Mauritius as a Tourist Destination

Mauritius as a Tourist Destination This part of the theoretical discussion gives an overview of Mauritius as a tourist destination. A general introduction to the cultural and geographical background with a description of tourism characteristics, attractions, as well as seasonal aspects is presented. 2.7.1 Mauritius Mauritius is independent since 1968 and has been a republic since 1992.The population of Mauritius is 1.3 million, shared out in 1860 km2. While the official language is English mainly and French, Creole, a French derived dialect, is spoken by the majority of the population and is considered as the national language. Mauritius multicultural ethnicity made that other ancestral language such as Hindi, Tamil, Chinese, Urdu or Bhojpuri are also spoken. The capital, Port Louis, has population of 150000 citizens. Other important cities are Quatre Bornes (82 000 citizens), Rose Hill (91 500 citizens) and Curepipe (84 000 citizens). The country has a diversified economy. Historically a sugar cane producer, Mauritius has taken the opportunity to develop itself in three sectors that are, sugar cane, textile and tourism. Tourism is a major industry representing 72% of the total GNP. Mauritius has made himself a luxurious destination for tourist. Mauritius is a tropical island located in the Indian Ocean and is part of the Mascarene Island. Considered to be the twin sister of Reunion Island, it is situated at the east of Madagascar. Mauritius is encircled by a broken ring of mountain ranges, varying in height from 300 meters to 800 meters above sea level. The land rises from coastal plains to a central plateau where it reaches a height of 670 meters, the highest peak is in the southwest, Piton de la Petite Rivià ¨re Noire at 828 meters (2,717 ft).(Gov, 2012) The climate has two clear seasons of 6 month each; winter and summer. In summer time the temperature can rise occasionally to almost 30-35 degrees. On the other hand, it is not rare to have over 10-15 degrees during the winter time. Irregular rains caused by rapid changes in the weather characterize the Mauritius climate. 2.7.2 Tourism in Mauritius In the past years Mauritius has been the fastest developing country in the African region measured by economic growth, inflation and increase in employment. Among the other industries: financial, agriculture and textile, tourism is a pillar in the Mauritian economy. In 2011 tourism gross receipt was 42 845 million in a year constituting 7% of the Gross Domestic Product of the island (ICCA). Mauritius has earned a reputation for excellent service in the tourism industry. In the past ten years Mauritius has become one of the most luxurious destinations in the world and has been award several times for its beautiful beaches, blue lagoons and its five stars resorts. The tourism sector employs directly over 27 000 persons while total employment (direct, indirect and induced) stands at around 100 000 or 20% of total employment. Over 98 % of the direct employment is held by Mauritians whereas posts in selected scarcity areas are filled by expatriates. The sector also contributes to nearly 10 % in the GDP of the sector and is a significant contributor of FDI in the country. (AHRIM) Mauritian governmental strategy in the sector is clear: The National Tourism Policy emphasizes low impact, high spending tourism. Selective, up-market, quality tourism is favored, and although such tourism is not the only type, it constitutes the major segment of our tourists who stay in high class hotels. (MTLEC, 2011) In parallel with the operation of these luxury hotels, a whole array of services has gradually evolved so as to offer the visitors a tourism product which is in line with the high expectations attributed to the Mauritius brand; Marinas, Spas, Golf courses, adventure and nature activities, shopping malls and restaurants have been set up. Tour-operators in presently in activity (Tourism Authority, 2010), offering a whole range of excursions and activities. A constantly evolving list of water-sports activities, ranging from traditional motorized sports, big-game fishing and deep-sea diving, to more elaborated products such as under-sea walk and sub-marine tours are also available to visitors. The state of Mauritius has a yearly budget which is allocated to the Ministry of Tourism, Leisure and External Communication, the financial resources allocated to tourism related programs and promotions are increasing each year. Government investment in the tourism industry was 448 millions in 2010 and it is predicted to by around 490 millions in 2012. These investments concern policy making, regulations, controls, branding and sustainable tourism. The biggest proportion goes to the promotion of the Island. Government of Mauritius alongside with MTPA would invest in 2012 a total of 400 million rupees in the promotion of the island and its activities. (http://tourism.gov.mu) Mauritius has performed well in developing a distinctive form of relatively high-end tourism. Growth in tourist arrivals has outpaced that of many of our competitors. Currently, the aim is to continue that growth with a visitors target of two million tourists a year by 2015. To achieve the set target, the number of hotels and room capacity has evolved considerably over the years to cater for the ever-increasing tourist arrivals. 2.7.3 Regulatory Bodies The Mauritian Tourism sector is under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure. Promotion of the island as a destination is under the responsibility of Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA). MTPA conduct advertisement, participate in fairs, and organize fairs, activities inland and outside the island. The Tourism Authority (TA) is responsible for licensing, regulating and supervising the activities of tourist enterprises, pleasure crafts, skippers and canvassers. The Association des Hà ´teliers ET Restaurateurs de là ®le Maurice (AHRIM) is a non-profitable organization set up in 1973 to represent and promote the interests of hotels and restaurants in Mauritius.