Unfamiliar (new) streets, unfamiliar (new) buildings, new people to meet.
I was pretty nervous on my way to the office on the first day of my internship. From settling into my work desk to figuring out where to get lunch, the entire day felt like a lot to take in. In hindsight, I know it was only a sneak peek into what the next few months would look like.
As an International Tourism Management student in Germany, doing an internship abroad felt almost inevitable for me, to get a realistic insight into the everyday workings of this dynamic industry. But this extended exposure to a different culture and one of the biggest tourism destinations in the world also provided me with an opportunity to identify my own interests and strengths.
Last year, after I finished my semester abroad in Bali, where I experienced Southeast Asian culture and hospitality for the first time, I was drawn to exploring more of the region, as it is so different from my lifestyle in Europe. My inherent curiosity led to an obvious question: “Should I stay in Bali, or look at interning at a different city in a different country?”
Ultimately, I went with Bangkok because it is a convenient city to get around and a big player in the global tourism market. Most importantly, it presented me with an opportunity to experience Thai culture first-hand. I applied to intern at Discova as it is a leading destination management company in Asia, which would give me the opportunity to learn about various travel services like group travel, educational travel, and day tours directly on site.
When I started the internship at Discova’s Marketing department, my initial goal was to put theoretical knowledge into practice. However, I soon realised that while some of the basics I learned at university would come in handy, the reality of working in the travel industry was way more complex and hands-on than I could have predicted.
One of my first projects was researching the German travel market (which comes in handy as I am German). It was quite a challenge to source and compare recent travel data on consumer behaviour, trends and competitor research, as I had previously only done theoretical case studies. I even found that assumingly simple tasks like translating collateral into German needed precise attention and multiple quality checks.
Even then, I was not ready for what would be one of my most eye-opening learning experiences: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Who would have thought that so many minute factors and statistics would go into play while planning a digital marketing strategy? Definitely not me, as this wasn’t something that was taught at my university.
However, once I was introduced to the importance of using relevant keywords to make a website more visible on the World Wide Web, there was no looking back. It became a crucial part of how I brainstormed content ideas and optimised my own work to be more accessible on the internet. This process also expanded the scope of my internship to include both creative and analytical tasks.
Besides the usual work hours, I had the opportunity to participate in plenty of travel experiences operated by Discova. From exploring Bangkok’s cultural side to visiting floating markets and the historic province of Kanchanaburi, these excursions helped me understand the operational aspects of our signature tours while also enjoying them as a first-time traveller to these beautiful and diverse places.
One of the most memorable experiences during my internship was the excursion to the Discova-supported community project Kok Na Sai, where I witnessed the company’s commitment to supporting local communities in creating authentic tourism experiences and showcasing their culture on their own terms. I participated in traditional rice planting ceremonies, farm-to-table cooking experiences and craft workshops, which immersed me in local traditions like never before.
Overall, working in an international team also taught me the importance of cultural understanding and adaptability. Be it the daily chit-chat with colleagues or joining them on dinners every now and then, it was a very comfortable work environment for me. Especially having the benefit of being taught many Thai words and phrases by my colleagues truly made me feel welcome. (Sanuk mak~ (Very fun~))
On the topic of having fun at work, I have to mention our Songkran-themed company party, which made me realise how flamboyant and carefree workplace socialising can be in Thailand. In Germany, I had never heard of company parties where you could wear colourful printed shirts and belt out popular songs during karaoke. According to me, this really highlighted the friendly and fun work culture in this country.
Be it the food, the stunning architecture of the various temples, or the traditional clothing which makes you look like royalty, Bangkok, in general, has been such a memorable experience in my life. The last five months have taught me a lot – professionally and personally.
The precious memories I have collected – be it the cultural festivities like Songkran, the lovely Thai people, the supportive team at Discova, or even the hours-long SEO sessions – I know that I will cherish this time for years to come.
For those still thinking if applying for an internship in your home country or abroad would be a worthwhile experience, I would wholeheartedly suggest you give it a go! You can only gain from it!
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