Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Ecotourism

Ecotourism is tourism in natural areas whose main purpose is to observe and appreciate nature and the traditional cultures found there. UN Tourism, the United Nations tourism agency, adds several conditions to that definition. The trip has an educational and interpretive side. It is usually, but not only, organised by specialised operators for small groups, and the local partners tend to be small, locally owned businesses. It keeps negative effects on the natural and socio-cultural environment to a minimum, and it supports the protection of the area by creating income and jobs for local communities.

Ecotourism is not the same as sustainable tourism. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council describes ecotourism as a niche segment of tourism in natural areas, while sustainable tourism is not a type of tourism at all but an aim for the effects of every kind of tourism.

Students of ecotourism learn about ecosystems and protected areas, nature interpretation and guiding, the design of ecotourism products and routes, visitor management, sustainability certification, work with local communities and the basics of running a small tourism business.

Qualifications and levels

Ecotourism is rarely the name of a full degree. It is normally a specialisation within tourism, environmental science or sustainable tourism, and it is taught at several levels:

  • Short courses. Specialised training centres offer courses of a few weeks or months on rural tourism and ecotourism, nature guiding or sustainable destinations, often online.
  • Vocational training. In Spain the closest official vocational qualifications are Técnico en Guía en el Medio Natural y de Tiempo Libre (intermediate level, 2,000 hours), which trains guides for hiking, cycling and horse-riding routes in natural areas, and Técnico Superior en Guía, Información y Asistencias Turísticas (higher level, 2,000 hours).
  • Bachelor's degrees. Tourism and environmental degrees include ecotourism as a subject or pathway. A Spanish bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits.
  • Master's degrees. Master's programmes in sustainable tourism cover the planning and management of tourism in natural and rural destinations. Spanish official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
  • Research degrees. Ecotourism can be the topic of a master's dissertation or a doctoral thesis in tourism, geography or environmental studies.

Short courses usually give the school's certificate of completion. Before enrolling, ask the school what recognition the qualification has, particularly if you need it for a guide licence or for further study.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 9 active schools for ecotourism: two in Spain and one each in Guatemala, Australia, Nicaragua, the United States, Venezuela, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Teaching is in Spanish in Spain and Latin America and in English in the other countries.

In Spain, Innovtur is an online tourism training centre based in the province of Valladolid. Its catalogue includes a course on rural tourism and ecotourism, a nature guide course on the design of interpretive routes and an expert course in ecotourism, which covers the definitions of ecotourism, the design of the ecotourism product within a local strategy and sustainability certification for projects in protected areas.

In Guatemala, the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala offers a Maestría en Turismo Sostenible. It is taught fully online, is designed for the tourism sector of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean and lasts 20 months. Classes are in Spanish, and an intermediate level of English is required for some readings and videos. In Venezuela, the Universidad Yacambú teaches a Licenciatura en Turismo that covers the planning, marketing and management of destinations, products and services.

Other schools on the list are Griffith University on the Gold Coast, Australia, and Unity Environmental University in the United States. Warnborough College, with entries in Ireland and the United Kingdom, works by distance learning: students study online with a personal academic mentor.

Careers

Ecotourism graduates work where tourism and conservation meet. Typical roles are:

  • nature guide or interpreter on hiking, cycling, horse-riding or wildlife-watching routes
  • product designer or trip planner for a specialised tour operator
  • owner or manager of a small rural lodge or activity company
  • visitor and public-use officer in a protected area
  • sustainability or certification adviser for tourism businesses and destinations
  • local development officer for a municipality or community organisation

Much of the sector is made up of small local businesses, so many graduates are self-employed or combine guiding with other seasonal work. Guiding in protected areas or in the mountains can require a specific licence or qualification, which differs by country and region; check the rules of the place where you plan to work.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ecotourism and sustainable tourism?

Ecotourism is a specific kind of tourism, in natural areas and centred on nature and local culture. Sustainable tourism is an aim that applies to all forms of tourism, from city hotels to cruises.

Is there a university degree in ecotourism?

Sometimes, but more often ecotourism is a specialisation inside a degree in tourism, environmental science or sustainable tourism. Check the study plan to see how many subjects deal with natural areas, interpretation and conservation.

Can I study ecotourism online?

Yes. Several schools on the list teach online, for example the short courses of Innovtur in Spain and the 20-month Maestría en Turismo Sostenible of the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. Fieldwork and guiding practice still have to be done on the ground.

Which vocational qualification in Spain is closest to ecotourism?

The intermediate vocational qualification Técnico en Guía en el Medio Natural y de Tiempo Libre, of 2,000 hours, trains guides for activities in natural areas.