Nature Based Tourism (independent online) (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

You will mainly be able to study according to your own schedule but you will need to respect the deadlines of some minor week tasks, as well as of the final course assignment.

Objective

Nature-based tourism is a rapidly growing sector in the tourism industry. This course aims to enhance your understanding of the international and national nature-based tourism sector and its various aspects. The course contents help you to understand its significance in business and regional development. The knowledge and skills gained from this course can be effectively utilized in your career plans and in various positions within the tourism industry.

Competences
Proactive development, Sustainable development, Tourism business

Learning goals
You know the significance of nature-based tourism from national and international perspectives. You know the national theme-promoting strategies and development policies. You understand the concepts, phenomena and special characteristics related to nature-based tourism and are able to utilize them in analyzing. You are able to perceive different actors and operations in nature-based tourism. You understand the motives of a traveler.

Content

- Nature-based tourism concepts and phenomena
- Nature-based tourism nationally and internationally
- Special characteristics and strategic focuses
- Nature-based tourism actors and customers
- Nature-based tourism services
- Ecological, economical and socio-cultural responsibility

Location and time

Online implementation only, including independent learning and some scheduled webinars in the late afternoons.

Materials

The material provided by the teacher in Moodle and the following books:
Fredman, P. & Tyrväinen, L. 2011. Frontiers in nature-based tourism: lessons from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden: Routledge.
Hall, C. M. & Boyd, S. 2005. Nature-based tourism in peripheral areas: development or disaster? Channel View Publications.

Teaching methods

Virtual learning and assignments
Independent information search
Topic related online discussions

Exam schedules

No exam. The course's gradable task is a report. In case of failure, there will be a resubmission option with a separate deadline instructed in the course workspace on Moodle.

Student workload

Reading material 30 h
Topic Related online discussions 20 h
Assignments and information search 85 h

Altogether 135 h = 5 credits x 27 hours of learning

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1 (Sufficient)
You know the concepts related to nature-based tourism. You recognize key actors and existing services. Diverse specification and application of the concepts remain insufficient.

2 (Satisfactory)
You demonstrate that you understand the concepts and special characteristics related to nature-based tourism both in theory and in practice. You can point out key actors and services.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 (Good) You illustrate and specify the concepts and special characteristics related to Nature-based tourism by utilizing theoretical source material and practical examples. You know Nature-based tourism actors and key services.

4 (Very Good) You can analyze the concepts, special characteristics and global perspective of nature-based tourism. You can assess key trends, services and networks in this operating field.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 (Excellent) You can critically analyze the concepts, special characteristics and global perspective of nature-based tourism. You can critically assess key trends, services and networks in this operating field .

Qualifications

Basics in responsible tourism

Further information

Intake:
Cooperation students: 60
Open UAS: 5
Exchange students: 15

Assessment methods:
The course teacher will evaluate your weekly work on the scale pass/fail and the final course assignment on the scale 0-5, the latter also forming your course grade. AI generated content is not allowed in submissions for this course and the quality will be monitored both by the Turnitin tool and manually.

Non-active students will be removed from the course after the first three weeks. Activity is demonstrated by participation in the orientation lecture and completing the introductory tasks in Moodle.