(http://www.mauritiustourism.org/) 2.7.4 Attractions of Mauritius Mauritius since its early stage in the industry have attracted tourist with it perfect blue lagoons, the sandy beaches, and eternal sun. The three S are the island main pull factors. Almost all the tour operators deliver almost the same services and products according to the MTPA lists, the customers travel to Mauritius are for the attractions or other purposes: (MTPA, 2011) The core product of Mauritius is the 3 s being Seas Sun and Sand For the wedding and honeymoon. For the tours to the small islands surrounding Mauritius which can be an adventure or a beautiful memory of their holidays. For the water sports and other activities. For the cultural tourism: historical monuments (Apravasi Ghat, Le Morne, Citadelle-Fort Adelaide, Port Louis Market and so on) and museums which contain the historical part of Mauritius when it was first found For the spa and the relaxation moments. For the events of different festivals in Mauritius: Thaipoosum Cavadee Marche sur le Feu done by the Tamil communities; Festival of Printemps by the Chinese communities; Maha Shivratree Holi Divali by Hindu communities and so on. For the multiracial food as the cultures are transferred to the food. Offer also the IRS Villas which can be rented or bought by the customers who do not wish to live in the hotels which are all almost enclave, thus these villas will give them more liberty and get contact with local people of Mauritius. For the natural and manmade scenery: Vanille Crocodile Park, Casela Bird ParkSSR Botanical Garden are manmade attractions; Sept Cascades, Black River Gorges, or Chamarel are natural sightseeing 2.7.5 Marketing of Mauritius as a destination 2.7.5.1 Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authorities Mauritius being recognized around the world to be a tourism destination which offers a wonderful range of services including the quality made the acquaintance of the island. It is being promoted mainly by a group of tour operators which are registered at the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA); the official Promotion and Marketing Organization which is being managed by a Board of Directors (Private sector) and acts under the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure (Public sector). It has branches in nine countries across the world. European country (France, England, Italy, Spain and Switzerland) were the island main target during the last two decades. After the euro crisis MTPA aims the Asian market to sustain the industry. It is present in Russia, India and China. The Asian market is the upcoming leader of outbound tourism (UNWTO, (2012)). MTPA main marketing tools are Internet, Brochures, Road Shows, Tourist Guides, Conference and presentations. According to the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority official website, it has some objectives that it must take into consideration: (Source:http://www.tourism-mauritius.mu/mtpa/) To promote Mauritius as a tourism destination abroad through: Conducting advertisement campaigns and participating in tourism fairs. Organizing, in collaboration with the local tourism industry, promotional campaigns and activities in Mauritius and abroad. To provide information to tourists on facilities, infrastructures and services available to them in Mauritius. To initiate such actions as may be necessary to promote cooperation with other tourism agencies. To conduct research into market trends and market opportunities and disseminate such information and other relevant statistical data on Mauritius. 2.7.5.2 MTPA Strategies Mauritius has developed a tourism industry of worldwide recognition. The image of high class delivery of tourism services and products is stick to the island since the last two decades. (Source:http://www.gov.mu/portal/goc/menv/files/nar2010/Chapter%208_Tourism%20Resources.pdf) It is targeting two million tourists by 2015 and it is interesting to know how it is going to be done. Below are the following strategies proposed by MTPA: (Tourism Resource, (2010)) Positioning Mauritius as a cruising destination and during the first quarter of 2009, cruise passenger arrivals grew by 83%. Marketing the country as Maurice sans passport to attract French tourists to Mauritius up till 30 June 2010. The Tourism Sector Strategy Plan (2009-2015) has been prepared recommending ways and means of achieving an environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically viable tourism development. The Mauritius Brand Strategy has been launched in October 2009 to strengthen and enhance the image of the Mauritius destination and to ensure greater visibility of the Mauritian brand worldwide. The objective of this branding exercise is to attract investors for the business opportunities in Mauritius, visitors for its hospitality industry and buyers for its export goods. Professional assistance has been given to Small and Medium Enterprises under the Empowerment Program to improve the quality of their products so that they can act as reliable suppliers for the tourism industry. Measure will be taken to protect the environment (pollution control, sound environmental management, protection of natural resources, landscaping, etc.) Promotion of Sustainable Tourism Promoters of new hotel projects are encouraged to use renewable energy and adopt eco-friendly practices and use, as far as practicable, energy saving devices. Eco-friendly outboard engines for crafts at sea are now being used to protect the marine environment. Low-rise