A new book that looks at quality assurance tools and certification programs in ecotourism will be a valuable guide for new and existing ecotourism operators world-wide.
Edited by Dr Rosemary Black from Charles Sturt University (and co-editor Dr Alice Crabtree) the book, Quality Assurance and Certification in Ecotourism, is the fifth in a series of books on ecotourism published by CABI, a UK Publisher.
Dr Black, a social scientist with CSUs Institute for Land, Water and Society, said the book has developed from her research on certification of ecotour guides.
“However the book is much broader than that and includes information on quality assurance and certification for different aspects of ecotourism operations like transport, tours and accommodation,” said Dr Black who spent four years working on the book.
Other than chapters she has written herself, the book includes contributions from authors around the world including the UK, Australia, America, the South Pacific, South Africa and South America.
“For example one of chapters looks at a certification program for tour boats that work around the Galapagos Islands; another looks at what are the elements that make eco-lodges successful,” said Dr Black.
She said the book would be useful for students studying tourism; other academics and researchers; and people working in the ecotourism industry.
“A lot of the case studies of programs that are presented in the book include lessons and experiences that people can learn from and hopefully apply to their own particular aspect of the ecotourism industry,” she said.
Australia has been at the cutting edge of all aspects of ecotourism since it came to the fore 15 years ago and was the first country to produce a national ecotourism plan.
“If people are going to promote themselves as ecotourism they need to have a high quality product which meets all the criteria, for example the operation is small-scale, has a minimal impact on the environment, contains an element of education or interpretation…they need to understand what the principles of ecotourism are and ensure they are implemented in the way they deliver their ecotourism product,” said Dr Black.
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