue working on the NHTV assignments and the placement report. I also will continue with the feasibility study of the Inca Jungle, and if there is free time I am planning to walk the trail for 4 days in order to get an even better impression. The two days were not sufficient to get to know the walking routes. The writing of the promotional e-mails will have to be done within the next weeks as well.
I have consulted my friend to ask the price for putting the German explanations on the website. He asks 100 US$ to include the text, and another 100 US$ to apply a SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which is very time consuming. I forwarded this to Violeta, and she is going to think about it and decide later.
I also worked at the NHTV assignments and the placement report. The destination analysis is almost done. I interviewed several people to obtain their opinion about my CCS story. I read the articles and included them, as well as the reaction of the people and my fellow students into the analysis. With this information I was able to complete the CSS part of the destination analysis. The only things that are missing is a summary, a typification with the explanation, and a final spell check. I also continued working on the placement report and the NHTV assignment. I decided to write the feasibility study about the Inca Trail and made the first draft.
I translated the brochure into German with the intention to send it to German Tour operators. Because Violeta was very busy and hardly in the office, and travelled for some time, I still did not receive the introduction text that she wanted to write.
On Saturday and Sunday of week 16 Violeta, Ingrid an I made an excursion of getting to know the new Inca Trail. Violeta did not know this route, which has gained in popularity since this year. It is an alternative way to reach Aguas Calientes and Machupicchu. She went there with the intention of observing the tourism supply, i.e. restaurants, hotels, transportation, figuring out the costs and getting an idea what type of market is interested in that service. I helped her with the research and observation, and took pictures.
The number of tourists is increasing and several people came to the office to ask about prices and tours. Violeta showed me how to put together an individual package tours, and calculate the prices for it.
2.attainment targets
During the 2-day excursion I got to experience how an unknown area is analysed by a tourism professional. This practical education was very interesting and gave me an idea on how to do research. Going around, visiting hotels and restaurants and talking to people to get an impression of the area within a short period. This information can then be used to compose a tour for example. In my case, I am planning to write a feasibility study on the Inca Jungle. Having visited the area, I now have a clear picture in my mind and in combination with desk research, I will be able to write a report about it.
Additionally, I visited new places in Peru and are familiar now with new areas such as Santa Maria, Santa Teresa, and Hidroélectrica. Because these villages are located on a lower altitude there is a milder climate. Therefore it is called “ceja de selva”, i.e. edge of the jungle.
3.personal aspects
From my experience so far, Violeta and I are very different personalities. During the excursion, we had to work in a team, i.e. travelling and doing research together. Sometimes it was not easy and I had to be very patient. However, I tried my best and in the end it was a very successful and enjoyable journey.
4.future action items
In the following weeks another student apprentice from France is going to start working in the travel agency. I will be helping her to get familiar with the working environment in the office. Moreover, I would like to continue working on the NHTV assignments and the placement report. I also will continue with the feasibility study of the Inca Jungle, and if there is free time I am planning to walk the trail for 4 days in order to get an even better impression. The two days were not sufficient to get to know the walking routes. The writing of the promotional e-mails will have to be done within the next weeks as well.
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