RUT Guide

Virtual Course:

Rural Tourism

Mrs. Eva Harvey

Mrs. Shauna Brandon

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The Rural Tourism online course explores rural tourism options and takes the learner through the stages of planning and execution of a rural tourism enterprise. The course is derived largely from the Spanish language IICA/OAS Agro-ecotourism online course, and adapted to the Caribbean context. The course takes advantage of IICA’s years of experience in advocating for closer linkages between agriculture and tourism and promoting tourism enterprises in rural communities.

1.1 Introduction:

1. Course overview

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1.2 Course description

The virtual course entitled Rural Tourism gives an overview of rural tourism modalities and trends and provides an in-depth guide to developing and operating a rural tourism enterprise. The course will be available to interested individuals and organizations in the Caribbean.

1.3 Organization of the course

The course will be divided into five modules, each one including two or three thematic lessons. Students shall dedicate a total of 30 hours over 10 weeks to review the material and take the end of lesson tests.

Rural Development Specialist at IICA Delegation in Barbados.

Roxanne Waithe

Rural Development Specialist at IICA Delegation in Jamaica.

Former Representative of the IICA Delegation in Barbados and IICA Focal Point for Agrotourism.

Ena Harvey

1.4 Information on the trainers

Shauna Brandon

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Profile for admission and upon completion

• Individuals interested in rural development, tourism, agriculture, rural enterprise.
• Ideally, individuals with some post-secondary training.
• Entrepreneurs in the hospitality or agriculture sectors or individuals interested in starting a business in these fields.

• Time availability to complete the activities included in the course, namely review of lesson content, links to additional material and videos, and completion of student assessments.. The time allocated for the course should be a minimum of 3 hours per week.

Admission profile

1.5. Student information

Acquire knowledge of:

• Various rural tourism options and the importance of tourism in rural areas as a driver of sustainable development.

• The regulatory requirements and quality protocols pertaining to the implementation of a rural tourism business.

• Rural tourism products operating across the Caribbean and the parameters for assessing the effectiveness and impact of these products.
• Investment and operational budgets and methods for determining the financial feasibility of a rural tourism project.

Individuals who complete the course will:

Develop skills to:

• examine a rural tourism project idea through a situational analysis of the territory and its tourist potential and assessment of the external and internal environment for the project.

• apply marketing tools to analyze the environment, demand and supply of rural tourism products and services.
• formulate a rural tourism project and develop competitive strategies to successfully place rural tourism products on the market.
• design the organizational structure and operations of a rural tourism enterprise.

Individuals who complete the course will:

Have the competence to:

• Provide guidance on rural tourism opportunities and operations with rural community residents and organisations involved in rural development.

• Create or improve a rural tourism enterprise

Individuals who complete the course will:

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Course Objectives

1.6. Course objetives

General objective Individuals and organizations across the Caribbean have increased competence to create and manage rural tourism enterprises. Specific objectives 1. Understanding of Rural Tourism as a subset of the tourism industry and the various opportunities within this sub-sector. 2. Ability to scan the local environment for opportunities to create a rural tourism enterprise. 3. Knowledge of the tools and steps required to undertake the analysis and preparatory activities to implement and manage a rural tourism enterprise.

1.7 Evaluation system

• The course utilizes the self-learning method: Students will be evaluated through single selection/multiple choice questions that allow students to reinforce the content learnt in each lesson.
• To pass the course and download the certificate you must obtain a grade equal to or greater than 70

A bibliography is provided at the end of each lesson. See the recommended reading list here.

1.8 Bibliography

Caribbean Case Studies

Module 5:

Administrative and financial plan

Market Analysis and Strategy

Planning the Rural Tourism Business

Module 4:

Module 3:

Module 2:

Module 1:

Introduction to Rural Tourism

2.Course content

To start the classes, click on the button.

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