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 | Average |
|---|---|
| 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. |
Quick Profile Navigation
TAFE SA courses that may be relevant for: Ecotourism Guide
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.
Similar Interests?
Not quite the career you are looking for? Please try the related course profiles below:
Influencing and Personal Contact
Aboriginal and Torres Islander Health Worker, Accountant, Actor, Aromatherapist, Author/ Book Editor, Bank Officer, Bar Attendant, Beauty Therapist, Building Surveyor, Butcher, Cellar Door Salesperson, Child Care Worker, Conveyancer, Copywriter, Counsellor and Community Worker, Credit and Loans Officer, Ecotourism Guide, English as a Second Language Teacher, Event Coordinator, Fashion Designer, Film,Stage, TV and Radio Director, Financial Counsellor, Fitness Instructor, Florist, Hairdresser, Hotel Manager, Human Resources Manager, ICT Network Administrator, Journalist, Landcare Officer, Management Consultant, Market Research Analyst, Marketing and Advertising Specialists, Musician, Nursing (enrolled), Occupational Health & Safety Professional, Optical Mechanics and Dispensers, Park Ranger, Patient Care Assistant, Personal Trainer, Police Officer, Private Investigator, Project and Program Administrator, Real Estate Agents & Property Managers, Reflexologist, Restaurant and Catering Manager, Retail Sales Supervisors and Assistants, Sales Consultant (IT), School Services Officer, Security Officer, Sports Coach, Tourist Information Officer, Travel and Tour Consultant, Trichologist, University - VET Lecturers and Tutors, VET in Schools Teachers, Veterinary Nurse, Youth Worker or Disability Worker
Outdoor
Aircraft Pilot, Animal Attendant, Aquaculture Farmer and Technician, Automotive Electrician, Boilermakers/Welder, Bricklayer, Caravan Park/Camping grounds Manager, Cartographer - Surveyor, Child Care Worker, Ecotourism Guide, Environmental Scientist / Environmental Project Officer, Farm hand, Farmer and Farm Manager, Forklift Operator (Driver), Horse Trainer, Horticultural Tradesperson (Gardener), Jockey, Landcare Officer, Livestock Buyer/Livestock Farmers, Miner, Mineral Processing Operator, Nursery Worker, Painters and Decorator, Park Ranger, Police Officer, Private Investigator, Security Officer, Shearer, Sports Coach, Stablehand, Telecommunications Technician, Travel and Tour Consultant, Viticulturist and Vineyard Hand
Education Requirements
There are currently no educational requirements needed to become an ecotourism guide, however, it's becoming increasingly desirable among employers that guides have some formal training.
Flinders University offer a Bachelor of Eco Tourism degree while TAFE SA offers these courses ;
Certificate III in Tourism (Guiding)
Certificate IV in Tourism (Guiding).
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
Ecotourism guides receive around $25 per hour for guiding.
Further Information
For further information about all TAFE SA Courses, phone 1800 882 661 or email tafeinfo@saugov.sa.gov.au
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites.
This Career Profile information was last modified: 16/01/2009 9:50:32 AM
The information was accurate at the time of publication. TAFE SA and their agents reserve the right to make any changes necessary
