Ecotour guide training program methods and characteristics: a case study from the African bush

ABSTRACT

Ecotour guides play many roles within ecotourism, making them an important part of the industry. However, ecotour guides often do not possess all the skills necessary to fulfill their roles. Training programs can help ecotour guides improve their skills, though it remains unclear which training methods are most effective. The purpose of this case study was to explore how a specific guide training program based in South Africa influences guides, and which training methods and characteristics account for that influence. Participant observation and semi-structured interviews were employed to illuminate the guide training’s methods and characteristics, which included experiential learning, role modeling, employment of exceptional instructors, diverse learning experiences, and feedback to improve program outcomes. Two outcomes in particular – transformation of program participants and increased environmentally responsible behavior – stood out, and two program limitations were also identified. These findings can assist in the development of training programs and help shape future research questions, including the need to further investigate the temporal components of ecotour guide training, the longevity of learning outcomes, and the occupational pressures that may limit an ecotour guide training program’s success.

KEYWORDS:

• Ecotourism
• guide training
• environmentally responsible behavior
• tour guides and operators
• transformation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank EcoTraining and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Great Plains Studies for their assistance with this research as well as Daniel Dustin and the students in the Writing for Publication course at the University of Utah for their support in preparing this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.