Ecotour Management

Overview

Ecotourism has emerged out of a growing interest in outdoor adventure activities – from mountaineering to low impact bushwalking. Establishing such an enterprise requires an understanding of a wide range of issues including: legal considerations, safety, accommodation, the tour desk as a first point of contact, destinations, and management. This Ecotour Management course from Warnborough College develops your ability to establish and operate an ecotourism enterprise.

Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

• Prepare reviews of six different ecotourism destinations

• Contact travel agencies and information centres to research the scope of ecotourism activities available in your area

• Contact a range of ecotourism operators to research their concerns for the environment

• Determine three examples of ecotourism activities that have had undesirable social or environmental impacts

• Report on the relevance of indigenous culture to ecotourism in your locality

• Carry out research into desirable ecotourism destinations

• Identify potential ecotourism activities in your locality

• Observe the administrative operations of an existing ecotourism venture

• Establish administrative procedures for your own hypothetical ecotourism enterprise

• Inspect an ecotourism accommodation facility

• Research the statutory/legislative requirements for setting up ecotourism accommodation in your locality

• Determine suitable layout for an ecotourism accommodation facility

• Visit at least two suppliers of outdoor/recreation camping and cooking equipment

• Contact your local health department or similar to find out causes of food poisoning and how it can be prevented

• Make contact with several local ecotourism associations to research membership requirements

• Research law and regulations in your state that may affect the operation of an ecotourism enterprise

• Contact at least two insurance brokers for their recommendations on the type of insurance needed for a proposed ecotourism activity

• Research safety notification requirements in a natural area

• Interview someone who has been involved in the planning and/or delivery of an ecotourism activity.