Blue Economy Tourism - St. Lucia
Summary
Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) will host a group of NSCC students and employees for one week in May 2024. The program theme will revolve around blue economy tourism and its importance in the local context. Program activities will involve sit visits to various blue economy tourism operations, team building exercises and a presentation on learning.
Blue economy tourism relies on a country's ocean, sea, or coastal region. Coastal tourism is the largest market segment in the world, accounting for 5% of GDP and contributing 6-7% of total employment. Furthermore, coastal and maritime tourism will employ 1.5 million additional people worldwide by 2030. Coral reefs, seagrass reefs, sandy beaches, sandbars, marshes, flood basins, estuaries, peninsulas, mangroves etc. are a few examples of the aquatic life. Blue economy tourism encompasses a diverse range of activities, including beach tourism, scuba diving, snorkeling, yachting, coastal cruises, marine wildlife encounters, and coral reef exploration.
This program will provide students with a better understanding of blue economy tourism practices in St. Lucia and an overall sense of the importance of this emerging and important tourism area. NSCC and SALCC students will be given a blue economy tourism challenge and work together to find a solution based on information gathered through the site visits to service providers. The final project will have the groups present on their solution to the challenge in front of a panel of judges and a winner will be selected.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Apply knowledge, skills and attitudes from tasks and projects in an international setting;
- Outline the benefits of cross-cultural collaboration for work-related projects and tasks;
- Build evidence of experiences and new learning (both personal and industry related) for portfolio development and the education of others;
- Assess safety and risk pertaining to international travel to make informed decisions about traveling abroad;
- To identify and reflect on the differences and similarities between Canada and St. Lucia
Timeline
Subject to change
October 2023 - Applications launched
January 5, 2024 - Application deadline
January 2024 - Student selection
February 2024 - Online pre-departure course begins
April 19, 2024 - Pre-Departure conference
May 2024 - Program in St. Lucia
June 2024 - Evaluation and debrief
Fall 2024 - Celebration of learning
Student Eligibility
This program is open to students in any program at NSCC who are interested in the blue economy and tourism. Students must be in good academic standing. Some international learning programs can fall under the Prior Learning and Assessment (PLAR) Procedures | NSCC. Students interested in this process should seek advice from a faculty advisor and academic chair prior to travel to review whether the international learning program could satisfy program or course outcomes.
Travel advice and advisories
The Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories will help you make informed decisions about safe travel while you are outside of Canada.
Review travel advisories for this country
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Cost (estimated) |
|---|---|
| Program Fee (includes airfare, local accommodations, in-country ground transportation, program activities and some meals) | $4000 |
| Passport and any associated travel documents (if having to apply for one) | $200 |
| Guard.me travel insurance (mandatory purchased through guard.me) | $100 |
| Immunizations & prescriptions (cost will vary depending on individual) | $200 - $500 |
| Transportation to and from Halifax airport (depending on distance from airport) | $200 |
| Other meals and incidentals (will vary depending on individual) | $200 |
| Items of personal nature, tourism activities and excursions outside of the program and souvenirs (varies depending on individual) | $200 |