Ecotourism Guide
Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.
| Job Prospects |
Good; Employment in this industry is expected to grow strongly to 2014-15. |
| Salary Range |
$47,000 to $54,000 approx |
| Brief |
Is leading groups of tourists, keen to understand the culture and natural history of an environment of interest to you? If so, then you may like to consider a career in ecotourism guiding.
Ecotourism guides conduct tours that foster an appreciation of natural and cultural environments and encourage practices that contribute to sustaining the ecology of these environments. |
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TAFE SA courses that may be relevant for: Ecotourism Guide
Accredited (Award)
Introduction
Ecotourism guides educate tour groups without making the group feel as if they're being lectured. That's why it's important that this education takes place out in the natural environment. Guides can choose their own interpretive medium, such as signs, brochures or photos to help transmit knowledge about ecological sustainability.
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Education Requirements
There are currently no specific educational requirements to become an ecotourism guide. However, it's becoming increasingly desirable among employers that guides have some formal training.
TAFE SA offers these courses:
Certificate III and IV in Tourism (Guiding)
Certificate IV in Tourism (Guiding - Specialising in ECO Tourism)
Packaged Program in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Career Path
There is a growing awareness and appreciation about ecotourism among the general public. Despite this, positions are limited for ecotourism guides. Most of the State's ecotour operators are small business operators and often the tour operator also acts as the tour guide. In addition, this is often a seasonal occupation.
Industry
Cultural and Recreational Services
Nature of the Job
Ecotourism also focuses on increasing people's understanding of a destination's cultural heritage and the importance of its protection.
During tours, ecotourism guides raise visitors' awareness about the hidden wonders of an area. They also offer interpretations of the negative effects of people's actions on the environment, explaining how to avoid these outcomes in the future. Guides might for example, interpret what it means to marine life when plastic bags are thrown into the sea. Fairly difficult to be subtle when the outcome is so destructive!
Typical Physical Working Environment
Ecotourism guides need great communication skills because they often guide for a range of nationalities. As tourists tend to stand back, you have to be very approachable. It's also useful to be able to demonstrate tasks, such as boomerang and spear throwing. Ecotourism guides also do tours at schools, where you need to be able to show how cultural activities are undertaken.
Typical Occupational Example
Ecotours are growing in popularity in because people are starting to appreciate the uniqueness of Australia's natural environment.
A world-first ecotourism and nature tourism accreditation program has been developed by the industry, to address the need to identify genuine ecotourism and nature tourism products and activities in Australia. Accreditation provides industry, protected area managers and consumers with an assurance of commitment to best practice environmental management and the provision of quality experiences.
Earning Potential
Salaries vary according to the sector and region in which you work. Bonus incentives exist among some employers. Salaries may also vary with age and experience. Commencement salary would be approximately $45,000 dependent on where you enter the industry.
Ecotourism guides receive around $25 per hour for guiding.
Further Information
For further information about all TAFE SA Courses, phone 1800 882 661 or enquire online