CTO – Caribbean Tourism Organization

Placement organization

Name of organization: CTO – Caribbean Tourism Organization
Town/city: Warrens
Country: Barbados
Website: http://www.onecaribbean.org/

Student

Name of student: Elodie Nafa

Specialist area: ITMC
Placement period: 2013-2014

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Tourism Organization
Organization’s activities: The research department is the department I am working in. This Department contributes to the development of a better informed tourism sector by expanding the range and improving the quality of the information available about Caribbean tourism. The Department executes economic, social, environmental and market research relating to tourism in the Caribbean, maintains a comprehensive tourism information system to respond to the needs of all the public and private sector users of tourism data relating to the regional tourism industry and provides technical assistance to CTO member states, especially in improving their tourism statistical systems.
The objective of CTO’s Human Resource Department is to broaden and strengthen the skills base and expertise of persons working at all levels in the Tourism sector, through technical assistance, training attachments and the development and delivery of training activities. We do this through cooperation with private and public sector institutions which are involved with tourism hospitality education and training in the region.
With their partners they are endeavoring to raise the quality of regional tourism education and training programmes and develop and promote a systematic and coordinated approach to Human Resource development for Caribbean Tourism.
In the Caribbean, Sustainable Tourism is understood as the optimal use of natural, cultural, social and financial resources for national development on an equitable and self sustaining basis to provide a unique visitor experience and an improved quality of life through partnerships among government, the private sector and communities. This section contains documents, reports and studies related to research or projects on sustainable tourism development, at both regional and international levels.
Target group of the organization: Caribbean Islands
Company culture: The company culture is a mixture, there are formal moments such as staff meetings, appointments, lectures. But there are informal moments too, we had a movie lunch, colleagues are talking informally. Email are formal within the company. It depends the moment and the event or activity I would say. But when you are having a conversation with a colleague this is most of the time informal. Conversations with my supervisor for example are more formal.
Number of employees: 30
Dress code: formal
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? Yes

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? I am working in the Research department of the CTO but sometimes colleagues from other departments ask for my help such as the Human Resources department.
Brief description of your daily activities: The daily activities are never the same.. There are days that you have to translate emails/ PowerPoint presentations, helping colleagues out with small assignments. Doing research on different topics and Caribbean islands. Helping with a conference or tv show. participate to staff meetings. And next to this working on your school assignments.
Brief description of your company assignment: First I had a company assignment about the European market in the Caribbean but in the end my supervisor let me choose which topic interested me the most.

The aim of this research assignment is to analyze the tourism-related economic activities that currently take place on the beaches of Barbados.
Since I saw a Beach economy study from more than 25 years ago, I thought it would be very interesting to make one myself and compare my research with the research of 25 years ago. The objective of the study would be to conduct a descriptive analysis of the beach economy of Barbados. I want to record and describe the tourism-related economic activities that currently take place on the beaches of Barbados. With economic activities I mention formal or informal, sale or rent, goods or services, legal or illegal.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: My supervisor is super busy so he is not often at the office. He has to travel a lot. When he was not at the office, there is always someone else where you can ask your questions. Colleagues are really nice and they would always help you if you need something. If my supervisor had time, the communication was not very good but in the end it was fine because there are other colleagues to help you.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? independent, teamplayer, sociable, adapt to the culture, open-minded
Additional company requirements for this placement? –
English: Advanced
Spanish: Basic
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages: All languages which are spoken in the Caribbean islands are a plus.

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: airplane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? My first house was arranged by the company and after 3 month I moved with a friend who I met on the island
How did you go to work every day? First three months by foot and last three monts by bus.

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? no
Do you need a work permit? no
How did you arrange the necessary documents: –
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents? –
Did you need certain vaccinations? No
How long in advance? –

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? No

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € Depends on the date (800-1200€)
Accommodation (monthly): € 300
Local transport (monthly): € 30€
General costs of living (monthly): € Depends how you live! €400
Costs of visa: € –
Costs of work permit: € –
What did the company pay for/to you? –

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
Nothing.
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? Yes

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: elodie_nafa@hotmail.com

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: –
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: Different places to eat, bus stops, super centre, malls. This is the city of Warrens.

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link