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Adventure Tourism Business
BUSINESS APPLICATION PROJECT:
Course Description: 18 hrs
Students will learn and understand the intracasies of building a business plan geared toward their interest in the adventure tourism industry.
Evaluation:
- Participation 15%
- Business Plan 75%
- Business Assignment Presentation 10%
PART I
Course Description: 40 Hours:
- What are the trends and challenges for the Tourism industry?
- Are there ethical and business dilemmas in the Adventure Tourism industry?
- What are the business, legal, risk management and safety issues faced by operators in this diverse and complex, yet rapidly expanding area of tourism? Who are the clients and what are their needs?
- These and many other important topics will be explored during this course. Students will also meet leading tourism industry representatives to discuss the latest Adventure Tourism business issues
PART II
Course Description: 40 Hours:
- Students will examine the trends and challenges within the tourism industry, with a focus on the day to day realities of the ethical and business dilemmas of the Adventure Tourism industry.
- A careful study of the industry will provide understanding of the main business, legal, risk management and safety issues faced by operators in this complex and diverse, yet rapidly expanding field.
- We will look at the Tourism Industry as a whole, and the Adventure Tourism sector in particular, identifying clients and their needs, and how businesses can best match these.
- We will also meet leading tourism industry representatives and discuss business issues throughout the course.
Objectives:
- This course will introduce the opportunities and realities within the Adventure Tourism industry, providing skills and knowledge to: Identify the economic activity of Tourism and it's sectors, with specific focus on Adventure Tourism.
- Explore the key features of an Adventure Tourism experience
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of the operator, guide/interpreter and client.
- Describe the legal responsibilities of the operator, including risk management, and laws/regulations within BC.
- Investigate the business organization of the industry, including product development, operations, finance and marketing.
- Examine career opportunities within the field
Evaluation:
- Group Assignment 20%
- Group Assignment presentation 10%
- Participation/attendance 10%
- Term Project 25%
- Final Exam 35%
Topics
1) What is Tourism all about?
2) The Advent of Adventure Tourism.
3) What is Eco... about Adventure Tourism?
4) Business Basics
5) The Product, what do you have to offer?
6) Developing your ideas into a Business
7) Knowing your Market and Marketing what you Know
8) Service and the Customer
9) Legal stuff
10) Risk, a strategy board game or an everyday part of business
11) Stay ahead to stay in the game.
12) What is out there and where do you want to go?
13) Exam
1) What is Tourism all about?
- Introductions Course Outline
- Expectations Assignments
- Group Work Group division for this course
- Schedule Evaluation
- History/Background of Adventure Tourism
- Challenge and Adventure in Education
- Outward Bound YMCA Yamnuska
- Work in the 'Outdoor Adventure Business' Guiding
- Cultural and Natural History Interpretive Programs
- 'Baby Boom' Generation 'Knowledge' Generation
2) The Advent of Adventure Tourism.
- Tourism related jobs 8 Sectors of Tourism
- Where are people employed? Tourism B. C.
- B.C. Visitor Study Why do visitors come here?
- Does this provide any dilemmas/conflicts?
- Articles on reserve Topics for projects
3) What is Eco... about Adventure Tourism?
- Dilemma or conflict Definitions
- Motivations Who comes on Adv. Tourism Trips?
- Hard adventure Soft adventure
- Customer expectations Maslows' Hierarchy of Needs
4) Business Basics
- Maslows' Hierarchy of Needs Application to Adventure Tourism
- Business Basics Profit margins/return on investment
- Equity Entry Barriers/Exit Barriers
- Risk management
5) The Product, what do you have to offer?
- What skills/passion do you bring to the operation?
- Decide on/define your product? Research
- Why do you want to do this? Planning
- Anything else you need to know? Logistics
- Outline your product Outline your business plan
6) Developing your ideas into a Business
- Strategic planning Planning process
- Mission statement Review of the environment
- Physical setting Economic setting
- Political setting Review of business capabilities
- Set goals/objectives Analyze market
- Define product Reality check
- Identify/select strategies Implement
- Quiz
7) Knowing your Market and Marketing what you Know
- Understand your product Marketing
- Define the product Promotion
- Product - market match Selling
8) Service and the Customer
- Inquiries Follow-up process
- Long-term relationships Honesty and realism
- Under promise/over deliver Capabilities and strengths
- Customer service orientation Handling client problems
- Personalized correspondence Contract/refund/cancellation/credit policy
- Presentations
9) Legal stuff
- Activities must abide by all local, regional and national laws
- Tourism/land use planning Tenure and Crown Land
- Private Land Private roads and access
- Foreshore and Crown Land Industry Standards/Codes of Practice
- Contract Law *Presentations
10) Risk, a strategy board game or an everyday part of business
- Risk Management Insurance
- Waivers Full Disclosure
- Staff Certification and Training Procedures Manual
- Emergency Response Plan Risk Analysis
- Maintenance and Repairs Maintain a Logbook
- Presentations
11) Stay ahead to stay in the game
- Trends Demographics
- Niche markets Product development
- Loyal clientele Added value
- Cost efficient marketing *Presentations
12) What is out there and where do you want to go?
- What is out there in Adventure Tourism?
- Soft/Hard Adventure Education / Adrenaline / School Age / Aged
- Future of Adv. Tourism? Niche markets
- New activities in old settings New ways of doing things
- Short breaks Work groups
- Analyze your own interests *Presentations
Text book:
The Business of Adventure Tourism Ross Cloutier
Assigned periodicals and readings.
Adventure Tourism Business:
In this course we strive to make each class interesting, informative and as relevant as possible. To ensure that each student is able to get the most they can out of the course requires the cooperation and consideration of all members of the class.
We therefore ask that you take note of these guidelines and expectations.
Please be on time for the start of class as late arrivals distract your fellow students and disrupt the session. If you arrive late and a guest speaker or a member of the class is making a presentation, please wait outside the classroom until there is a natural break in the proceedings.
Make the most of your time with each guest speaker, these people will mainly be from the tourism industry and will provide valuable insights. They will also provide useful contacts within the industry. There will always be time set aside for questions, make the most of the opportunity.
Be respectful of classmates and help them to get the most out of this course.
All material submitted should be typed or produced on a word processor. Materials for evaluation will be accepted on or before the due date.
Unless otherwise stated, late assignments will lose 5% per school day (Mon. - Fri.) for 10 days (for a maximum of 50%). After this, assignments will not be accepted.
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