Nature based tourism education in Estonian University of Life Sciences

Lea Sudakova

How we started?

• The curriculum of Nature Based Tourism on bachelors level was dedicated on 2006, after 3 years masters level was opened and this Year we have our first PhD student.

• The department of Botany of Agricultural and Environmental Institute helds the curriculum, prof. Tiiu Kull

Who were involved to development of curriculum?

• Ecotourism and nature tourism entrepreneurs

• Lecturers and researchers from related to NBT fields in EMU and TU

• Murrey Simpson, Oxford University• Kathy Velander, Edinburg Napier

University• Roger Evans, privat consultant

What are the strenghts?

• 2/3 of curriculum are the nature related subjects

• Daily and open university students - ca 50 bechelors per year and 10 masters

• Students of open university are usually already tourism providers and developers

• Wide range of research fields and topics

Master theses 2011 and 2012

1. The Role of Botanic Gardens in Nature Tourism, Profile and Motivation of Visitors in the Example of the Tallinn Botanic Garden

2. The Lake Peipus area visitation and travel motives: case study of Iisaku, Pala and Alatskivi municipalities

3. Development of Tourism Destination on the Pandivere area

4. Behaviour patterns on Internet on the example of visitors of Estonian National Parks

Master theses 2011 and 2012

5. The change of the coastal grassland vegetation in response to varying restoration efforts on Silma nature reserve

6. The importance of food tourism among the domestic and incoming tourists in Estonia: the examples of the Võru County and Saare County

7. The changes in the habitat use by the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) in Estonia during 1990 – 2010

Master theses 2011 and 20128. The unique qualities of Lower Paleozoic

limestone bedrock of Estonia the possibilities for geotourism

9. Potential weaknesses in providing nature holiday services for wheelchair tourists in Estonia

10. Habitats, distribution and reproduction of Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum in Estonia

11. The factors which influence carrying capacity of ski tracks and a study of satisfactions of users

12. Corporate social responsibility among Estonian tour operators