How to Start a Natural Tour Business ~ Be a Natural Tour Guide



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Natural Tour Guide Business
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Breaking Into and Succeeding as a Natural Tour Guide
Becoming a Natural Tour Guide Business Owner
Starting a Natural Tour Guide Business

I’m neither a professional tour guide nor do I have any business experience in tourism. Can I start a natural tour business?

Of course you can! If you are willing to build up the knowledge that you lack and apply the strengths that you already have, you can be an excellent nature tour guide. This eGuide will be your first step on your new career path. Keep in mind that being a nature guide is very different from other types of travel and tourism. You really just need passion and dedication to what you do. The rest can be achieved through hard work and determination.

I’m not a very good hiker. Can I still be a nature guide?

Yes you can. There are number of options at your disposal.
You can start walking and hiking now to gradually build your stamina and skill level. Hiking is not something that requires special talent. It’s something that anyone can do. If you enjoy the outdoors and are willing to put in the extra time and effort necessary, you can become an excellent hiker.

Or, if hiking really is not for you, consider doing nature tours by boat if that’s more your thing. Or maybe you could do driving tours through national forests, parks or other exceptional settings. There may be many others out there who don’t particularly enjoy hiking either. You can do bike tours, kayak tours, motorcycle or horse tours. Find your niche. Find what you are good at, what you enjoy, and market to people with similar interests.

I don’t live in a region where the scenery is exceptional (like in Boulder, Grand Canyon, Bali, Hawaii, etc.). Can I start a nature tour where I live?

Nature is everywhere. You don’t have to live in an exceptionally beautiful place to become a nature guide. Get to know your local flora and fauna. Find out where local streams, beaches, hills or even parks are.

There are a number of urban nature programs now as well. Try opening people’s eyes to the plants, birds, bugs and green areas in your city. Try getting people together to create green spaces in empty lots, building rooftops or other areas that could use a green makeover.

You don’t have to focus on scenery when starting your nature tour business. There are a number of birdwatchers out there. Most people enjoy, as simple as it may seem, just watching the wildlife that surrounds them, whether it be squirrels, birds or butterflies. Learn what species you have in your area and about their migration patterns. Once you know where and when to spot the animals native to your area, you’ll be able to take others out to animal or birdwatch. Keep in mind that there may also be rare species of birds or butterflies that may be of interest to specialized birdwatchers.

The same goes for plant life and ocean life. Learn what you can about your area. Maybe you are knowledgeable in your region’s herbs and natural medicines. There are a number of people who would be interested in stepping out into the great outdoors and learning about the medicinal herbs that surround them.

What is A Nature Tour?

Nature tourism refers to travel involving any one of a number of outdoor activities that benefit and preserve an area’s natural and cultural heritage. More and more city dwellers are eager to escape the smog, traffic and hectic lifestyle of the city to experience nature, clean air, wildlife and open spaces. Whether it be adventure travel or relaxation that they are seeking, nature tourism offers many people a chance to recuperate and get in touch once again with their natural surroundings.

Nature tourism offers a number of benefits to both guides and tourists alike. Excursions into nature help alleviate stress at a much faster rate than in urban settings. It helps us to abandon the rat race for a while, leave our professional roles behind and relax into the serenity that nature has to offer. Philosophers, poets and writers have long found their inspiration in their natural surroundings. Many people head out into the wilderness in search of a more spiritual connection. Long walks, meditation, yoga or even simply watching the wildlife that surrounds you can fill you with a sense of awe and wonder.

Likewise, many people are looking for adventure and excitement. They want to push themselves to the limit, and then go just a little further. The Great Outdoors is also a haven to the kayaker, the mountain biker, the hiker and the rock climber. Outdoor experiences can be both humbling and strengthening. There is so much to learn by grabbing your gear and heading out to see what Mother Nature has in store.

As a nature guide, you can lead people on these potentially life changing adventures. You can take them to see awe-inspiring sites, encourage them to push just a little harder and help them learn the skills that are necessary to successfully maneuver in the wilderness. Imagine getting paid for what you already do and having the freedom to do it your way. That is what being a nature guide can give you.

To get an idea of who nature tourists are, let’s first take a look at the various types of nature tourists. The following are the most common nature seekers that you will come into contact with as a nature tour guide:

Education and history travelers
Social travelers
Relaxation travelers
Nature travelers
Economic and weekend travelers
Campers

Keep your public in mind when planning your nature guide business. Travelers have a number of reasons to seek out nature guides. It will be your job to provide your clients with what they are looking for, whether it be a social experience, an ecological experience or just a relaxing time.

Nature tourism is a relatively safe business venture, economically speaking. Outdoor activities are always popular with various groups and the business is virtually recession-proof. Take a look at these numbers to get an idea of just how sought after nature tours are.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation in found that 31 percent of Americans over the age of 15 observe, feed and/or photograph wildlife. The National Survey of Recreation and the Environment found that 94.1 million people observed wildlife or wildflowers. Always a popular activity, birdwatching had an estimated 69.4 million participants.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) gives us the following statistics on eco-travel in the United States:

Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) estimates that ecotourism is among the fastest growing travel trend in the United States. It is estimated to be a USD 77 billion market, representing 5 percent of the travel and tourism market in the United States.