and low density hotel development is encouraged to avoid the disfigurement of the coastal landscapes. Hotel projects are monitored to ensure that they conform to the applicable Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) and the activities of tourist enterprises are regulated and monitored to promote sustainable tourism development. Permanent mooring buoys have been installed at dive sites to protect the coral from damage caused by anchors. Measures have been taken to ensure a safer and more secure environment for tourists. All guest houses, tourist residences and hotels must be equipped with burglar alarm systems, and CCTV surveillance cameras. A Tourism Safety Panel has been set up to register security companies which meet the Ministrys established criteria. A Tourism Fund has been set up, which finances the provision of social amenities to locals in areas where tourism projects are being implemented; protection and rehabilitation of scenic landscapes, lagoons, rivers and islets; and control and eradication of pests and other nuisances. Measures are taken to protect our local culture: The Festival International Kreol is organized on a yearly basis with emphasis on the value and beauty of the Creole culture, language, cuisine, art, music and dance. Organization of Regatta competitions have also been undertaken in traditional fishing villages 2.7.5.3 Mauritius Actual inbound Tourism Market According to the government statistics, Tourist arrival in 2011 reached 964 642 bringing a gross receipt of 42 845 million rupees. www.gov.mu-portal-goc-cso-ei948-tourism.pdf.png Graph 2: Comparison of Tourist Arrival by Month in 2010 and 2011 (Source: Mauritius Government, 2011) Graph 2 compares the number of tourists arrival in Mauritius in the period of 2010 and 2011. Mauritius receives it maximum number of tourists during the month of December (around 110000 Tourists) and it minimum during the month of June (approximately 52000 Tourists). In January, February, April, June July, August, October and November, the island had succeeded in increasing it number of tourists arrivals. In 2011 during the peak seasons (December mainly), tourists arrivals had decrease compare to 2010. Graph 2 illustrates the seasonality faced by Mauritius Tourism Industry (peak season and low season). Mauritius receives the highest number of tourists in December, January and July. During low season in 2011, such as in February, April, June and August, it is obvious on the graph 2 that Mauritius has managed to increase its number of arrival. The motive being this is the successful marketing strategies adopted by the MTPA to attract the Asian market in substitution of the European mar ket. Compare to 2010, Tourists arrivals had increase of three percent. It is very slow progress but positive one. www.gov.mu-portal-goc-cso-ei948-tourism.pdf 2.png Graph 3: Tourist arrivals by country of residence, 2010 and 2011(Source: Mauritius Government, (2011)) Graph 3 compares the number of tourists arrivals by country of residence in 2010 and 2011. Since two decades, European countries such as France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, are Mauritius main tourism customers. Since the euro crisis, MTPA started targeting the Asian tourism market such as India, Republic of China and Russia to sustain its tourism economy. The marketing of Mauritius as a destination for tourist in this zone is still at it early stages, resulting in the disparity shown in graph 3 between European arrival and Asian arrival. France, with more than 300 000 in both year 2010 and 2011, take the biggest proportion in the number of tourist visiting Mauritius. Despite having the highest growth rate (more than 100 pour cent) Republic of China recorded the lowest number of arrival in the island. South African and Reunion tourism markets are the island main targets in the African zone. If this graph is compared to the MTPAs presence around the world, the relat ionship between visibility in the target country and tourist arrival is clear. MTPA promote Mauritius in France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, thus resulting in a high number of tourists arrivals. Recently based in Asian zone MTPA marketing to attract Chinese, Indian and Russian tourists is as said above at it very early stage. 2.8 Conclusion In this chapter the theoretical discussion is presented to create the framework for this study. The first section concentrated on definitions of the tourism product and how it is linked to customers perceived value and this is followed by a discussion of the concept of destination. These definitions were selected in order to explain the compound nature of the tourism product and destination and how these underpin one another. The second part focused on consumer behaviour in tourism and presented the decision-making model of Schmoll. This part showed that tourism behaviour is a very complex issue with many internal and external factors influencing it. Due to these reasons some limitations were put in place to bring focus to this part of the theoretical discussion. Travel motivation and tourists expectations were discussed more thoroughly. The third part of the theoretical discussion provided a comprehensive description of the development of Chinese outbound travel. This was done to provide the reader with a general picture of the Chinese outbound market and the special features it has today; mainly that traveling abroad is still strictly government controlled. The purpose of the last part was to give wide-ranging information about Mauritius, focusing on tourism and the attractions of the island. The chapter was concluded by introducing the marketing of Mauritius as a destination. CHAPTER 4 FINDINGS 4.1 Introduction This chapter presents the main findings of the interviews. The findings and factors underpinning them are discussed in relation to theories and information presented in chapter 2. The main findings have been categorized into six groups to build structure for this part of the study. The chapter begins by providing some background information regarding the typical Chinese trip to Mauritius and the basic profile of a Chinese tourist. That is followed by an analysis of the findings regarding Chinese travelers in Mauritius. 