Expedition to Mexico

Students of the field of Tourism undergo internships in companies and in the field. In addition to their professional knowledge, they deepen their organisational guide skills and test their language skills. Their travels were (in the period before the pandemic) mainly to Europe. However, there are also many students who are interested in exploring destinations further afield. For the very enthusiastic ones, the Department of Tourism started several years ago to prepare the possibility of voluntary field experience in Cuba. This year, Mexico has been added to the volunteer field experience opportunities. The first time this two-week expedition took place was in January/February of 2022 and was met with, we believe, success by all of the tour participants. 

Tourism in Mexico has grown tremendously over the past decade. Coastal resorts and remnants of Indian cultures have become the core of the development. The level of services and the capacity of accommodation facilities have increased. In Mexico, tourists head for the seaside resorts on the beautiful Caribbean Sea (Cancún, Akumal, Tulum, Playa del Carmen), where tourism is at its busiest, but also to the east coast to the Gulf of Mexico (Veracruz, Tampico) or to the west coast of the Pacific (Huatulco, Acapulco, Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta). The territory of Mexico is an area of ancient Indian cultures - the Mayans, Aztecs, Zapotecs, Toltecs, Mixtecs, Olmecs, Chichimecas and others left many breathtaking monuments, which is why this country is such a popular and sought-after tourist destination. 

The itinerary and program of the expedition was prepared by Dr. Drasharova together with suggestions from colleagues from the Department of Tourism in cooperation with Ms. Martina Brychová from the travel agency MexicoCesky based in Cancun, Mexico. The expedition was led by Ing. Martina Drašarová, Ph.D. together with local licensed guides, namely Tereza Balcarová and Rastislav Jančík. The group traveled through the Yucatan Peninsula during the stay and sightseeing program, while relaxing by the Caribbean Sea. The tour of the peninsula included learning about archaeological world-famous sites on the UNESCO list, such as Palenque, Uxmal, Chichén Itzá. Campeche, Mérida. The participants of the tour also got acquainted with Mexican cuisine, cocoa production, traditions or Central American ecosystems (tropical rainforests, mangroves, karst caves cenotes, natural parks, coral reefs, etc.). The expedition was accommodated in 3* hotels, where thematic meetings were occasionally held. During the stay in Cancún, a visit was also made to Universidad Anáhuac Cancún, where teachers and students were able to meet with staff from the tourism and international departments. We were introduced to the curriculum, classrooms with superior facilities and opportunities for collaboration on campus across continents.  

There were daily classes with active student participation on the history, geography and tourism of Mexico. Each student had a function during the expedition (technical guide, writer, documentary filmmaker, etc.). The output of the expedition will be a bachelor's thesis focused on tourism issues in Mexico. Others are active and are preparing for the VSPJ podcast or the travel lecture on Mexico that will take place on April 20, 2022 at the VSPJ Learning Center, to which you are all cordially invited.