A group of people listening to three rangers in the mountains

During the 2-week seminar, many of the following topics and themes may be covered:

  • Planning for tourism and public use in protected areas: zoning, management plans, indicators and standards-based planning frameworks, stakeholder involvement and destination planning
  • Legal and policy frameworks: best practices in legal and policy frameworks to support sustainable tourism and conservation
  • Typology of tourism activities in protected areas: recreational opportunity spectrum; common activities (hiking, sport fishing, sport hunting, water sports, winter sports, bird watching, camping, picnicking, guided tours, etc.)
  • Tourism and climate change: resilience, mitigation, adaptation and education
  • Institutional arrangements: role of different government actors and levels of government, local communities, landowners, academia, businesses, NGOs, indigenous people, universities, industry associations, user groups, volunteers, concessionaires, and other public-private partnerships
  • Monitoring and evaluation: visitor expectations, behavior, and impacts; environment impact assessment; long term monitoring of environmental, economic and social impacts of tourism on natural areas, cultural heritage, communities and wildlife; risk assessment
  • Infrastructure; transportation networks; hotels; campsites; souvenir shops; restrooms; food and fuel; emergency services; signage; staff housing and facilities; public services (water, sewerage, electricity, trash disposal; communications, etc.)
  • Interpretation and environmental education; guided and self-guided walks and trails; visitor centers; night programs; wayside exhibits; publications; the role of guides and outfitters
A group of workers beside a forest
a group of people sitting in a circle, two writing in notebooks
a group of students beside a bus in yellowstone