Josie Cruz

Year 3 Final Dissertation. Grade: A 85%.
Crowdfunding and social entrepreneurship are considered global phenomena and have been increasing in popularity in our times. In Brazil, an innovative crowdfunding platform exclusively dedicated to sustainable tourism initiatives was launched in September 2013. Garupa has been attracting the attention of the industry and already won a sustainability award in Brazil. This present piece of work scrutinises Garupa’s potential to provide an alternative method of finance to alternative forms of tourism, with a focus on community-based tourism. The data collection procedure was handled in Brazil in January 2015. The author opted for qualitative approach, in order to capture more in-depth information regarding the new phenomenon. The research used in-depth interviews and participant observation methods for gathering primary data. The research findings investigate Garupa’s characteristics and functionalities and evaluate its main strengths and weaknesses. It also analyses opportunities and threats whilst taking into consideration the environment in which the crowdfunding platform is embedded: The tourism industry in Brazil, which is at early stages of development. Furthermore, this paper also seeks to assess whether crowdfunding has the potential to address an issue raised by David Weaver (2012:210) in reference to community-based tourism.
Given the contemporaneity of these topics, it was noted an absence in literature regarding crowdfunding in relation to sustainable tourism and English language literature about tourism in Brazil. Thus, this piece of work is based on a gap in the literature. The author intends to unveil initial insights regarding this underexplored field of study and hopes that this present research can serve as a valid starting point for further research by senior academics and representatives of the industry.

Year 3. Grade: A 87%. Using the history of the development concept as framework, this piece of work analyses and evaluates the reasons, challenges and opportunities that countries faces when choosing tourism as a development option. It analyses the development paradigm using cases studies to illustrate positive and negative aspects of each development era.

Year 3. Grade: A 82%. Epping Forest has a great potential to develop further its tourism offer and increase its status as a successful tourism destination in London. This strategic report will begin with a careful and critical analysis of the market where Epping Forest stands on; its tourism potential and preeminent market trends will be scrutinised before a study of promotional recommendations is made. The second part of this report will advise about a complete promotional campaign in order to expand the tourism industry in the area. It will start with the restructuring of Epping Forest’s tourism product then, it will display a detailed analysis of the existing and the new key target markets, including an evaluation on main competitors. The second part will finish with a recommended marketing strategy and relevant opportunities for partnerships and facilitation for the campaign. The conclusion will summarise the main findings and recommendations for Epping Forest.

Year 3. Grade: A 76%. This piece of work proposes an arts event as a collaborative partnership between Madeira and UK (London). The aim is to attract cultural tourists to the archipelago. Madeira's identity and heritage was taken into account while designing the event and its programme. Main components: Area, Type of exhibition, Aims and Objectives, Venue, Events Programme, Audience, Marketing, Development Opportunities, Evaluation, Funding.

Year 2. Grade: A 71%. Study trip to Malta. This module was intended to put theory into practice. The research was part of a group assignment and this is my individual essay.
For this piece of work, aspects of the trip to Malta will be discussed, analysed and evaluated. It will have a focus on tourism and regeneration of its capital Valletta, and together with the outcomes of the research conducted on the 26th and 28th of April 2014. This work will also disclose the chosen group research methodology, the five most relevant findings and besides incorporating some additional personal considerations towards the research. It will resort its arguments on official online information and on academic literature regarding research methods and culture-led regeneration and will conclude with some recommendations towards the research question proposed.

Year 2 Grade: A 76%. A museum is a treasure in modern society that enables knowledge, education, connection, social inclusion and community empowerment whilst at the same time that it encapsulates the time within its interior. It gives the society parameters to understand the past and provides the instruments to improve the future. This essay will define and compare two iconic museums in London, Horniman Museum and Gardens and Freud Museum. It contains each museum historical development, current provisions, and critical analysis of market reach, visitor experience, current issues and culminates with the recommendations for the future based on the arts market assessment.

Year 2. Grade A 73%. Module: Tourism, Culture and Regeneration.

Cities that hosts world-class events grasps a golden chance that can enable a shift in personality and image in a short period of time. Trivial places can become global places and world city’s can reinforce their existing image, position or status. It can stimulate and produce long-term benefits not exclusively to the host city and its citizens, but well beyond the surrounding region and the host country. The opposite is also true, if appropriate policies and strategies are not planned and executed, great harm to the image of the host city and country will be caused, risking future plans of attracting more events. (Smith, 2007)
Mega events such as the Olympic games are a high status international event much desired by nations for a myriad of reasons. Besides the great feeling that team sports can exert over a society combined with the sense of union and global friendship it disseminates, host cities have the opportunity of attract inward investments, extensive media exposure, prestige and perform urban restructuring. (Law, 2002) For this piece of work, concepts such as urban regeneration, events-led regeneration, legacy and the creation of cultural quarters, creative clusters and hubs will be analysed, discussed and evaluated. Moreover, the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics games will be the chosen case study to illustrate the events-led regeneration.

Year 1. Grade: A 78% (2012, My First Essay, BA International Tourism Management)
Feedback 1: An excellent piece of work, extremely well researched and argued with confidence and clarity. You have a very good grasp of tourism in Brazil and the inter sectorial relationships that have an impact on tourism activities and sustainability programmes. Very interesting and enjoyable to read.

Feedback 2: Some referencing issues (in-text) are visible. Sentences are very long and sometimes complicated, however the overall quality of the essay is very high.