Matari Eco Lodge Tourism 11AC
Matari – Developing an Eco-Tourism Trail
Thanks to McGraw-Hill Ryerson
Matari Eco Lodge Tourism 11AC
Matari is a fictional island in the warm central Atlantic Ocean. It is a small island with only 125 000 residents who live mostly in and around the town of Ratife. On the northern side of the island are the large banana plantations that form the backbone of the island’s fragile economy.
Government officials in Matari are now studying Costa Rica’s success in diversifying its economy through tourism. Experts in the tourism industry have assured them that Matari has great potential as an ecotourist destination.
A small area in the southern part of the island, where the Matari River meets the sea, is a paradise for naturalists and photographers. The deep, lowland valley, where the river approaches the Atlantic Ocean, contains many marshes and ponds. The sides of the valley are covered with tropical rainforests, and the whole area is teeming with rare species of animals and plants. You can find brightly coloured butterflies, macaws, terrestrial orchids, and many species of lizards, turtles and snakes. Offshore from the estuary, or mouth of the river, coral reefs are home to hundreds of species of tropical fish. The waters of the reef are crystal clear and perfect for snorkeling and diving.
Government officials and local business leaders have formed a consortium, or business partnership, to develop an ecotourism centre. They will work together on a plan to turn the area into a park similar to one of Costa Rica’s ecotourism parks. An eco-lodge has been planned for a location on the extreme western edge of the river valley, near where the Matari River flows into the Atlantic.
Your Task
You have been hired by the consortium as a tourism ecologist. It is your job to transform the lower Matari River valley from an area of pure wilderness into an ecotourism park. Your immediate task is to build a nature trail from the lodge in through selected parts of the valley that you think would be of interest to ecologists.
The points you must consider in designing your nature trail:
· There must be minimal harm to the natural environment (both short and long term)
· Tourists should be allowed the greatest opportunity to view wild plants and animals that does not threaten their survival
· The building materials should blend with the natural environment
· Your trail cannot measure more than 15km in distance. You may have short sub-trails that branch off of the main trail that do not count as part of the 15km.
· The river can be crossed only at one spot, where an old bridge is still standing.
· You need to keep the footprint of tourists as small as possible.
Thanks to McGraw-Hill Ryerson
Matari Eco Lodge Tourism 11AC
The Process
1. On a rough copy of the map, plan out a route. Start by deciding which features you believe ecotourists would like to see. Remember to keep the trail to 15km or under. When you finish the rough trail, show it to Mr. Stew to approve and receive a good copy of the map.
2. Re-draw the trail on your good map. Please place symbols on the map to show where the following things can be placed such as benches for rests, signs explaining habitat, lookout platform, latrine, etc. You must also construct a legend to explain what these symbols mean.
3. You will need to add a dock if you choose to include a snorkeling side-trip to the coral reefs. You would also have to add a road to the dock to haul equipment.
4. You may need to build a series of steps if your trail will climb or descend the sides of the river valley.
5. Create a tri-fold brochure (Mr Stew will give you directions) that could be handed out to ecotourists. It should contain things such as:
a. 10 commandments of the eco lodge (the do’s and don’ts)
b. Catchy name for the lodge
c. Contact information/address, etc.
Thanks to McGraw-Hill Ryerson