Qualification - Certificate in Ecotourism Business

HOW TO WORK IN ECOTOURISM

Ecotourism is booming globally ... be part of it!

• Birdwatching
• Introduction to Ecology
• Marine Studies
• Nature Park management
• Bushcraft and Wilderness Activities
• Wildlife Management
• Earth Science
• Adventure Tourism 

Modules

Note that each module in the Qualification - Certificate in Ecotourism Business is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.

What is Ecotourism?

There are many different types of ecotour developments, ranging from small scale bed and breakfast operations to large eco-resorts. The following list is indicative of the range of ecotourist facilities:

• Caravan parks
  
• Campsites that are specifically built to suit the ecotourist
  
• Guest Houses
  
• Back packer lodges
  
• Huts and cabins
  
• Houseboats
  
• Farm-stays
  
• Self-catering cottages
  
• Eco-Resorts
  
• Self-drive type vehicles
  
• Cruise boats and yachts.

Ecotourism uses the natural environment or culture of a given area as its primary attraction. However the developments may also include additions such as:

• Toilet facilities
  
• Cooking facilities (eg. barbeques)
  
• Car-parks
  
• Kitchens (communal, communal, self catering or organised)
  
• Education and information facilities
  
• Signs and maps
  
• Walks and pathways, steps etc.
  
• Anchorage, jetties or mooring points.

This infrastructure is supplied and maintained by the local authority governing the area.
On private land this is supplied by the owner.

In planning for tourism, always remember:
• Does tourism give your area what it desires in the long term?
• What facilities and attractions can your area offer the tourist?
• What economic and physical capacity does your area have to cater to tourists?

A TOURIST is anyone travelling for either business or pleasure.

Tourists generally are travelling because they are seeking new or different experiences. The tourist will expect to be pampered, rarely giving consideration to the local individual or community which he is visiting; after all, the tourist is on holiday and is paying the bills. However, some tourists are not as focused on their own pleasures and are aware of the local communities they are visiting.

In a natural environment, the tourist can frequently cause damage; hence numbers need to be controlled if natural environments are not going to deteriorate. In a man made environment, the tourist's reaction is equally as predictable, but not necessarily as damaging. The response to a man made environment is generally affected by the quality of that environment. Most evidence indicates that the majority of tourists are looking for quality in their experiences rather than the same type of facilities and attractions repeated over and over, each place similar to the last. The most successful tourist facility is generally the quality facility offering something different, something special, or something better than other places, without sacrificing quality of services.

The tourist industry involves both large and small organisations (e.g. the one-person operated gift shop or the giant resort complex owned by a multi national company as part of a chain of resorts).

The tourist industry requires and employs the services of persons with a variety of different backgrounds including:

• The food industry  cooks, waitresses, dish washers, restaurateurs, fast food salesmen, caterers etc.
  
• The accommodation industry  motel, hotel, camp ground operators, etc.
  
• Resorts and Hotels  clerks, cleaners, cooks, entertainers, recreation workers, gardeners, etc.
  
• Gift Shops, shop assistant.
  
• Tourist attractions  wilderness parks, amusement parks, museums, zoos, swimming facilities, etc: wildlife carers, park rangers, ride attendants, horticulture workers, teachers, presenters, etc.
  
• Tour operations  providing guided tours, bus-trips, water-sports tours, bush walks, shopping tours, night-club tours, etc.

Definition:
Ecotourism is a relatively new word which does not always have a clear definition.  Even though some industry bodies may have adopted a particular definition, it still means very different things to different people.

The following is one way of defining it:

ECOTOURISM is the combination of two words ECOLOGY and TOURISM. Ecology relates to the study or understanding of complex relationships in the natural world. Flora, fauna, soils, air, water and yes, even people are just some of the factors involved in interacting with one another. The nature of the relationship can be positive, negative or a combination of these or in rare instances of no consequence whatsoever. Often the longer term effects will not be readily obvious, it is for this reason that management principles are so important in this developing industry. The direction ecotourism takes will be primarily up to the people who are involved at all levels of its implementation. Poor management will result in lost resources and ultimately a failed industry.