4.2 Background Information First, this chapter presents some information regarding a typical trip to Mauritius and a profile of a Chinese tourist coming to Mauritius to create context for the findings. The following information is based on the researchers interviews with tour operators. The duration of the typical trip to Mauritius is normally seven days and focuses on the costal areas. Most of the travelers use tour operators. The tours are all- inclusive including transportation, accommodation, meals and activities. According to the tour operators, Chinese tourists visiting Mauritius can be categorized into two groups. The first group comprises business people of whom the major part is men and women can be seen sometimes working as e.g. interpreters. These people are traveling on business purposes with their colleagues and they are invited to Mauritius by a local company or government that is also paying for the costs. The second group is made up of tourists traveling on leisure purposes, as part of a larger Chinese tourist group and paying for the trip themselves. These are mainly honeymooners, retired people and small family groups that have sufficient time and money for traveling. Travel Company is normally spouse, friends or other relatives. In this research n o distinction was made between business and leisure travelers. 4.3 Main Findings and Discussion This section presents the main findings of the interviews with the six operators. The interviews were made up of a total of 14 questions. Main findings are now presented according to the objectives set for the study. 4.3.1 Travel Motivation the Pull Factors The first objective of the study concerned travel motivation. This study was limited Mauritians pull factors. What attracts Chinese travelers to Mauritius? The following pull factors were identified from the interviewee. Firstly, all mentioned that Chinese tourists do not come to Mauritius for the purpose of only traveling to Mauritius. Look at the world Chinese conference this week, there will be around 500 people travelling from china and Asian zone. Why will they come, certainly not for Mauritius itself but for a special purpose (Interviewee 2). Same precision were noticed by another tour: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ And on the other hand, Mauritius is creating an image while hosting Chinese Weddings TV Show in Tamassa Resort. (Interviewee 4) According to the operators, the base for traveling to Mauritius is accessibility, namely the connections with Air Mauritius to Hong Kong. Air Mauritius ensures an eight hour flight to Hong Kong two times a week. The other part of china is also connected to Mauritius via transit from Hong Kong ,Singapore or even Madagascar, but not much traveler actually use that option (Interviewee 1). This finding can be reflected back to the theoretical discussion where different theories emphasize the importance of good accessibility for success of any destination. In addition another pull factor is our clean nature, sea and sand, our beautiful hotels, and Mauritian paradise image, were mentioned to be reasons for visiting the island. They come mainly on half board, at 8 oclock they are out of the resort. Most of them use tours facilities to visit Mauritius (Interviewee 6). They seek for adventure; they came here to escape from their day to day routine in a stressful and urban environment. They seek for something different and now they have disposable income to get it. Mauritius is seen as a natural paradise and this is a great opportunity for the tourism industry. 4.3.2 Expectations The second objective of this research is to understand Chinese tourists expectations of Mauritius as a travel destination. The Tours operators revealed that when arriving in Mauritius Chinese tourists do not have any or they have very few expectations regarding the destination. Some of the tours put it in words: I think they do not have that many expectations but they expect that there is so much to see like in Maldives or Singapore (Interviewee 1). Chinese do not know about Mauritius when they come. They do not know what Mauritius is exactly (Interviewee 2) This can be due to two reasons; first that there might not have been sufficient information available before taking the trip, the promotion of Mauritius is only at it very beginning stage in China. The second possible reason is that travelers might not have had an interest to search for information in advance. It was also mentioned by the tours that many Chinese visiting Mauritius are having their first trip abroad. Also this result underlies the importance of tour operators as source of information, and in creating image and expectations for customers buying the trip. On the other hand, it has been perceived by the tour operators that Chinese tourists know Mauritius is a paradise island. Chinese tourists have also heard about tropical aspects, our 3 S that are sea, sun and sand. These are the things that create for Chinese people their image of the island. As the other tour operator continues: When they come to Mauritius they have excursions, discoveries, and shopping in their mind. So, if they come to Mauritius and they do not get thoseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦they feel disappointed (Interviewee 4). One of the tours linked the expectations with shopping. Buying