Understanding and Enhancing Ecotourism Opportunities through Education
A new fast growing trend in tourism is ecotourism, in
which tourists visit natural ecosystems under low impact, nonconsumptive
and locally oriented activities. Through these activities
species and habitats are maintained and typically, underdeveloped
regions are emphasized. Ecotourism provides a great alternative,
especially for rural and undeveloped area. At the same time, despite
its many benefits, it also poses many risks for the naturally protected
areas. If ecotourism is practiced improperly degradation and
irreversible damages could be the unwanted result. In addition, the
lack of MSc programs in the field of Ecotourism in Europe makes it a
necessity to be developed. Such an MSc program is being
implemented with the lead partner the Technical University of
Madrid. The entire partnership has six Universities, seven SMEs and
one National Park from seven different countries all over Europe.
The MSc will have 10 educational modules that will be available
online and will prepare professionals that will be able to implement
ecotourism in a sustainable way. Only through awareness and
education a sustainable ecotourism will be achieved in the protected
areas of Europe.
[1] M. Lockwood, G. L. Worboysand, A. Kothari “Managing Protected
Areas: A Global Guide. London”, (eds.) UK: The Cromwell Press
Group, 2006.
[2] European Commission. n.d. “Natura 2000 network” Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000
[3] European Commission: “Nature & Diversity”, 2007. Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm.
[4] European Commission: Natura 2000. “Factsheet. E.U. Publishing
offices”, 2009. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/
info/pubs/docs/nat2000/factsheet_en.pdf.
[5] G.T. Miller, “Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections and
Solutions” (5th ed.) Thomson Learning, New York Press, 2007.
[6] TIES (The International Ecotourism Society), “Definition and
ecotourism principles” Washington, DC, 2004.
[7] M. Honey, “Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns
Paradise?” (2d ed.). Washington, DC: Island Press, pp. 29–31, 2008.
ISBN 1-59726-125-4 ISBN 978-1597261258.
[8] J.K., Strickland-Munro, H.E. Allison, S.A. Moore, “Using resilience
concepts to investigate the impacts of protected area tourism on
communities”, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 37(2), pp. 499-519,
2010.
[9] R. Buckley, “Research Note, a framework for ecotourism”, Annals of
Tourism Research, Vol. 21(3), pp. 661–669, 1994.
[10] A. Tuohino, A. Hynonen, “Ecotourism—imagery and reality.
Reflections on concepts and practices in Finnish rural tourism”, Nordia
Geographical Publications, Vol. 30(4), pp.21–34, 2001.
[11] R. Bushell, P.F.J. “Eagles, Tourism and Protected Areas. Benefits
Beyond Boundaries”, (Eds.), CABI, Wallingford and Cambridge, UK.
2007.
[12] R. S. Wall, P. Fredman, “Protected areas as attractions”, Ann. Tourism
Res., Vol 34, (4), pp. 839–854, 2007. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2007.03.011.
[13] Earth Trends. “Biodiversity and Protected Areas–Costa Rica”, World
Resources Institute, 2003. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
[14] M. Mayer, M. Mόller, M. Woltering, J. Arnegger, J. Hubert, “The
economic impact of tourism in six German national parks”, Landscape
and Urban Planning, Vol. 97, pp.73-82, 2010.
[15] P. West, “Conservation is our government now: The politics of ecology
in Papua, New Guinea”, Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 2006.
[16] O. Kamuaro, “Ecotourism: Suicide or Development?”, East African
Business Week. 2007. Retrieved from
http://www.rightsandresources.org/blog.php?id=69
[1] M. Lockwood, G. L. Worboysand, A. Kothari “Managing Protected
Areas: A Global Guide. London”, (eds.) UK: The Cromwell Press
Group, 2006.
[2] European Commission. n.d. “Natura 2000 network” Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000
[3] European Commission: “Nature & Diversity”, 2007. Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm.
[4] European Commission: Natura 2000. “Factsheet. E.U. Publishing
offices”, 2009. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/
info/pubs/docs/nat2000/factsheet_en.pdf.
[5] G.T. Miller, “Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections and
Solutions” (5th ed.) Thomson Learning, New York Press, 2007.
[6] TIES (The International Ecotourism Society), “Definition and
ecotourism principles” Washington, DC, 2004.
[7] M. Honey, “Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns
Paradise?” (2d ed.). Washington, DC: Island Press, pp. 29–31, 2008.
ISBN 1-59726-125-4 ISBN 978-1597261258.
[8] J.K., Strickland-Munro, H.E. Allison, S.A. Moore, “Using resilience
concepts to investigate the impacts of protected area tourism on
communities”, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 37(2), pp. 499-519,
2010.
[9] R. Buckley, “Research Note, a framework for ecotourism”, Annals of
Tourism Research, Vol. 21(3), pp. 661–669, 1994.
[10] A. Tuohino, A. Hynonen, “Ecotourism—imagery and reality.
Reflections on concepts and practices in Finnish rural tourism”, Nordia
Geographical Publications, Vol. 30(4), pp.21–34, 2001.
[11] R. Bushell, P.F.J. “Eagles, Tourism and Protected Areas. Benefits
Beyond Boundaries”, (Eds.), CABI, Wallingford and Cambridge, UK.
2007.
[12] R. S. Wall, P. Fredman, “Protected areas as attractions”, Ann. Tourism
Res., Vol 34, (4), pp. 839–854, 2007. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2007.03.011.
[13] Earth Trends. “Biodiversity and Protected Areas–Costa Rica”, World
Resources Institute, 2003. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
[14] M. Mayer, M. Mόller, M. Woltering, J. Arnegger, J. Hubert, “The
economic impact of tourism in six German national parks”, Landscape
and Urban Planning, Vol. 97, pp.73-82, 2010.
[15] P. West, “Conservation is our government now: The politics of ecology
in Papua, New Guinea”, Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 2006.
[16] O. Kamuaro, “Ecotourism: Suicide or Development?”, East African
Business Week. 2007. Retrieved from
http://www.rightsandresources.org/blog.php?id=69
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:70469", author = "V. Iakovoglou and G. N. Zaimes and M. P. Arraiza Bermúdez-Cañete and J. L. García and M. C. Giménez and C. Calderón- Guerrero and F. Ioras and I. Abrudan", title = "Understanding and Enhancing Ecotourism Opportunities through Education", abstract = "A new fast growing trend in tourism is ecotourism, in
which tourists visit natural ecosystems under low impact, nonconsumptive
and locally oriented activities. Through these activities
species and habitats are maintained and typically, underdeveloped
regions are emphasized. Ecotourism provides a great alternative,
especially for rural and undeveloped area. At the same time, despite
its many benefits, it also poses many risks for the naturally protected
areas. If ecotourism is practiced improperly degradation and
irreversible damages could be the unwanted result. In addition, the
lack of MSc programs in the field of Ecotourism in Europe makes it a
necessity to be developed. Such an MSc program is being
implemented with the lead partner the Technical University of
Madrid. The entire partnership has six Universities, seven SMEs and
one National Park from seven different countries all over Europe.
The MSc will have 10 educational modules that will be available
online and will prepare professionals that will be able to implement
ecotourism in a sustainable way. Only through awareness and
education a sustainable ecotourism will be achieved in the protected
areas of Europe.", keywords = "Sustainability, MSc program, protected areas,
Erasmus.", volume = "9", number = "8", pages = "2738-5", }