· 55.1 million American travelers are described as being interested in nature, culture, and heritage tourism.
· 80 percent of adult travelers have included an historic or cultural activity in their travel plans.
· Visits to National Parks for recreational purposes reached almost 277 million in 2004. That’s an increase from the 220 million visitors in 1980 and 256 million in 1990.

As you can see, your potential customers are out there. You just need to ask yourself how you can reach them and make them want to choose you.

More and more businesses are going green. As a nature tour guide, it makes a lot of sense to go green as well. But what exactly does that mean? Let’s first take a look at the term ecotourism.

For tourism to be eco-tourism, it must be mutually beneficial to both the environment as well as to the host community. Ecotourism offers a chance for the tourist to experience local culture as well as local environment. Activities are planned for small groups of tourists by several local businesses. Ecotourism is not about one business getting ahead. It’s about benefiting the local community and helping each other to keep tourism sustainable.

According to TIES, ecotourism has the following goals:

· Minimize impact
· Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
· Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
· Provide direct financial benefits for conservation
· Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
· Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate

Remember that nature tourism is all about your surroundings. Your livelihood depends on the natural resources that surround you. However, you can also strengthen your business by creating a symbiotic relationship with your community. Here are a few ways to support each other. You'll be surprised of how such collaborations will give you a lot in return.

· Create cooperative marketing opportunities
· Team up with other businesses to offer travel packages to tourists
· Buy locally
· Recommend local restaurants, hotels and bars to your clients
· Give away gift certificates to local places as a way to promote your own establishment

About the Authors

Jennie S. Bev is THE fashion, image and fun careers expert, whose reputation has been acknowledged by prestigious media internationally. She has been profiled and mentioned in Entrepreneur, Teen People, Canadian Business, Home Business, Dong (France), San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent, Daily Southtown, The Arizona Republic, Chic (UK/Asia), Fit (Asia), Femina (Asia) and Dewi (Asia).

Editor-in-Chief Jennie S. Bev was named 2003 EPPIE Award finalist in Non-Fiction How To category for excellence in electronic publishing. She has published over 40 books and 900 articles in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Southeast Asia. She is also a college professor based in San Francisco Bay Area.

Co-author Kristina Morris-Heredia‘s academic background is in Anthropology and Latin American Studies. However, she has found her career as a freelance writer and translator. She has conducted ethnographic research on a Gypsy community in southern Mexico, has written numerous articles, eBooks, and web content and has written for the likes of Mothering Magazine and Woman’s Health Network.

She goes back and forth between the United States and Mexico but currently lives in Xalapa, Veracruz with her husband and her two kids.

This 66--page instantly downloadable StyleCareer.com eGuide Breaking Into and Succeeding as a Natural Tour Guide brings you valuable insider tips, advice and suggestions not available elsewhere to help you embark on this highly lucrative career path.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Myths, the Realities, and the Basics
I’m neither a professional tour guide nor do I have any business experience in tourism. Can I start a natural tour business?
I’m not a very good hiker. Can I still be a nature guide?
I don’t live in a region where the scenery is exceptional (like in Boulder, Grand Canyon, Bali, Hawaii, etc.). Can I start a nature tour where I live?
I don’t have any educational background in travel and tourism. Can I be a nature guide? Do I need special training to start this business?

In a Nutshell
What is A Nature Tour?
Water Tours
Mountain Sports
Horseback Riding
Adventure Travel
Birdwatching
Beach Tours
Ranch Tours
Star Gazing
Children’s Nature Tours
Nature Tourism and the Economy
Job Options
Earning Potentials

Is the Business Right for You?
How to Get Experience
Necessary Equipment
Birdwatching
Hiking
Mountain Biking
Kayaking and Canoeing
Horseback Riding
Beach tours
Ideal Locations
Starting the Business
Preparations
Legalities
Marketing: How to Get Your First Customers
The Importance of Reservations

Being Successful
Caveats
Trade Associations
Trade Shows
Clubs and Associations
Nature, Wildlife, and Conservation
Waterways
Mountains
Birding
Horse and Ranch
Hiking
Others
Keeping Polished All Year Long: What to Do After Summertime is Over?

Success Profiles

Appendix: Reading List
Nature Tourism and Tour Guide Resources
Small Business Management
Green Business Practices
Wilderness Guides
Field Guides

This eGuide literally saves you hundreds of dollars spent on professional workshops and training and hundreds of hours of research. It will help you break into the career of your dream faster without having to repeat the same mistakes that most newcomers do.

You can have this exclusive eGuide right away by instant download for only $22.95, which you will earn many times over with your first paid job. This special low discount price is reserved for today, Thursday, May 15, 2008 only. (Regular price: $33.95)

Breaking Into and Succeeding
as a Natural Tour Guide
66 Pages
Regular Price: $33.95
Sale Price: $22.95

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