Nature Tourism Specialist
Christina has traveled extensively to almost 50 different countries with various volunteer and work trades opportunities. Some of her adventures include backpacking through Central & South America for a year, volunteering through Southeast Asia, working at an art studio in the Caribbean, farm work in Newfoundland, cleaning rooms at an eco lodge in Baja, Mexico.and a hostel in Nova Scotia (visit The Gypsy Adventures for a Chronological list of all travels).
She is specialized in the art of presenting travel workshops, has certifications in interpretive guiding and wilderness traveling, has in-depth knowledge of tourism development, and has professional experience in tour product evaluations.
She is specialized in the art of presenting travel workshops, has certifications in interpretive guiding and wilderness traveling, has in-depth knowledge of tourism development, and has professional experience in tour product evaluations.
Work Experience
Hostelling International Association - Travel Specialist
Orange County, CA, USA June 2014 - Apr 2016 For the World Travel 101 Seminars based at REI Stores in Orange County, Christina gave workshops based on her travels in Australia, Indonesia, and Central America with a specific focus on environmental issues and cultural complexities. |
La Vida Laguna - Adventure Trip Leader
Laguna Beach, CA, USA Apr 2015 - Jan 2016 Led group tours on outdoor activities such as kayaking and hiking. Educated about the local environment: native vegetation, wetlands, ecosystems, and indigenous food sources. |
Tour Product Development
The Bird 'N Nature Week on Christmas Island
In conjunction with the Christmas Island Tourism Association (CITA), Christina evaluated a tour product: The Bird ‘n Nature Week. This week long excursion had guests participating in hands-on research projects to learn about the unique island flora, fauna, and current island issues.
My literature review focused on the complexities of tourism development particular to islands; the importance of satisfaction surveys for sustainable tourism; the current issues of refugees/asylum seekers on the island (a politically sensitive issue); and the uniqueness of the animal species, native vegetation, and island’s ecology. Through this in-depth exploration, I was able to comprehend the many components involved with the island’s assets and challenges to hypothesize potential future product design.
My data utilized seven years of past surveys to understand the audience and client base. I created a new satisfaction survey to examine in-depth aspects of participant motivations, expectations, past travel experiences and - most importantly - the satisfaction levels of the tour product. I participated in the 7-day excursion to observe the various educational components marketed in the tour product and determine the various levels of participant involvement. Both on an off the island, I executed 15 stakeholder interviews to explore the multi-faceted perspectives on current and future island tourism development.
With the data collected, I was able to determine the product’s level of satisfaction specifically in regards to its educational components and whether this could aid in a better understanding of ecology, island complexities, and conservation efforts. Thus, I recommended several new products that expanded on the original product framework to support CITA in its endeavor to obtain more government funding, to explore a wider audience base in the eco-tourism market, and significantly direct future development planning.
In conjunction with the Christmas Island Tourism Association (CITA), Christina evaluated a tour product: The Bird ‘n Nature Week. This week long excursion had guests participating in hands-on research projects to learn about the unique island flora, fauna, and current island issues.
My literature review focused on the complexities of tourism development particular to islands; the importance of satisfaction surveys for sustainable tourism; the current issues of refugees/asylum seekers on the island (a politically sensitive issue); and the uniqueness of the animal species, native vegetation, and island’s ecology. Through this in-depth exploration, I was able to comprehend the many components involved with the island’s assets and challenges to hypothesize potential future product design.
My data utilized seven years of past surveys to understand the audience and client base. I created a new satisfaction survey to examine in-depth aspects of participant motivations, expectations, past travel experiences and - most importantly - the satisfaction levels of the tour product. I participated in the 7-day excursion to observe the various educational components marketed in the tour product and determine the various levels of participant involvement. Both on an off the island, I executed 15 stakeholder interviews to explore the multi-faceted perspectives on current and future island tourism development.
With the data collected, I was able to determine the product’s level of satisfaction specifically in regards to its educational components and whether this could aid in a better understanding of ecology, island complexities, and conservation efforts. Thus, I recommended several new products that expanded on the original product framework to support CITA in its endeavor to obtain more government funding, to explore a wider audience base in the eco-tourism market, and significantly direct future development planning.
Unique Experiences
Took part in the Lurujarri Heritage Trail Tour for a 10 day trek along the Kimberley Coast line.
|