ICRT Courses

ICRT Courses

ICRT-WA training courses are tailored to those aiming to use tourism as a catalyst for the economic empowerment and development of communities. Therefore it will be found relevant by any workers who see tourism as one of the means to reduce poverty. The involvement of different stakeholders in the tourism industry, from government and national tourist offices, to communities, NGOs and charities is welcomed. Courses are open to people from The Gambia, West Africa, and further afield. ICRT-WA also wishes to involve international participants from foreign agencies and developed countries who are interested in tourism as a vehicle for responsible social and economic development.

The courses are practical in nature and use qualified and experienced tourism entrepreneurs and government officials as consultants, challenging participants to understand and then use the theory and general principles of Responsible Tourism and apply them in practical cases in destinations, and in due course to evolve approaches to be subsequently applied in countries in many other countries . Those who satisfactorily complete the courses will receive International Centre for Responsible Tourism Certificates

Issues and Principles in Responsible Tourism

Tourism and Local Communities: Pro-Poor Tourism

Responsible Tourism in Destinations

Course Leader: Professor Harold

Goodwin ICRT at Leeds Metropolitan University

- An introduction to the industry, the consumers it sells to; and the triple bottom line issues of economic, social and economic impacts.

- The role of the market and issues in the provision of tourism are considered in the context of the debate about responsible tourism together with a critical assessment of the key concepts of local community benefits heritage, conservation and sustainable tourism and the relationships between them

Dr Goodwin

Course Leader: Professor Harold Goodwin ICRT at Leeds Metropolitan University

- The successful harnessing of tourism for local community development requires both an understanding of the process of local sustainable economic development and an awareness of the different strategies which are available for working with, and empowering, local communities.

- Recent research work on pro-poor tourism and practical projects in Peru, The Gambia and South Africa are used to ensure that the course is practically focused.

Course Leader: Professor Harold Goodwin ICRT at Leeds Metropolitan University

- Destinations as commons: The 'tragedy of the commons' thesis, the freeloader issue, multi-stakeholder and other political processes for the management of commons.

- Environmental Sustainability: review of environmental sustainability issues in destinations and the strategies available to tackle them.

- Policy context: the role of government and master planning. Using case studies drawn from South Africa, The Gambia, Peru and the UK. Students will review current practise and identify the changes necessary to achieve responsible tourism objectives.

- Working with stakeholders and local governance: stakeholder processes and participatory approaches to securing change. Review of local initiatives for change.

Partnerships for change - the private sector, governments and local communities. Review of partnership approaches from the tourism industry and elsewhere and their application to destination management. Case studies from UK, The Gambia and a range of others depending on student interest.