A Love Letter And Call To Action to Youth
This article is guest authored by Pauline Yang, a PATA intern for the Youth Department. PATA supports youth empowerment for the sustainable future of tourism through the PATA Internship Programme and other youth initiatives.
Dear PATA Youth Community,
The fact that we all moved through these turbulent times is a great achievement and a testament to our own resilience and perseverance.
Most of us did not anticipate COVID-19 to be an international crisis to happen in our generation. I absolutely did not. It has placed us in the face of uncertainty. However, despite all the challenges that the pandemic has brought to us, I was able to find confidence within myself to continue moving forward and to pursue my passions.
This is my story:
Aloha everyone, my name is Pauline Yang and I am a Fall 2019 graduate from the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. I was fascinated by the idea of a robust tourism ecosystem. In particular, the concept of the "triple bottom line" really resonated with how I wanted to see tourism in the future. Therefore, out of college, I had plans to work for a tourism agency to gain experience and exposure so that I could make positive changes in an effort to encourage more "people-first" tourism.
However, as we all know, an inconceivable global event afflicted our society in the beginning of 2020.
As a result, the past two years (for me, personally) have been a whirlwind. Opportunities within the industry began to disappear as lockdowns and restrictions were put in place. Traveling became seldom, and tourism, particularly here in Hawai’i, declined. For safety, companies had to reduce the number of employees working at a given time, causing lingering staff shortages within the industry. In what felt like a blink of an eye, all the aspirations I had coming out of college were put on hold.
Even though my situation post-college grew bleak, I needed to understand that I had to keep myself relevant within the industry. While it was (and still is) uncertain when the world will begin to return to normal, I wanted to continue fighting for what I believed in and be prepared for the moment that we do rebound from the pandemic.
Over time, I was fortunate enough to join the City & County of Honolulu in the Office of Economic Revitalization as an Economic Revitalization Research Analyst. Through this position, I have participated with local communities and stakeholders in the development of Hawai’i Tourism Authority’s O’ahu Destination Management Action Plans (DMAP) to build tourism back responsibly.
While I was working for the City & County of Honolulu, another opportunity was presented to me. I reached out to Ms. Aletheia Tan to catch up with her. From here, she graciously invited me to speak on stage at PATA’s 2020 Youth Symposium on how tourism may be a positive catalyst for change. As a PATA Youth, I was honored to be on stage, as this meant my perspectives of where tourism was headed mattered. Elevating youth voices is important because this leads to empowerment. This idea led me to join the PATA Youth team as a youth intern to provide tools, resources, and knowledge to unlock the potential in the youth members.
This is where I am now:
Currently, my journey as a PATA youth associate has been exciting! I am given room to grow professionally and personally through activities where I am able to connect with other fellow international colleagues of mine.
Although I am still at the start of my career, I am thrilled to know that I can empower my colleagues to create a better tomorrow. Through all my experiences, I thank those that I have come in touch with. Everyone I have worked with has given me the love and support to continue my endeavors.
Without the community, I would not be the person I am today. They have instilled self motivation for me to keep moving forward and still have the drive to fulfill my big girl goals. I believe that all of you can have the similar experiences I have had, even in the midst of a pandemic. Together, we all can be involved, chase our dreams, and make tourism better! ;)
As UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “Tourism is uniquely placed to lead future recovery. Our sector will provide jobs people need to bounce back and will drive economic growth that will help whole communities and countries recover. But for now, we must be patient and stand ready.”
So, to all my budding hospitality and tourism colleagues…
Yes, the travel industry has been heavily impacted. However, we make our own realities. There is a difference between waiting for opportunities to come to you versus making opportunities yourself. I highly encourage everyone to be proactive in exploring your purpose within the industry. It is important to always invest in yourself, stay curious, and continuously sharpen your saw. It is without a doubt you will be a huge asset to lead the next future of travel.
To current students, there are various resources available to assist you along your path. Consider participating in extracurricular activities, keeping in contact with your academic instructors, visiting your career center, and taking on remote and virtual internships. For young tourism professionals, if you have the time, there are opportunities to upskill, including, but not limited to, receiving specific certifications, listening to podcasts, and enrolling in leadership development programmes. And lastly, remember to take care of yourself along the way. Stay hydrated, take breaks, and never take on more than you can handle. Your health is an equally important factor to your success.
Best of luck and sending you strength to have the tenacity to power through!
Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) for being in this space with me and allowing me to share my story! Go out there and tackle the world!
A hui hou (until we meet again),
With Love,
Your friendly youth intern,
Pauline Yang ❤️