Ecotour Management

Learn to Plan and Manage Ecotourism Businesses and Activities

Study at home, online or by distance learning

Tourism is a major industry in many countries.
Ecotourism has emerged out of growing interest in outdoor activities - from mountaineering and birdwatching, to low impact bushwalking.  Establishing such an enterprise requires an understanding of a wide range of issues including:

• destinations

• safety

• accommodation

• transport

• the tour desk as a first point of contact

• legal considerations

• management

This course develops your ability to establish and operate an ecotourism enterprise

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. Nature and Scope of Ecotourism
   • Definition of ecotourism
   • Negative ecotourism
   • Principles of ecotourism
2. Management Issues
   • Recreation and the environment
   • recreational impacts on the environment
   • ethical and legal concerns
   • code of practice for ecotourism operators
   • incorporating ecotourism principles into activities
   • interpretation
   • visitor guidelines
   • planning for minimal impact
   • quality control
3. Industry Destinations
   • The ecotourism market
   • what do ecotourists want?
   • trends in international tourism
   • understanding the needs of the consumer
   • consumer expectations
4. The Tour Desk/Office
   • Office procedures
   • providing information
   • employment prospects in ecotourism
   • bookings
   • business letters
   • telephone manner
5. Accommodation Facilities
   • Types of accommodation facilities
   • layout of facilities
6. Catering Facilities
   • Introduction to catering
   • accepted practice for service facilities
   • storing and preserving food
7. Legal Considerations
   • National Parks
   • land use/planning restrictions
   • code of practice
8. Safety
   • The safety strategy
   • hazards
   • first aid
9. Planning an Ecotourism Activity
   • A special project where the student plans out an ecotourism activity including:
   • budget
   • accommodation
   • licenses
   • meals
   • destination

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims:

• Describe the scope of ecotourism experiences available.
• Determine management issues related to ecotourism activities/enterprises, giving due consideration to environmental and ethical concerns.
• Develop in the learner an awareness of ecotourism destinations in existence and possibilities (in the learner's country).
• Explain the management and operation of an ecotourism office.
• Explain the management of ecotourist accommodation facilities including:
  • camp sites
  • cabins
  • caravans
  • resorts
• Identify catering options for different ecotourism activities.
• Identify legal and statutory requirements for the establishment and operation of an ecotourism enterprise.
• Identify/establish safety precautions/requirements/procedures for an ecotourism enterprise.
• Plan for an ecotourism activity.

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