gifts is very important for Chinese people and gifts are always given to relatives, friends and colleagues when returning home from a long journey. They would like to buy something typical from Mauritius to their friends, (Interviewee 3). According to tour operators Mauritius should concentrate on knowing its new customers then provide the service. Meeting the customer expectation is the very basic definition of service and we should stick to that first (Interviewee 1) Image and brand are important for Chinese and they are willing to purchase even very expensive gifts when the product has image strong enough, not even the quality is importance then. 4.3.3 Services in Mauritius Destination has been defined as the focus of facilities and services designed to meet the needs of the tourist (Cooper et al., 1998). A range of services is offered for tourists in a destination. The third objective of the study was to discover how services offered in Mauritius meet Chinese tourists needs. Questions were limited to accommodation, transportation, catering and activities. 4.3.3.1 Accommodation When asked about the accommodation for Chinese tourists, the tours revealed the following aspects. Even if the price was the considered to be quite high compared to prices in China, it was said that Chinese tourists love Mauritian luxurious 5 Stars. Especially the cleanliness of hotel rooms pleased Chinese travelers. A couples of reasons for dissatisfaction were also mentioned which arose from the differences of service standards in China and in Mauritius. Five out of six tours mentioned that the lack of a kettle in hotel rooms is source of dissatisfaction for Chinese tourists because Chinese regularly drink hot water or tea. Only a few hotels in Mauritius have this service available. Also toothbrush is a standard in hotel rooms in China. These two issues were mentioned to be a source of dissatisfaction by Chinese travelers, though both of these could be solved with little cost and effort. Chinese are very satisfied with hotel services but dissatisfaction with these services was ment ioned when guides or interpreter are not available as it is hard to communicate with hotel staff. Almost all hotel employees can manage French and English, some even speak German or Italian, but mandarin is not even on the training list. (Interviewee 6) It would be important to meet or exceed customers expectations because it usually creates a positive attitude towards a hotels service quality. Room quality standards should be maintained based on customers expectations. (Interviewee 2) 4.3.3.2 Transportation Tours answers about transportation services indicate that coach services meet Chinese travelers needs. Chinese tourists consider the drivers to be trustworthy and professional, and special mention was given to the time concept tours excursions drivers are very punctual. Most of them book tours buses, and few of them would rent cars. Chinese Tourists speak very few English and no French at all, we are the only one who provide them a mandarin speaking guide (Interviewee 2). Chinese travelers do not yet use public transport very often. The island public buses are so far from the standards of China and the whole system itself is a mess. It is almost impossible for a Chinese traveler to enjoy an excursion journey with the local transport. Also, people had complained about the air transport. It is difficult for a Chinese tourist to come to Mauritius, as the only direct flight is from Hong Kong. We receive tourist from Shanghai, Guangzhou or Beijing. Guides had perceived them to be a very nice experience for Chinese travelers due to the beautiful environment Mauritius provides. No major complaints were notice about the tour buses itself and the activities provided. 4.3.3.3 Catering Chinese travelers prefer Chinese food wherever they travel. Lunch is always in a Chinese restaurant. Tours explained that reasons for this are that western food is too different for Chinese tourists; this does not suit Chinese people. They are not even eager to try. It is simple you want to get Chinese customers, you need to give them Chinese food, they dont want to try something else. (Interviewee 6) Whatever the price is the want to eat only food they are use to. They are pleased by Mauritian Resorts efforts, trying to give them Chinese breakfast and dinner. With typical Chinese trip in Mauritius breakfast and dinner are usually in the hotel, but lunch is always in a Chinese restaurant. If the trip is longer, for example 10 days (which is very rare) Chinese tourists might want to taste western food only once. The opinions about European and Mauritian food are divided. However, it was surprisingly mentioned that Chinese tourists do like the western type breakfasts at hotels even if western food was not preferred otherwise. However some negative comments came up with groups are not that pleased with the Chinese restaurants, because Chinese food in Mauritius does not have its typical taste. (Interviewee 3) The quality of the restorations is said to be very good in Mauritian resorts. 