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Learning Activities (in order)
The Learning Journey Question: Which is the best eco-tourism
package for our family to visit Rekohu?
Reading about the indigenous people of Rekohu, the Moriori,
and the range of endangered bird species and plant-life on
Rekohu has excited your 'family' about visiting there. You
all want something slightly different in a holiday but you
all want to make sure you contribute to the local economy
and do not offend people or damage the environment.
In this “learning journey” you will take on the roles of
members of a ‘family’ who are planning a trip to Rekohu. You
will select a tour package that most interests your family
and meets environmental, cultural and economic guidelines
for sustainable tourism. You will learn about eco-tourism
and investigate the packages available so you can answer the
global question:
Background
The Islands of Rekohu have a rich cultural heritage
encompassing Moriori, European and Maori traditions. Its
sand dunes, small hills, towering cliffs, bracken and fern
covered clears, many lakes, waterways and forests are home
to a wide range of bird species, some extremely rare and on
the endangered lists. Rekohu has a unique history, home to
the Moriori for hundred of years, famous for their belief in
peace and non-violence. There are many areas of significant
and unique flora and historical sites as well. Rekohu
consists of two inhabited islands and several more smaller
islands that are now restricted bird sanctuaries.
Surrounded by the mighty South Pacific Ocean and sitting in
the middle of the ‘Roaring forties’, Rekohu has only
recently opened its arms to the tourism trade. The islands
have a thriving fishing industry, supplying many species of
fish to New Zealand and further afield. The islands fish
catch is part of the New Zealand Quota system, becoming
famous for its sustainable management and fisheries
protection structure. Farming, once a booming industry on
the islands, is becoming uneconomic, due to the ever rising
costs of freight, and many are turning to tourism for
income. The islands are developing their infrastructure and
change is speeding up as the local authorities promote
eco-tourism as a means of earning much-needed income.
Guidelines for tourism development are being developed to
ensure that local people benefit and the environment remains
unharmed.
Perspectives on the Global Question
Team roles
Form a ‘family' group. (4 people) Take on the roles of
children and parents and consider the following questions to
help you decide which tour package will suit your ‘family'
best:
-
What do you think is important in a holiday (eg resting,
visiting historic sites, being active, getting to know
local people, having a good time)?
·
How much money and time do you have?
Locate Information:
Finding out about eco-tours on Rekohu
·
Define the features of environmentally and culturally
sensitive tourism.
·
Review the packages you have selected in terms of the
features you have outlined.
·
Select the package that best suits your ‘family' and meets
the features outlined.
·
Outline the positives, negatives and questions you have
about the selected package so you can identify any further
research you need to undertake to support your answer to the
global question:
Present Information:
Prepare a presentation of the tour package that you have
selected (on PowerPoint or poster). Describe all of the
places on the islands that you will visit and the activities
you will do. Highlight how the package suits each family
member and how it demonstrates the principles of culturally
and environmentally sensitive tourism.
OR
Create a poster or multi-media map of attractions on Rekohu
with written and/or audio descriptions of the key features.
Describe how people are working to improve the industry
while protecting the environment and respecting each others
cultures.
OR
Produce a flyer using photos, graphics and text to
communicate a set of ‘dos and dont's' for tourists to
Rekohu, showing them how to be environmentally and
culturally sensitive.
OR
‘Undesirable tourists’ might do things such as drop litter,
take artefacts or other heritage items home, make fun of
local cultures or loudly demand better facilities in a
situation where that cant possibly happen. Write a play to
make such people more aware of the impact of their behaviour
and convince them to be more culturally and environmentally
sensitive.
OR
Create a poster or power-point presentation that highlights
the eco-tourism operators on Rekohu and the non eco-friendly
operators. Compare the products, prices, activities, and
attractions. Use graphics, photos, illustrations and
statistics. Comparisons could be made about the level of
marketing material available as well.
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