Nature Based Tourism (independent online) (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

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 (course unit)

- 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

Prerequisites (course unit)

Basics in responsible tourism

Location and time

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

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.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Virtual learning and assignments Independent information search Topic related online discussions

Learning 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.

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

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.

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.