Ask any visitor what drew them to Australia and chances are they'll name a natural attraction among their 'must-sees'.

Research by Ms Rosemary Black aims to improve the quality of ecotour guides.

But the quality of their experience will rely heavily on the calibre of their ecotourguide - and with no certification system, the experience can vary wildly.

Berwick-based Monash student Ms Rosemary Black is helping to raise guide standards through her involvement in developing the National Nature and Ecotour Guide Certification Program, on which she is also basing her PhD in the Department of Management.

The project is a closed loop. Ms Black's PhD research will be improving the certification program as it is developed, as well as providing valuable feedback to the program manager in the long-term.

Under the supervision of Dr Betty Weiler, one of the members of the certification program development team, Ms Black will follow guides through the program and respond to their feedback, while working on issues such as how to achieve best practice in guide certification.

Ms Black's interest was fuelled by first-hand experience as a guide. For seven years she led groups on treks through the Himalayas, on cross-country skiing trips in Kosciusko National Park and on cycling holidays in Tasmania.

She became more interested in the professional development of interpretive guiding during her years as a ranger with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and went on to lecture in the subject at Charles Sturt University in Albury.

"Ecotourism can be an amorphous term - anyone can label a service 'ecotourism'," Ms Black says. "Certification would improve the industry by recognising and rewarding qualified guides. It would also benefit the environment by minimising the impact of visitors and provide a more meaningful experience for the visitor through interpretation and education.

" One of Australia's ecotourism attractions - its remoteness - will make reaching some guides a challenge, she says. With this in mind, the certification program will allow guides to present their work on video, attend a regional guide school or have a qualified assessor visit their workplace.

- Kay Ansell

		For more information on the ecotour guide research, contact Ms Rosemary Black at rosemary.black@buseco.monash.edu.au