The first, and my favorite, is learning about the way of life of the people there- their traditions, culture, and history. I for one have lots of fun learning about people’s culture firsthand, and sometimes even indulging myself in it for a more personal experience. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to visit Warsaw with my whole family, although my father didn’t really have fond memories of the trips as he was there for business, so when we traveled around the country it was just my mother, my sister, and I. There was this one day when we attended a Slavic festival called Ivana Kupala Night and we were taught how to dance some of the traditional slavic dances. Some of them included forming a slavic circle with other locals and tourists around a huge bonfire, and the famous Slavic Squat Dance that originated from the Cossacks of Ukraine. It was allegedly the hardest traditional dance in the world, and involves a person kicking while squating. I managed to catch the gist of it, just not squating as low as the locals would. Throughout the whole festival, I found Polish culture to be fun and fascinating, while my younger sister felt the exact opposite, and often just sat out of the activities my mother and I participated in.

Looking at sceneries and views is something else that I love doing when traveling to a new place. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be landscapes all the time- I enjoy viewing places with historical or cultural significance too. Temples, shrines, monuments and so on attract me because of the value they hold. There is a connection with the history and heritage of the country whenever I visit such places. But my most interesting experience was also my most dangerous: it was my visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. The DMZ lies on the Korean War armistice line between the two Koreas, and personally I find its name pretty ironic as the DMZ is said to be the most heavily militarized places on Earth. Its name comes from the restrictions imposed on both Koreas on the quantity of troops can be in that area, and what type of weapons are allowed there. It’s open to tourists, and I was quite fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of it. There were many rules in place for us, among them was that we should silently observe, and not make any sudden hand gestures like waving as Northern soldiers might perceive it as a sign of aggression. It was pretty risky and scary- 7 year-old me was sweating heavily and clinging on to my mother the whole time.

Another thing I love doing when traveling is getting off the internet to reconnect with reality. I'd power off my phone as I go for a hike at a national park or a walk around town. I mean, can you imagine paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars to visit another country just to be on your phone all the time! Every country, every city and every place has its own beauty that I feel should be treasured if visited. And that’s my parent’s perspective too. Whenever we travel, my parents would make a conscience effort to maximize our fruitfulness there. It’s not everyday that you visit another country!

Firstly, visiting new countries around the globe provides me with the opportunity to appreciate their cultures and heritage. To be very frank, it is evident that other countries definitely have richer historical records as compared to Singapore, and some easy examples would be China or Japan. Singapore is most known for its multi-racial community consisting of a colourful mixture of cultural practices from various races and ethnicities, while the nature of  other countries are of a more single-race. Take Japan, for example. Majority of its population are native Japanese, and foreigners aren’t all as welcome in Japan as they are in Singapore. Hence, the cultures and practices there would definitely be more interesting and centralised as compared to back home in Singapore, and I would be more captivated to explore these aspects when visiting other countries through visiting iconic landmarks in every corner of the world - the mighty Mount Fuji in Japan, the  Eiffel Tower in Paris, or the Great Wall of China in well, China. 

Another feature of travelling I find pleasure in is trying out the different local cuisines unique to every country I visit. While the food in Singapore is good, it lacks the richness or freshness that I crave for. That’s also why I am always eager to taste the authentic cuisines that various countries may present to me. For example, my trip to Italy last year during the June holidays counted as a memorable experience to me in the view of enjoying the local cuisine there. Upon arriving in Italy, I immediately set out to immerse myself in the country’s culinary pleasantries and as expected, it did not disappoint me in the slightest. Gelato storefronts displayed glorious mountains of bright flavours, and I knew I could not pass up the opportunity to taste the famous delicacy, which I had heard so much about from my friends and family back in Singapore. The second I licked the top of my gelato ice cream, I was blown away by the smooth and creamy texture complimented by the sweet sprinkles and nut toppings. This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Italy that I would never forget. That said, visiting other countries definitely allows me more insights into delectables around the world! 

Last but not least, travelling provides me with the rare chance to experience all four seasons. Having lived in Singapore throughout my life, us locals are rid of opportunities to savor constantly changing weather conditions around us. If you were to ask a Singaporean about the seasons we experience in Singapore, they would tell you one thing : Summer. Summer, Summer, and once again, Summer. Globally, Singapore is known to be a tropical island cum metropolitan city, with a frequent mixture of both. The only time we ever really get to change out of our regular tee shirts and shorts proves to be unexpected - if we’re lucky, rainy seasons in Singapore could last up to a month, at most. Most of the time, however, we are stuck in the sweltering heat and the fiery Singapore spirit. Therefore, when Singaporeans travel to other countries around the globe for vacations, a large majority of the population tend to choose to go when it is any season OTHER than summer - spring, when beautiful sakuras blossom in Korea and Japan. Autumn, where beautiful reddish- brown coloured leaves fall to the ground. Or winter, where the chilly breeze makes us look like smoke-spitting dragons whenever we exhale. My personal favourite of all the seasons is Winter, whereby I finally get to whip out my thick jackets and warm scarfs, bundle myself up in them and walk through the peaceful streets of a foreign land. 