4.3.3.4 Activities According to tours, sightseeing around the island (normally 2-3 hours) and shopping are always included in the programs. Sometimes groups visit Black river gorges or Chamarel Colour Park or Grand basin spiritual temple and SSR Botanical Garden. It was expressed by one of the tours: Sightseeing is too short and visiting gorges and SSR Botanical Garden is quite boring as it is reasonable small compared to other country (Interviewee 1). There are no interesting or famous architecture (e.g. compared to Singapore or Thailand) in Mauritius. There is not much to see complain a Chinese Tourist to one tour. Chinese tourists would like to see nature or try as much as activity as they can. A European would go on average on three excursions for ten days of stay, whereas a Chinese would go to seven through the same period. (Interviewee 3) Shopping is always included in the tours, and groups prefer to do that with a guide as well. Even if Chinese love shopping, this seems to be a disappointment for them in Mauritius. They are eager to buy luxurious product like Hugo Boss, Chanel, Rolex, and so on (Interviewee 5), the problem is that 75 percents of the product they would buy in Mauritius come from china, so why would they buy it here (Interviewee 1). They would rather by traditional souvenir of the island and model boats. Price is not an issue for them; they are here to spend money. Chinese do buy a lot, e.g. perfumes, fashion, watches from Switzerland and without caring for the high prices. What they want is quality and brands; they are not here to buy made in China (Interviewee 5) Tours mention that Chinese tourists do not enjoy free time on their own. Reasons for this were mentioned that there are no communication possibilities as only few travelers know English and due to their cultural background. Chinese tourists also enjoy casinos and live shows. Lack of interesting nightlife in Mauritius was also found to be negative. Two of the tours mentioned that travelers are very happy if they are kept busy during their all length of stay. A Chinese traveler, even if he has his plane at two in the afternoon, at 7 am he is going out on excursion. A Chinese tourist, even if he landed at 7a.m and arrives to his hotel at 9 am, at 10 am he is out for an excursion. This is Chinese Tourists. (Interviewee 1) They are usually happy of the Mauritius experience. 4.3.4 Significance of Traditional Mauritian Attractions This part will discuss significance of traditional Mauritian attractions for Chinese tourists. That is Sea; Sand and Sun. These attractions are normally promoted by MTPA and attached to the image of Mauritius. What is the significance of these attractions to Chinese travelers according to the interviewee? The Chinese Tourists are not again the three S, Mauritius is promoted the same way as in European Country, in China. However once in the island, the three S are definitely not their main interest

Most Memorable Meal Essay

A Memorbal dinning moment in my life was when i tried sushi with some of my co-workers after work The enjoyment of Sushi is not for the timid among . In addition to having a adventurous spirit, those that go to Sushi restaurants must be open minded about other cultures and traditions. However, for someone who is trying Sushi for the first time, a favorable first impression may not be a good indication of how the experience as a whole will turn out. As we walked into the Sushi restaurant at the Prudenital I took a look at the surroundings. The first thing I noticed was the smell. It smelled like a regular seafood restaurant with the smell of cooking fish in the air. This surprised me as I was expecting a more raw fish smell. The decor was traditional Japanese, from the symbols on the walls to the chopsticks on the tables.. So far everything was progressing nicely and I had no reason to believe that this meal would be anything other than enjoyable. After being seated at a booth by the window, The waiter asked us what we wanted to order. I looked at the menu but I still had no idea of what Sushi really was. There seemed to be every imaginable kind of seafood available. I didn’t even consider that not only fish, but crab and octopus and squid could be considered Sushi as well. So I asked the waiter what I should order if I just wanted some ‘traditional’ Sushi. He seemed to not understand me and walked off after a minute of meaningless banter. The girl who had seated us walked ove I explained that I had never had Sushi before and that I wanted to try something traditional and ‘Sushi like’. She asked if I would be willing to try anything raw and I responded â€Å"Sure†. The Sushi platter arrived shortly and for the first time I laid my eyes upon this unique type of food. It looked like an artistic creation. Greens, reds, blacks, yellows, all the colors of the rainbow right before my eyes. In addition to the colors, the orderliness of it was remarkable. Not a piece of rice was out of place . Even the Wasabi was in a nice little mound off to the side. I then began eating, starting at the bottom of the plate and working my way up. Up until this point I was enjoying myself. But as I looked at that first piece of raw slimy fish I couldn’t help the thought of putting that into my mouth without first rolling it in some cornmeal and  frying it up on the stove. But I am not easily discouraged, so I put the entire fish in my mouth, chewed several times, and swallowed. It tasted horrible! Immediately I felt my stomach rumble and i tried to spew he fish back onto my plate. Only through a test of willpower was I able to keep it down long enough to drink some of my Pepsi. I then worked my way through the tuna, snapper, eel, fish eggs, and the rest, each with similar results. My drink was refilled four times before the meal was finally over. In the end I asked for the check and left the restaurant as quickly as I could. All though I didnt enjoy the meal its self its a memorable moment for me because i tried something forgien to me After I was able to take a few deep breaths and begin relaxing again, I left from that unpleasant event and tried to put it all into perspective. What started out as a night out with some coworkers and simple curiosity to try something new had turned into an incident that I would look back upon with disgust. But I also realized that Sushi is not just a type of food, it is a tradition and culture. And while I may not find the taste appealing I do have respect for those who are willing to include another’s customs within their own way of life.

