Introduction to ecotourism/IET101/Introduction/What you will learn

People are increasingly seeking to escape city life in to order to experience spiritual nourishment and renewal. They visit natural and cultural heritage sites seeking to find some connection. The people that tell visitors the stories of these sites are generally known as ‘ecotourism guides’. They don’t simply provide the visitor with information - their job is to create a deeper connection with the site.

Becoming an ecotourism tour guide can be a very satisfying career choice. Designing and running a tour is a very creative and artistic endeavor that can be very rewarding - especially when you touch the hearts and minds of the visitor. Indeed no matter how many times you visit a place, and conduct a tour, there is always something to discover and new people to meet.

We start by introducing these key principles:

• The guiding triangle - you, your site and your group;
• Skills needed by the ecotourism guide;
• The role of leadership in ecotourism guiding.