Aboriginal Tourism Programs
Aboriginal tourism is booming. Aboriginal cultures are a major selling point for visitors to Canada. Canada boasts lands rich with wildlife, beautiful waters, fascinating mountain ranges, flora & fauna and mystical forests that can offer tourists a memorable experience. Increasing numbers of Aboriginal peoples and communities see tourism as an opportunity to use their talents, culture and resources in their communities to obtain self-sufficiency.
The Aboriginal Tourism Operations Certificate Program and the Aboriginal Tourism Management Diploma program can prepare you to capitalize in this rewarding industry.
The Aboriginal Tourism Operations (ATO) Certificate Program can offers students the skills and knowledge to seek employment in the tourism industry. Graduates of the ATO program are trained for positions in cultural tourism, ecotourism and many other entry-level positions in the tourism business. Each semester includes field experience projects and placements that will develop hands-on skills and promote networking within the tourism industry. After a student has completed the ATO certificate program, the student can continue on another year to complete the Aboriginal Tourism Management Diploma (ATM) program. Graduates of the ATM program are trained for planning, marketing and managing a successful tourism business. When the student completes the ATO program, they are encouraged to work in the tourism business during the summer before returning to the ATM program.
Entrance Requirements:
· Grade 12 diploma or equivalent
· Minimum C average in Grade 12 English
OR
· Over 21 and meeting the Mature Applicant requirements
Entrance Requirements for Aboriginal Tourism Management Diploma:
Successful Completion of ATO Certificate, or equivalent
Transfer Credits:
Capilano College, Thompson Rivers University and Malaspina University College will review transcripts for NEC’s Aboriginal Tourism Management Diploma, and will determine the number of credits that may be transferred into their Tourism Marketing Degree Programs.
Aboriginal Tourism Operations
Certificate Program Content
Semester I: Credits
TSM 101 Business Communications 3
TSM 105 Computer Applications 3
TSM 110 Introduction to Aboriginal Tourism 3
TSM 114 Heritage Recovery and Interpretation 3
TSM 115 Aboriginal Interpretation Field Experience 3
Semester II:
TSM 113 Customer Services in Tourism 3
TSM 120 Special Events Management 3
TSM 125 Cross-Cultural Tourism 3
TSM 112 Ecotourism 3
TSM 116 Ecotourism Field Experience 3
Total Certificate Credits = 30
Aboriginal Tourism Management
Diploma Program Contents
Semester I:
TSM 220 Marketing 3
TSM 211 Financial Management in Tourism I 3
TSM 214 Organizational Dynamics 3
TSM 223 Human Resource Management 3
TSM 218 Project Management Field Experience 3
Semester II:
TSM 210 Tourism Communications 3
TSM 226 Financial Management in Tourism II 3
TSM 216 Tourism Business Law 3
TSM 224 Small Business Development 3
TSM 228 Business Development Field Experience 3
:
Course Descriptions
TSM 101 Business Communications
Credits: 3
This is an applied course in business and technical writing, focusing on skills related to communications in the tourism industry: memos, letters, descriptions, proposals and presentation organization and delivery. Students will also be refining their basic English skills for excellence in entry-level written tasks.
TSM 105 Computer Applications
Credits: 3
Through hands-on experience, students will be applying the basics of computer operations in a business context. The course will cover the six categories of software programs commonly used in business: word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphics, accounting and communications and apply them to their studies in the tourism industry. Students should have previous keyboarding experience as a prerequisite to this course.
TSM 110 Introduction to Aboriginal Tourism
Credits: 3
An overview of the local, regional and global tourism industry: its key concepts, language, the social and economic impacts, and issues and trends in tourism. Special emphasis will be placed on the eight sectors of tourism, the geography of First Nations in Canada and Aboriginal tourism operations in BC, Canada and the world.
TSM112 Ecotourism
Credits: 3
This course is an introduction to the scope and impact of adventure travel and ecotourism. This course will explore product development and marketing, economic impacts and critical issues facing the industry and Aboriginal communities; including sustainable development, ethical, cultural and environmental impacts. There is a special emphasis on environmental stewardship throughout the tourism industry.
TSM 113 Customer Services in Tourism
Credits: 3
This course provides students with he ability to design and implement a service management program to achieve consistent, quality service at all levels of an organization. Specific attention is given to the service team-culture, service sales skills, and the importance and role of First Nations hospitality. FirstHost certification, NEC’s one-day workshop on customer service skills, is part of the course.