Mtv Research Paper Essay

The first song that was played on MTV was called â€Å"Video killed the Radio Star†. It was sung by a group called The Buggles. This was a very popular song all over and it was deemed a good choice for the first song broadcasted. Many people also believed that the meaning of the song was that MTV, the new music video broadcasting station was going to destroy the radio. Some people thought that the song was performed live, but it was just a video. MTV was quite a big hit by the 1990’s. It was viewed in over 50 million American homes. It became a target for all advertisers because of the number of young viewers that watched MTV. The kids would beg their parents to buy the products they saw on the advertisements and it made out to be a good investment for advertisers. The attention and money that the advertisers brought in was good for MTV because they got more offers to get commercial time which means more money for them. Some people that were on MTV when it was in its first few years were Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Cranberries, and Nirvana. They helped to kind of kick off the show and set it up for successful years to come. There are also some big-named people who probably played music from that MTV which helped to jump start their career. Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, Peter Gabriel, U2, and Duran Duran were some of the people that were all a part of MTV at one time. In a way, these people also helped MTV to get a good start too. The more big names that they brought in the more attention they got from viewers. This was good for the singers and MTV. The target audience that MTV chose was teens age 12 to 21. With this age group, they found that they got very good viewing rates. Artists whose songs were played on MTV found that the sales of their song increased. This is what gave advertisers the idea that they could do good business if they had an ad on MTV. With this targeted audience, they also found that their viewing rates continued to rise. Today they still target the same audience and they are still very successful in the way that they draw the audience. There have been a few changes in MTV since the start. They released a new logo after 30 years. It is not much different. It is just a little bit bigger and it is one color. The last was a mix between a few colors. The old one was designed by Frank Olinsky and it was a very big hit, but it was just time for a change. In 1986, the President and CEO, Robert Pittman left. There is no exact explanation why but he did. Over time, they started to show more reality shows than anything else. Some people liked the change to more reality shows but some people like the old school music videos all the time. There were some companies and investors that made it possible for MTV to even start. Warner Communications and American Express were big investors that helped in the starting of the show. Warner Amex was basically the main establisher and owner for about five years after the start. Then, in 1986, Viacom purchased MTV from Warner Amex. Now Viacom is the owner with all rights to MTV. There are other networks that MTV and Viacom own. They own VH1 that was released in 1985 and its purpose was to play adult contemporary. Then, in 1996, MTV2 was released to allow fans to see commercial free music videos. MTV (the original) became available in Manhattan and Los Angeles. Many people called this the second launch of MTV. They also own all Nickelodeon stations, Comedy Central, and CMT. This is not all; it is just a few that you may know. Although MTV has been very popular, it has also had a few controversial shows that some fans did not agree with. â€Å"Beavis and Butthead† was very controversial because some viewers felt that it was pointless and that the language was a bad influence for some of the younger audience that watched it. â€Å"Celebrity Deathmatch† was a part of this list because it made fun of the celebrities and it had bad language and violence. â€Å"16 and Pregnant† was another show that some people did not like because it could encourage some of the younger viewers to engage in sexual intercourse which is the problem with the people on the show. It is meant to deter kids from ending up like that but it only encourages some. â€Å"Jersey Shore† was the last show that people did not agree with. They believe that the people on the show are irresponsible and kids these days may think it’s cool and try to be like them. Over the years, MTV has had an impact on our generation, but also on our parents’ generation. A lot of younger teens’ parents that are around (14) grow up watching MTV. It is not the same now as it was then because of the popularity in different kinds of music over the years and they are now showing more reality shows. MTV also has an effect on its viewers. Most people that have ever seen MTV are probably hooked on it and they like to watch it. Also, the persuasion by friends to tell other friends to watch it because it is ‘cool’; and you aren’t if you don’t watch it. MTV has been very important over its years in various ways. It has brought a whole new way to experience music. Before MTV, you could only hear music over the radio, but when MTV aired, it played music videos, which was a whole new element to music over all. They have also helped lots of artists to grow and become more popular with just a few minutes of air time. This gas truly helped many people become more popular. With music videos,many people became more persuaded into buying the song even though they may not like the song. Even if they really like the video, they would still buy it because of the video and they weren’t paying attention to the song. It is very smart on the part of the broadcasters because they could just draw in an audience with an exciting video and you would think nothing of the song, just the video.