In a nutshell, the idea of travelling definitely piques my interest because it enables me to explore and appreciate the uniqueness and beauty of the world around us, and it also brings people from all walks of life together on the same path while we admire how far our world has come. 

Many people might think that countries historical sites are all about boring history of the country, but to me I feel that it is a way to broaden my understanding about the country. I enjoy knowing about the historical sites of countries as they provide  me a fascinating glimpse into the past and allows me to connect with the different cultures in the country. Exploring the sites gives me an opportunity to witness the remnants of the ancient civilizations and the achievements they have made. The historical significance of each site and the stories they tell intrigues me. Many historical sites are renowned for their architectural beauty, intricate craftsmanship, or grandeur. One example of a historical site is the Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, Japan. Kiyomizu-dera temple was founded in 778 dating back to over 1250 years. History books and literature shows how many people enjoyed visiting the temple throughout its history. It is shocking to see that a structure of such historical significance that was built over 125 decades is still standing strong despite the number of times it was destroyed and rebuilt. When I visited Japan, I was not able to visit the temple due to time constraints but it definitely is one of the places in my bucket list due to its scenic views as well. Ultimately, visiting historical sites has broadened my perspective and through these experiences I gained a profound understanding of the country, its people and the journey through time.

Other than the historical aspects of countries, the cultural aspect of food is a fundamental part of culinary exploration while traveling overseas and I am sure many can agree with me on that. Food is not just a basic thing. It is deeply intertwined with a society's traditions. Exploring local cuisines can provide a wind into a culture’s heritage, customs and a way of life.  Whenever I travel to different countries I make it a necessity to try out the large array of foods from the country. For instance, In 2019, when my family and I went to Kyoto, we went to a small street, called Uji. This street is filled with cultural goodies that are made of matcha, their speciality. Some may think that when everything is made out of matcha it tends to taste bad. But in actual fact, the food was delectable. As we walked down the street filled with sweet and salty varieties of matcha flavoured food, we managed to see chefs performing their skills in front of a massive crowd, doing handmade noodles. The experience was truly memorable and if I were to travel again, I would love to go back to Uji street. Moreover, culinary traditions are often passed down through generations, preserving and celebrating a society's history and cultural heritage. Exploring the cultural aspect of food is also a rich and rewarding way to experience the depth and diversity of a destination's culture.

Another interest I have to fulfill whenever I visit another country is to enjoy the natural beauty of each country as it is a different sight from one that I am used to seeing in Singapore. The sheer grandeur of landscapes, ranging from majestic mountains to serene beaches and dense forests, captivates the senses and instills a sense of wonder. Taking in the different natural beauty of each country allows me to forget about everything, take a break from reality and recharge my spirits. An example of a natural beauty would be the cherry blossoms in Japan. For instance, although cherry blossoms bloom in many countries, my parents and I always make it a point to visit Japan in March as that is when a specific cherry blossom called the Kawaza-zakura blooms. These blossoms are a stronger shade of pink as compared to the common blossom, yoshino cherry. Whenever we visit, we would always bring a picnic mat and have a picnic under the Kawaza-zakura trees, enjoying the view and cherishing our time there. Ultimately, encountering natural beauty abroad allows me to reconnect with the Earth, find inspiration, and gain a renewed sense of harmony with the natural world. 

All in all, I may differ my preferences on what to do in different countries but taking in the scenic beauty, eating the long range of food and learning about the history and cultural of the country would by my top most priority in my bucket list. 

When it comes to travelling to a new destination, making a trip down to the heritage site to find out more about the cultures, history and general style of the country is something I would enjoy and reap the most benefit out of it as history student. Let’s revisit my most recent travel trip as an example. In the midst of my visit to Beijing. I visited the Forbidden City of Beijing with my family to discover more about the world largest’s imperial palace’s rich history. It was and still is quite a marvelous site to take in fully. The pure dynasty architectural look of the buildings with stunning dark red and gold was breathtaking. Through my visit to the site, I also picked up some interesting facts about the Forbidden City of Beijing. I learnt that even the design of the Forbidden City's huge roofs held deep cultural significance. The roofs of the Forbidden City symbolize the highest point in the social hierarchy signaling the building where the emperor lived and the origin name of Forbidden City came about as the imperial guards guard strictly outside the palace to ensure the royal family’s safety, prohibiting any intruders with malicious intentions from entering the palace as they might pose threats against the royal family’s safety. Therefore, this is how the Forbidden City derived it’s name. These facts amazed me beyond belief and the further I went on the more I learnt about dynasty traditions and the meaning of what each architectural carving was made to represent. The whole thing felt like a movie set. When I visit other countries, I wish to find such a blend of amazing sites and scenery mixed with the culture and history once more to not only gain some insightful knowledge but also a memorable experience. 

