COURSE SYLLABUS

Course title: Ecotourism Management Course code: ERN-0-0024T

Course type: Compulsory optional

Number of lessons: 2 Credits: 5
Recommended Section: Full time
semester:
Major/specialization:
Prerequisite(s) of the
course:
Subject supervisor:
Instructor(s): Dr. Pal Guban
Department: Tourism and Hospitality Department
The aim of the course: The objectives of the course is to familiarize students with principles, basic terminology
and current situations and state of the relatively new phenomenon -
(worldwide).
A brief description of The course provides an overview of the nature tourism and ecotourism as a market, the
the course program: supply and demand sides and the main characteristics of them. During the
course we examine issues associated with ecotourism and how it can be
managed in the context of a sensitive, untouched, wilderness areas. The main
elements are, broadly, a focus on the natural environment, ecological and
cultural sustainability, education and interpretation, and local and regional
benefits. The course places special emphasis on developing the students’ skills
of individual thinking, problem solving and working in groups. The course
contains on site - studies and field trips to special areas and participation on
guided tours within Hungary.
Competences to be The subject contributes to the development of the following skills: development of
developed by the strategic approach in relation to the activities of companies operating within the
course: EU, identification of appropriate research aims to analyze complex business
activities. Required method competences: situation awareness, information
gathering, review capability, creativity and logical thinking. Development of
openness and interpersonal skills as social competence, business-oriented
flexibility, decisiveness and accuracy become important as personal
competences. The students will be able to understand the principles and
operations and regulation of ecotourism market on its special segment
(procurement) and will be able to analyse this special market and participate in
a real procedure as an assistant by applying the learnt lessons in a concrete
situation.
The course topics: 1. Introduction to the course. Objectives. Lectures and work on seminars, the course
requirements.
2. Introduction to the background: description of the nature tourism sector, current
literature and research, sustainability component, difficulties involved.
3. Defining ecotourism and eco-tourist.
4. Profiling the eco-tourist I : age, sex, life cycle, education, employment, income,
satisfaction and expectations, values, purpose of visit, accommodation, duration of
stay, preferences and perceptions regarding area management, environmental
concerns, involvement and responsibility, motivations, etc.
5. Profiling the eco-tourist II:
6. Supply and demand.
 7. Travel and tourism industry specifics in this field.
8. Roles and perspectives of non-industry players in ecotourism: NGO’s, government
agencies, multilateral organizations, local communities, buffer zone managements.
9. Introducing the undercapitalized world of interpretations.
10. Economic aspects of ecotourism: special resources, carrying capacity, required
investment, role of public sector, employment impact, etc.
11. National planning limitations, objectives and lessons, protected area planning
principles and management issues.
12. Needed indicators and monitoring.
13. Case studies I: new approaches to community ecotourism management and
programs.
14. Case studies II: pro-poor tourism.
15. Lessons learnt and conclusions.

Education methods: Lecture:

The aim is the presentation of concepts and theories supported by international
professional literatures and best practice examples. During the lecture ppt
presentation and films are used.
Seminar:
With the help of group presentations, students analyze their own country’s special
resources, suitable areas within the countries and the state of the ecotourism
development focusing on competitiveness and innovation possibilities. Their task is to
explore the opportunities and risks of international ecotourism market and completion
for their home countries.
Keeping optional presentations is possible.
Joint analysis of business case studies.
Additionally, the course serves the problem-based learning, requires field work and
excursions which are among the priorities of the curricula.

The method of Condition for approving the semester work:

performance Participation in the lectures is specifically required, participation in the seminars
evaluation, scoring and is compulsory.
grading: Type of exam:
Group presentation, oral exam. During the semester a home paper needs to be
presented.
Grading:
Up to 59% – unsatisfactory, 60-70% - pass mark, 71-80% - satisfactory mark,
81-90% - good mark, 91-100% - class.
For the evaluation of each sub-task, the minimum of 60% performance should be
reached separately.
(1) Home paper maximum 20 points.
(2) Group presentation maximum 40 points.
(3) Oral exam maximum 40 points.
Plus points can be given for optional seminar tasks (e.g. mini case studies, group work,
class room activity) as a maximum of 20 points.
Based on the scores received for the completion of sub-tasks, students are offered a
 grade. To improve this grade, an oral exam can be taken.

Compulsory literature: 1Ecotourism, A Guide for Planners and Managers, Ed.: Lindberg K.-Epler-Wood,
M.-Engeldrum D. Vol.2. The Ecotourism Society, Nort Bennington, Vermont, 1998.
ISBN: 0-9636331-3-9
2 Ecotourism Development – A Manual for Conservation Planners and Managers,
Vol. II. The business of Ecotourism Management and Development, Ed.: Drumm
A.-Moore A.-Sales A-Patterson C.-Terborgh J.E., The Nature Conservancy,
Virginia, USA, 2004. ISBN: 1-886765-16-2
3 Ecotourism Development – A Manual for Conservation Planners and Managers,
Vol.: I. Ed.: Drumm A.-Moore A. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia,
USA, 2002.
4 Different articles from prominent professional periodicals.
5 Natural Area Tourism. Ecology, Impacts and Management. (Ed.: Newsome,D-
Moore,S.A.-Dowling,R.K. 2012. Channel View Publications, Bristol-Buffalo-Toronto.

6 Tourism and Biodiversity. Achieving Common Goals Towards Sustainability. 2010

UNWTO, Madrid.

7 Practical Guide for the Development of Biodiversity-based Tourism Products. 2010

UNWTO, Madrid.

Recommended 1.Sustainable Tourism and The Millennium Development Goals, Ed.: bricker K.S –
literature: Black R. – Cottrell S. Johns and Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA, 2013. ISBN: 978-
1- 4496 – 2823 – 9
2.Explorer Travelers and Adventure Tourism, Laing J.-Frost W., Channel View
Publications, Bristol-Buffalo-Toronto, 2014. ISBN-13: 978-1-84541-457-3
3. Marketing and Management of Tourism in Natural Protected Areas. (Ed.: Jandala, Cs.
2008. ITACA, Project No. 5D045.