Discuss transferability and application of astro-tourism practices to Kielder Water and Forest Park.

Assessment 1: Project Report (70%)

For this assessment you will produce individually a formal written consultancy report. This assesses learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

Provisional marks and feedback are released within four working weeks of your submission.
Word count: 3000 words
Assessment title: Kielder Water and Forest Park Consultancy Report.
You must choose one of the consultancy projects below:
1: Kielder Water and Forest Park offers luxury Scandinavian style lodges on the lakeside of Kielder Water. Currently, they are increasing their accommodation capacity by building new lodges. You are required to;
• Review current accommodation provision of Kielder Water and Forest Park in terms of rural tourism and ecotourism perspective.
• Review current academic literature, case studies and examples of rural accommodation.
• Examine the current rural tourism market, including the characteristics of tourists, the attractions and amenities they seek, and the trends that affect their decisions.
• Provide recommendations for future accommodation developments.
2: All tourism enterprises and regions are impacted by seasonality whether severely or mildly. In winter, Kielder Water and Forest Park offers an award winning signature event – Winter Wonderland however there is a lack of events in other seasons. Explore the potential of other rural tourism events at the Kielder Water and Forest Park can organise to reduce the impacts of seasonality and improve the business sustainability. You are tasked to;
• Examine the potential for a new rural event at the Kielder Water and Forest Park.
• Review current academic literature and case studies of successful rural events and identify successful practices.
• Discuss transferability and application of these events and practices to Kielder Water and Forest Park.
• Identify (and segment) the market for this kind of offers and provide recommendations.
3. The food and beverage offer is subject to numerous trends and these trends have an impact on tourism and hospitality businesses’ success and profitability. It is critically important for Kielder Water and Forest Park to effectively respond to recent trends in the marketplace. You are tasked to;
• Review current the food and beverage offer of Kielder Water and Forest Park.
• Examine current the literature on key trends in the food and beverage sector of the hospitality industry.
• Evaluate impact of new food and beverage trends on consumer choice and spending.
• Provide recommendations for improvement of the food and beverage offer at Kielder Water and Forest Park.
4. Astro-tourism/dark skies: According to the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), the star-studded skies above Kielder Water & Forest Park are the darkest in England. You are required to;
• Review current academic literature and review of UK/international of activity to support the exploitation of astro-tourism and the dark sky as a tourism asset.
• Explain the advantages and disadvantages of Dark Sky Reserve status and how Kielder Water and Forest Park can economically benefit from astro-tourism.
• Discuss transferability and application of astro-tourism practices to Kielder Water and Forest Park.
• Provide an assessment of the potential markets for astro-tourism in Kielder Water and Forest Park.