Department of Geography and Resource Management

The ChineseUniversity of Hong Kong

Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong

UGEC 2192 Understanding Ecotourism

Instructors:
Lawal M. Marafa ,Ph.D. Rm 229, Wong Foo Yuan Bldg, Telephone: 26096471,
Yang Jinghui Tracy, Rm 234, Wong Foo Yuan Bldg, Telephone: 26096541, Lecture Time and Location: Tuesday1.30 pm – 2.15pm, ERB 803
Thursday 10.30 pm –12.15 pm, CCSLT6
Course Description

This course will introduce ecotourism which is an important component of the tourism industry and is becoming relevant to most societies. It will develop and focus on a natural resource-based perspective incorporating resource and environmental management principles. We can argue that the environment is now more important than anything else!!

The first part of the course will cover the general introductory concepts and provide students with theoretical background of the discipline. This will be followed by in depth study of specific environmental and resource issues that will compliment our understanding of ecotourism. Specific investigations using appropriate methodologies will be introduced. Lastly, the students will be exposed to the study of management and marketing aspects of ecotourism, as well as sharing experiences and challenges by renowned guest speaker.

The course will be delivered through lecture series that will provide the basic concepts and theoretical basis for understanding ecotourism. Class forums, Video sessions and field trips will compliment the teaching and learning process.

The Course objectives:

  • To provide broad intellectual perspective and to instill an understanding of ecotourism as an academic discipline
  • Students will understand the holistic approach to environment and resource management issues related to tourism, resource management and sustainable development at the local, regional and global levels;
  • To develop basic knowledge, on ecotourism development and its potential;
  • To train students to come up with timely responses to critical issues on conservation and natural resource management

Learning outcomes:

After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to:

  • Understand the basic conceptual framework for ecotourism and the overall tourism industry;
  • Acquire knowledge in operating and managing ecotourism activities;
  • Develop an understanding and skills necessary for interpreting relevant policy and planning of natural and man-made resources for tourism
  • Enhance students problem solving capability using an integrative approach and critical thinking

Teaching format and learning activities

  • Lecture series of 2 to 3 units a week: This will provide the basic concepts and theoretical basis for analysis of specific issues and case studies
  • Class forum and exercises: Give the students opportunity to participate in brainstorming and discussions on specific issues dealt with in the lectures
  • Video sessions and class discussions: Students will view and learn to critically analyse and interpret real situations
  • Field trips: Will expose the students to see and have first hand experience on running and operating ecotourism activities
  • The course will be supported by Moodle which will provide a forum for discussions, exchanges and updating of information that is relevant to the teaching and learning process

Course outline:

Week / Dates / Topic / Remarks
1 / 7/9 (T); 9/9 (Th) / Ecotourism and nature-based recreation: How do these affect me?
2 / 14/9 (T); 16/9 (Th) / The ideology of ecotourism and the environment / Short Video Session(16/09)
3 / 21/9 (T); 23/9 (Th) / Leisure, tourism and recreation: their trends and significance in society / Field Trip (25/09)
4 /
  • 28/9 (T)
  • 30/9(Th)
/ Biodiversity and ecology in Hong Kong: The country parks and the countryside
5 / 5/10 (T); 7/10 (Th) / Man-made ecotourism resources: The wetland park
6 / 12/10; (T); 14/10 (Th) / Natural and Cultural heritage: Their role in the society
7 /
  • 19/10 (T)
  • 21/10 (Th)
/ Post and Pre Field Trip activity / Video Session(21/10)
8 / 28/10 (Th) /
  • Reading Week and Reflection
  • Class Activity
/ Field Trip (30/10)
9 / 2/11 (T)
4/11 (Th) /
  • Governance for Sustainable tourism
  • General impacts of tourism: What are they and what can be done?

10 / 9/11 (T); 11/11 (Th) / Ecotourism in Hong Kong: Potentials and limitations
11 / 16/11 (T); 18/11 (Th) / Examples of trends and success of ecotourism in China
12 / 23/11 (T); 25/11 (Th) / Managing Ecotourism Resources
13 / 30/11 (T); 2/12 (Th) / Marketing of ecotourism / Students Present

First Field trip: 25/09/10(Sat) (Destination to be confirmed in the class)

Second Field trip: 30/10/10(Sat) (Destination to be confirmed in the class)

Assessment:

Type of Assessment / Grade / Remarks
Field Trip / 15% / Individual assignments
Group Project* / 20% / Photo reporting and Presentation
Essay/Reflection / 15% / Individual assessment
Final exam / 50% / MC and Short questions

* Details to be announced in the class

Required Readings:

Honey, M. (1999). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who owns paradise? Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 6-14 and pp. 21-26.

Newsome, D; S. A. Moore, and R. K. Dowling. 2002. Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts and Management. Channel View Publications.

Hall, C.M and S.J. Page, 2000. The Geography of Tourism and Recreation: Environment, Place and Space. Routledge. Chapters 1 – 3.

Fennell, D.A. 1999. Ecotourism: An Introduction. Routledge, pp. 1- 60; 224 pages.

Bjork, P. (2000). Ecotourism from a Conceptual Perspective, an Extended Definition of a Unique Tourism Form. International Journal of Tourism Research. 2, 189-202.

Fedler, A. (1987). Are Leisure, Recreation and Tourism Interrelated? Annals of Tourism Research, 14:311-313.

Recommended Reading materials

Swarbrooke, J. (1999). Sustainable Tourism Management. Sheffield: CABI Oxon England; New York: CABI Pub.

Welford, R., Ytterhus, B and Eligh, J (1999). Tourism and Sustainable Development: An Analysis of Policy and Guidelines for Management Provision and Consumption. Sustainable Development. 7, 165-177.

Dudgeon, D. and Corlett, R. T. (1994) Hills and Streams:an Ecology of Hong Kong. Hong KongUniversity Press, Hong Kong.

Lew, A., Yu, L., Ap, J., and Guangrui, Z. (Eds.). (2003). Tourism in China. The Howarth Hospitality Press.

Recommended Internet Resources

Note: Additional topical reading materials will be provided in the relevant lecture

Feedback for evaluation

Primarily, feedback information will be collected from student as follows:

  • Early Course Evaluation (at the beginning of the teaching semester)
  • Course questionnaire
  • Tailored questionnaire
  • Reflection of teacher
  • Final course evaluation

Academic Honesty:

"Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the disciplinary guidelines and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations. Details may be found at . With each assignment, students will be required to submit a statement as the example below that they are aware of these policies, regulations, guidelines and procedures."

Declaration statement for student assignment (Use CUPIDE statement if applicable)

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