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A surge in interest in nature-based tourism has led The University of Western Australia to develop a Master of Ecotourism degree.  Unique to UWA Albany, it will be the only postgraduate course of its kind available in Western Australia.

Course coordinator Dr Barbara Cook, of the Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, said a growth in demand for sustainable recreational opportunities was seeing the ecotourism industry expand.  There was an increasing need for tourist operators to be savvy in order to attract culturally and environmentally aware tourists.

She said Master of Ecotourism graduates would gain skills that would enable them to successfully manage existing ecotourism enterprises, as well as design and run new ventures.  Proposed partnerships with local tourism operators and businesses would ensure a deep understanding of the ecotourism industry and sustainable business practices to prepare for real-life situations.

"UWA Albany's location - in one of the most environmentally diverse, culturally rich regions with an impressive range of natural outdoor recreational opportunities and strong potential tourism industry partners - makes it a perfect fit," Dr Cook said.

The course, which commences in 2015, is open to graduates from any discipline and could take as little as 18 months to complete.

The Faculty of Science is launching six other new courses in 2015.

For more information, contact UWA Albany on 9842 0888 or [email protected]

Media references

Dr Barbara Cook (UWA Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management)  (+61 8) 9842 0837
David Stacey (UWA Media Manager)  (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716