TOU2008 Ecotourism (FOBUS)

Semester 1 (ONC)Toowoomba (ONC)Fraser Cst (ONC)Springfld (EXT)Toowoomba

Units 1.0 (Tourism Management) Band 2

Pre-requisite: TOU1003 or MKT1003

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to USQConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/current/busgeninfo.html

Synopsis

The course begins by defining ecotourism and other related tourism actives. It then provides some historical background to the development of ecotourism in the context of changing paradigms and values in society towards nature and the impacts of human activity. Different market segments are described as well as the range of areas and their suitability for ecotourism, including parks and protected areas, modified and privately owned areas. A number of organisations are described including those specific to ecotourism, plus governments non-government organisations and accreditation agencies. The impacts of ecotourism are considered as well as research that is necessary to sustain the aims of the industry. Throughout the course case studies of specific places are used to illustrate the main points. Visitor management and interpretation is also considered as well as an overview of global ecotourism. Finally an overview of ethics and research and how they relate to ecotourism are given.