Hello, I’m Jennifer Houinato

 

I’m going to tell you a bit about myself and my views on the Tourism industry. I’ll be taking you on a personal but educational journey that consists of some of the work I’ve completed for my Tourism Policy and Planning course that is completely relevant in the Tourism industry. In addition, you’ll also get insight on the type of traveler I identify as, and reflective posts based on some topics from my course that stood out to me and I felt I could relate to the most. 

I’m originally from Benin, Cotonou, but I’ve schooled in several neighboring countries like Cameroon, Tanzania and Togo. However, Cotonou will always be my home, it’s where all my most intense childhood memories are. Now I’m in Canada, in my 3rd year of Bachelor of Tourism Management and life couldn’t be more exciting and scary at the same time. But what’s university if not a rollercoaster of emotions and lingering on to find out what awaits you at the finish line? It’s the most exciting part. 

Anything involving food is my go to if I’m being honest in terms of my interests. But jokes aside, I love to write. It’s one of my favourite things to do, self-expressionism is an art form and I use every chance I get to display that as it also showcases my personality. Other than writing and enjoying delicious meals, I enjoy reading, making art & music, going on spontaneous adventures to discover new places, attending events and spending quality time with my friends and family. 

I never knew my love for Tourism until I pictured myself in the industry and what I could bring to it on a personal level. I wondered, would I be able to leave a mark? I personally believe anything you put your mind to is possible. I first started with my diploma in Events and Conventions Management because I love organizing events, especially witnessing the final product. Throughout the program, we discussed Tourism multiple times and I came to see how both Events and Tourism could be connected, which sparked more of an interest in me. When coming to Thompson Rivers University (TRU) my plan was to complete my diploma in Events and Conventions Management and then ladder up in Bachelor of Tourism Management and by the end of my four years have both a diploma and Bachelor’s Degree. So far, everything is going according to plan. The rise of the pandemic has definitely slowed things down in both the Events and Tourism industry but it’s interesting to see how both industries are trying to adapt to it. 

In the near future, I aspire to work with a well known Events or Tourism company to gain more credibility and hands on experience in the industry. In the long run I would love to start my own Tourism Marketing Agency back home to showcase the potential of tourism related activities in remote areas. Hopefully I’ll be able to grow my agency to various neighboring African countries and show the world what they all have to offer and with the use of the right tools draw people’s attention and make many of these countries major vacation spots.