When I arrived in Europe, I had little to no true understanding of the intricate business culture that exists here. I mean, sure, prior to departure, I had learned the surface-level ins and outs of the European business sphere but seeing it up close in-person paints the true beauty and complexity that it represents in Europe. The main factor of the European business culture that surprised me the most was the monumental impact tourism has on each country’s economy. For instance, the first three days of my trip have been spent in Barcelona, Spain, where tourism is the top contributor to the country’s gross domestic product. This facet of the economy was one that I never considered to play such a major part in a country’s economy, as the United States does not focus too heavily on the market of tourism but rather on manufacturing and the production of goods for export and consumption. After spending a few days in Spain, it was evidently seen that the business culture there is one that focuses on tourism and its expansion. Restaurants, shops, and even professional business corporations create a welcoming atmosphere for foreigners to feel comfortable by speaking multiple languages and being accommodating to the needs of their, in a way, clients. Seeing how an entire country can morph its service industry to cater to the facet of tourism was something so interesting that I had never seen before. While I have only been in Europe for four days, I have already seen first-hand the differences and beauty in its business culture. I am looking forward to learning about the cultural customs in France, Italy, and Monaco in the upcoming week of my trip. Seeing how each country distinguishes itself economically is something I am excited to see. I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to apply the material and concepts that I have been learning all semester to real business life.
