An introduction to the fundamental concepts, principles, and
approaches to operating commercial recreation and tourism
businesses in natural resource settings. Taking an
entrepreneurial approach, this class will develop an
understanding of business and marketing concepts as they relate
to commercial recreation and tourism.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: In addition to requirements of undergraduates, graduate
students are expected to do the following on their business
plan: •Use 3 different scenarios for their demand projections
(optimistic, realistic, and pessimistic) and create three
separate income statements, cash flow statements, and balance
sheets based off of these estimates. Graduate students should
also carry these projections out over 2 years, which means
their financial analysis would have 6 income statements, cash
flow statements, and balance sheets. •Read 8 assigned articles
on strategic management/entrepreneurship and include an appendix
to their business plan on how their business relates to the
ideas/principles presented in the articles.
Athena Title
Entrep Recreation and Tourism
Undergraduate Prerequisite
Permission of major
Graduate Prerequisite
Permission of major
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of how to apply the basic concepts, principles, and approaches to operating commercial recreation and tourism businesses in natural resource settings.
By the end of this course, students will be able to distinguish the different complexities associated with delivering tourism and recreation services on public versus private land.
By the end of this course, students will be able to grasp the complexities of operating recreation and tourism businesses that are seasonal and develop cash flow management strategies to ensure the business remains solvent.
By the end of this course, students will be able to create a full scale business plan that research trends in recreation and tourism, and use these trends to exploit these opportunities into novel business ideas that are profitable.
By the end of this course, students will become proficient in using MS Excel to create financial statements to show the health of a business.
By the end of this course, students will be able to confidently present a business plan to potential investors.
Topical Outline
1. Course Introduction and Syllabus Review
2. What is Commercial Recreation and Tourism?
3. Entrepreneurship in CRT
4. The Nature of Commercial Recreation and Tourism
5. Starting a Commercial Recreation and Tourism Enterprise
6. Financial Management
7. Marketing
8. Operations Management
9. Public Land Recreation and Tourism Issues
10. Commercial Recreation and Tourism Programming
11. Private Land Recreation and Tourism Issues
12. Sustainability in Commercial Recreation and Tourism
