This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
Nature-based tourism (including recreation) is a subject of growing importance in biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, and community development in both developing and developed countries. This module will introduce students to the conceptual, ethical and practical issues concerning environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism, and will provide them with some basic tools for visitor and site management. It thus contributes to the core aim of the Wildlife Conservation BSc and Environmental Social Sciences BA degree programmes in providing essential theoretical and practical training for conservation and wildlife managers. It is also one of the modules within the conservation degrees that focus on social and economic aspects of conservation, thus strengthening the interdisciplinary nature of the degrees. It will also provide a useful optional module for Human Geography BSc students.
The module will cover the following subject areas:
1. An introduction to the tourism industry: nature-based ecotourism (including. recreation) and its significance for conservation.
2. Environmental impacts of tourism and visitor management.
3. Tourism and environmental education.
4. Social impacts of tourism.
5. Tourism, protected areas and local communities
6. Economic impacts of tourism.
7. Multidisciplinary aspects of tourism management.
Total contact hours: 22
Private study hours: 128
Total study hours: 150
BSc Wildlife Conservation
BA Environmental Social Sciences
BSc Human Geography
Written assignment (2000 words) (30%)
Presentation (10 minutes) (20%)
Examination (2 hours) (50%)
Reassessment instrument:100% coursework
Buckley, R. (2004). The Environmental Impacts of Ecotourism. CABI
Fennell, D. (2020). (5th edition) Ecotourism: An Introduction. Routledge.
Honey, M (1999). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? Island Press
Lindberg, K. and D. E. Hawkins (1993). Ecotourism: A Guide for Planners and Managers, Volume 1. The Ecotourism Society.
Lindberg, Epler Wood and Engeldrum (1998). Ecotourism: A Guide for Planners and Managers, Volume 2. The Ecotourism Society.
Mowforth, M. and Munt, I. (2016) (4th edition) Tourism and Sustainability: Development, Globalisation and New Tourism in the Third World. Routledge, London.
A much more extensive reading list is provided at the start of the module.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Critically engage with theoretical questions and practical challenges posed by the conceptual, ethical and practical issues of tourism and conservation.
8.2 Demonstrate familiarity with the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism and conservation.
8.3 Demonstrate knowledge of basic tools for visitor and site management
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