Besides visiting the heritage sites, visiting other famous landmarks not having much historical significance in the country is also something I would indulge myself in. Though I have not been to France, every knows the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is also known as Iron lady, it is one of the monument I would enjoy visiting if I visit France. A brief introduction about Eiffel Tower, it is one of the few very iconic landmarks in the world and it is recognised for it’s distinguished architecture and is visited by nearly 7 million tourists every year. Though it is quite popular, it was only built in 1887 which makes it not as rich in history as other sites in Paris like the Cathedral De Notre-Dame in 1163 and the Palace of Versailles in 1661. But even so, If given the opportunity to visit France, Paris I would fly to the France just to visit the Eiffel Tower just to pose with the tower and take a nice memorable photographs with the tower to mark my visit. Observational decks is also one of the driven factors that increases the popularity of the landmark and I would also definitely visit the observational decks, enjoying the spectacular bird eye view from above. Sometimes, instead of wanting to learn about the culture and history, I might just want to see some popular tourist attractions instead and see if they really are as remarkable as they seem.

Last but not least, if I were to visit a new country, I would be delighted to visit amusement parks that have a central theme such as movies. As an adventurous person by nature, themepark would be the best attraction site to entertain me and entertain my family. For example, a few years ago before the pandemic, my family and I also travelled to Hong Kong a few years back just for the themepark - Hong Kong Disneyland. There were many magical attractions such as the Mystic Manor, Garden of Wonders etc. Not only did I find joy in the process, my bond with my family also grew deeper. There are also things that you might be able to purchase in other countries. Like when I visited China, I managed to get some authentic herbal tea leaves harvested fresh from a farm and my mother even bought some traditional tea sets. 

In summary these are the few things I would enjoy when visiting a new country, visiting heritage site, tourng famous landmarks and exploring themeparks. Hopefully, in the future, I can continue to travel to different countries to visit their well known attractions sites,heritage site and themeparks and spend fruitful time there. The world is small beyond compare to the universe but I cannot ever hope to fully grasp and enjoy everything it has to offer.

firstly, one of the biggest pros of tourism is economic, bringing in the money. Secondly, Tourism is responsible for generating many different jobs within a country and the number of business opportunities that open for the local people, thus being a hugely positive influence on the economy.  Tourism accounts for about 10% of employment worldwide, both directly and indirectly. Benefits can extend to a local economy, and broader, country-wide economy as well. Tourism also brings in foreign investment. An example is the Disneyland in Shanghai.  This US franchise targets not only the Chinese, but also attracts the foreign tourists who visit China.

Tour operators, hotels, restaurants, bars, and entertainment facilities all see an immediate influx in business from tourism. This then leads to them seeking more employees, giving more opportunities to the locals of each country.  There are also tourism adjacent jobs like the local retail and transportation industries that also benefit from the presence of tourists. 

In countries where employment rates are low, tourism can add valuable jobs, and contribute to economic growth. For example, tourism represents about 38% of the Maldives’ GDP.

According to UNWTO’s executive director, Zoritsa Urosevich, tourism has been the sector hit hardest by Covid-19 and, while countries such as China were able to switch to domestic tourism, smaller nations such as Fiji, where tourism represents between 40% and 70% of GDP, fared far worse. The pandemic put an estimated 120m tourism jobs at risk.

However, it can cause dilution of local customs and heritage. Identity, culture, and values of a place can be lost when tourism becomes the major activity of an area. Tourism oriented commercial activities can overwhelm an area. Local culture festivals and religious rituals are sometimes modified to meet the demands and expectations of tourists. Authenticity and significance of cultural events are reduced because of commercialisation. 

Due to covid-19, it had led the world to realise the importance of tourism. Without tourism, the economics of a country would drop. Because of that, there would not be further economic benefit or improvement for the country causing them to be less developed. On the other hand, with tourism, it helps with the mental wellbeing of citizens. With tourism, it can lead people to relieve themself and get out of their hectic life. Because of that tourism has led to so much benefit to people around them. It can be to the individual standpoint or a bigger picture of the government standpoint. Therefor I agree tourism is a good thing for the country. 

2)State your (reason) Point #1– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link

3)State your (reason) Point #2– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link 

4)Provide alternative POV: However, others may argue that…(PEEEL)

5)Next, talk about your own Personal experience (current or past) using 5W1H, talk about what happened after the experience. Did it change your outlook or perspective on the issue or theme? Did it make you change something about yourself?

6)Restate your point: Therefore, I agree / disagree that...and end off with personal reflection, predictions for future etc

2)State your Friends’ stand: yes or no. Include your (reason) Point #2– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link *

2)State your (reason) Point #1– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link *

3)State your (reason) Point #2– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link *

4)Provide alternative POV: However, others may argue that…(PEEEL)

5)*Always include your own Personal experience (current or past) using 5W1H, talk about what happened after the experience. Did it change your outlook or perspective on the issue or theme? Did it make you change something about yourself?
6) Repeat your Stand. End off with prediction for the future, moral lesson, takeaways (values you have learnt)