Research Paper Martin Luther King, Jr. - 887 Words

Martin Luther King, Jr. was not the only Civil Rights’ activist. Though, if he had not been assassinated, the Civil Rights Movement would have taken longer to pass. â€Å"A man who will not die for something is not fit to live.† -Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He was born to Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. King Jr. had an older sister, Willie Christine King, and a younger brother, Alfred Daniel Williams King. Growing up in Atlanta, King attended Booker T. Washington High School. A very intelligent student, he skipped both the 9th and the 12th grade and entered Morehouse College at fifteen without graduating from high school. In 1948, he†¦show more content†¦That summer, the Poor Peoples March took place without King, though on a smaller scale than he had imagined. The SCLC and Coretta Scott King continued much of what King had begun. But Kings major legacy was the pieces of federal legislation passed in 1964 and 1965. In his final years, King had failed somewhat to engage the broad-based support he had earlier enjoyed: while the Christian socialist vision of his later period proved too radical to affect white mainstream Americans, his non- violent tactics had remained too peaceful to satisfy the rising tide of black militancy. However, the fact remained that King, more than any other leader, had been responsible for both the abstract and the concrete achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. King had dreamed and had acted. American minorities enjoyed an initial flurry of political empowerment in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 began to affect local elections. However, after this progress started to slow, and has remained comparatively sluggish. The white flight from cities to suburbs has left behind decaying neighborhoods with weak tax bases and de facto segregated schools. Affirmative action programs have come under attack, especially by right-wing politicians. Celebrations of King often downplay his radical economic vision while highlighting his moments of upbeat–and nonthreatening– liberal rhetoric. The irony of his treatment asShow MoreRelated Dr. Martin Luther King’s Funeral and Assassination Essay1605 Words   |  7 PagesDr. Martin Luther King’s Funeral and Assassination Word spread like wildfire when the news of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination hit the public. As the leading civil rights activist in the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. preached words of peace and understanding among races. A well known name throughout the North and South, King gained extreme popularity within the African American community. When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated a wave of sorrow spread across the nation. WithRead MoreA Research on The Civil Rights Movement1448 Words   |  6 Pages Research Paper My research topic is about the Civil Rights Movement (Martin Luther King Jr. Vs Malcolm X) and will be focusing on two important icons that have an important part of African American History. I am going to further discuss in this research paper, â€Å"What were the views of Martin Luther King. Jr and Malcolm X during the Civil Rights movement? What were their goals and methods to achieve equality and peace?† Both leaders wanted to unite the black race with the white race and achieveRead MoreMartin Luther King, Jr.s Speech, I have a Dream, Led to Change in Civil Rights1732 Words   |  7 PagesMartin Luther King, Jr.’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech on August 28, 1963 led the way for a much needed change in America’s Civil Rights Era. Martin’s life brought about much needed change to allow black people to have equal opportunities. 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I had the main topic of explaining concussions in the NFL with smaller â€Å"ingredients† helping me explain like the hits on a defenseless player rule and countless other ingredients to help me create my ultimate â€Å"burritoRead More Martin Luther King Assassination Essay3823 Words   |  16 PagesMartin Luther King Assassination (word count for research paper includes 1,400 word outline)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was a glorious April 4th evening as Martin Luther King and hundreds of followers were gathering for a civil rights march. Many cheered on as the civil rights leader graciously out step on the second floor balcony of the Motel Lorraine. Roaring cheers rose from the crowd rose up as Martin Luther King stand there waving his arm with his heart warming smile waiting for the uprising taper off so