TSM 114 Heritage Recovery & Interpretation
Credits: 3
This course explores issues that are central to the overall goals of Aboriginal Tourism, such as the process used by First Nations communities to record their history, recover traditional skills and repatriate cultural artifacts. Students will draw on this knowledge within their own communities through research and develop presentations and displays for sharing their culture with visitors.
TSM 115 Aboriginal Interpretation Field Experience
Credits: 3
Interpretation activities will include preparing and sharing cultural foods, performing songs, dances and storytelling using regalia. Students will lead tours, interpret carvings and other traditional art works, greet and host visitors in various settings. Job shadowing opportunities will be available at tourism destinations such as museums, heritage centres and First Nations communities, historic sites and with tour operations, travel information centres and travel businesses.
TSM 116 Ecotourism Field Experience
Credits: 3
Ecotourism activities will include kayak, ocean-going canoes, and motorboat tours, nature walks, outdoor traditional feasts, medicine and food plant walks and other venue. Students will develop skills in leading groups and individuals to experience the natural world including traditional ecological knowledge, natural resource harvesting and traditional stewardship of lands.
TSM 120 Special Events Management
Credits: 3
This course will teach all aspects of special events management and planning with a focus on First Nations events such as cultural festivals and community gatherings. Students will learn to design and prepare a business plan for an event, and sponsorship proposals. Skills will be developed for conference and workshop planning, facilitation and hosting.
TSM 125 Cross-Cultural Tourism
Credits: 3
Tourism in general, and Aboriginal Tourism in particular, often involves people from different cultures meeting and learning from one another. This course will deal with theoretical and practical issues arising from the cross-cultural environments including differing cultural values, business practices and social customs. Effective communication and negotiating skills across cultural differences will be enhanced by the activities in this course.
TSM 210 Tourism Communications
Credits: 3
This course provides further development of specific management level communication skills: researching and responding to requests for proposals, business reports, press releases, and supervisory level written communications.
Prerequisite: TSM 101 Business Communications or equivalent.
TSM 211 Financial Management in Tourism I
Credits: 3
This course introduces students to the basic terminology, concepts and principles of accounting. Assignments focus on preparing income statements and balancing statements for transactions.
TSM 214 Organizational Dynamics
Credits: 3
This course develops skills in interpersonal communication, decision-making, team-building and conflict resolution. The students will learn about organizational leadership and current management practices in tourism.
TSM 216 Tourism Business Law
Credits: 3
Students examine the legislation and regulation of the tourism industry. There is a special emphasis on risk management for outdoor adventure activities. Case studies examine tourism business development and the legal rights, responsibilities and obligations of organizations in the hospitality industry. The legal problems and solutions regularly faced by small businesses in tourism will be examined.
TSM 218 Project Management Field Experience
Credits: 3
Students will gain real-life business skills through specific projects, job shadowing, and hands-on experience in tourism businesses. Emphasis is on financial management and human resource management skills for supervisors.
TSM 220 Marketing
Credits: 3
This course examines the existing tourism marketing system in Canada with specific interest in First Nations products and services. The course covers market surveys, the creation and implementation of advertising strategies and campaigns for tourism, and the link between product quality, customer satisfaction and business profitability. The strategic marketing process as it relates to the tourism industry, includes: understanding consumer behaviour, positioning a tourism product for success in the market, developing and packaging a product, marketing tools, and developing a successful media strategy.
TSM 223 Human Resource Management
Credits: 3
Students will learn to apply the management philosophies and practices appropriate to Aboriginal tourism operations. Topics include recruitment, hiring and termination of employees, staff training and development, staff empowerment, employee scheduling, performance evaluation and employment standards.
TSM 224 Small Business Development
Credits: 3
The role of the First Nations entrepreneur in the tourism industry will be explored. Students will draw on their creativity and learn entrepreneurial skills for setting up a new business. Other topics will cover traditional values and business ethics, a survey of business development funds and business growth strategies.
TSM 226 Financial Management in Tourism II
Credits: 3
This course continues from the basics of accounting and prepares the student for developing financial statements for their own business. Topics include: income measurement, special journals, cash and investments, balance sheet equations and preparing working papers. Participants will work through the full accounting cycle.
TSM 228 Business Development Field Experience
Credits: 3
Students will gain experience in business planning and start-up through job shadowing, mentoring and hands-on experience in tourism businesses. Emphasis is on marketing, financial management, organizational dynamics and entrepreneurial skills.
