The Goal of the Developing Naturally home page is to provide field tested resources that will enhance communities throughout the world. The materials provided here have been developed around the concepts of: Discovery, Mutuality, Locality, Historicity, Potentiality, and Enhancement. Included for downloading at no fee are "How to" guides on Nature-based Community Development, Bed and Breakfast Development, and Recycling.
These publications are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Click on the icon and get the free Adobe Reader.
Travel ecology is community tourism planning approach uniting the themes of social development and ecological sustainability. The travel ecology approach is based upon six broadly conceived principles: discovery, mutuality, locality, historicity, potentiality, and enhancement.
The Developing Naturally Slide Show is designed to give insight into sustainable community development models, efforts and related research that is ongoing at the Strom Thurmond Institute.
Developing Naturally: An Exploratory Process for Nature-Based Community Tourism is a manual designed to assist communities in planning for development. Topics include: why do we want to develop, taking our inventory, financing and market identification, management techniques, goal setting, and marketing. Chapters may be downloaded separately.
Rozvoj Prirodzenym Spôsobom: Proces Rozvoja Prírodného Turizmu v Komunite: A Slovak adaptation of the Developing Naturally Community Development Manual created through support from U.S. Peace Corps, ACDI/VOCA and Strom Thurmond Institute. Topics include: why do we want to develop, taking our inventory, financing and market identification, management techniques, goal setting, and marketing. Chapters may be downloaded separately using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Taller - Análisis y Evaluación de un Destino Turístico para la Implementación de Proyectos Sostenibles de Desarrollo.
A process outline in Spanish (en Español) of Developing Naturally: An Exploratory Process for Nature-Based Community Tourism with significant modifications by the Universidad de Ciencias Comerciales of Managua, Nicaragua. These guidelines are designed to assist communities in planning for development. Topics include: inventory analysis, management techniques, and goal setting.
Nature-Based Tourism Enterprises was developed to assist individuals in developing nature-based businesses. Topics include: planning and development, defining your service, start-up costs, administration, operations, creation of an Internet presence, and marketing.
A Slovak translation of Nature-Based Tourism Enterprises provided through the efforts of the Ekonomická Fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela, Slovak Republic. This Manual was developed to assist individuals in developing nature-based businesses. Topics include: planning and development, defining your service, start-up costs, administration, operations, creation of an Internet presence, and marketing.
A Chinese translation of Nature-Based Tourism Enterprises was developed to assist individuals in developing nature-based businesses. This is available in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters. Topics include: planning and development, defining your service, start-up costs, administration, operations, creation of an Internet presence, and marketing.
A Turkish translation of Nature-Based Tourism Enterprises provided through the efforts of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Mugla University, Fethiye-Mugla, Turkey. This Manual was developed to assist individuals in developing nature-based businesses. Topics include: planning and development, defining your service, start-up costs, administration, operations, creation of an Internet presence, and marketing.
A Ukrainian translation of Nature-Based Tourism Enterprises provided through the efforts of the Rivne State Technical University, Rivne, Ukraine. This Manual was developed to assist individuals in developing nature-based businesses. Topics include: planning and development, defining your service, start-up costs, administration, operations, creation of an Internet presence, and marketing.
A Spanish translation of Nature-Based Tourism Enterprises provided through the efforts of the Universidad de Especialidades Turísticas (UCT) of Quito, Ecuador. This Manual was developed to assist individuals in developing nature-based businesses. Topics include: planning and development, defining your service, start-up costs, administration, operations, creation of an Internet presence, and marketing.
Bed and Breakfast Development Manual designed to provide assistance in planning a B&B business. Topics include: Planning and Development, Administration, Operation, and Promotion.
Bed and Breakfast Development Manual.
An adaptation of South Carolina Bed and Breakfast Development Manual with significant modifications by Slovak NGO VOKA.
It is designed to provide assistance in planning a B&B business. Topics include: Planning and Development, Administration, Operation, and Promotion.
Implementando un Bed and Breakfast: Parametros para su desarrollo: An adaptation in Spanish (en Español) of the South Carolina Bed and Breakfast Development Manual with significant modifications by the Universidad de Ciencias Comerciales of Managua, Nicaragua.
It is designed to provide assistance in planning a B&B business. Topics include: Planning and Development, Administration, Operation, and Promotion.
Bed and Breakfast Development Manual.
An adaptation of South Carolina Bed and Breakfast Development Manual with significant modifications by the Polish Agricultural Extension Service in cooperation with ACDI/VOCA Poland.
It is
designed to provide assistance in planning a B&B business. Topics include: Planning and Development, Administration, Operation, and Promotion.
- A Guide for Bed & Breakfasts
(Turkish Translation)
Bed and Breakfast Development Manual.
An adaptation of South Carolina Bed and Breakfast Development Manual with translation provided by the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Mugla University, Fethiye-Mugla, Turkey.
It is designed to provide assistance in planning a B&B business. Topics include: Planning and Development, Administration, Operation, and Promotion.
A process outline in Spanish (en Español) for the development of micro-enterprises in the field of tourism lodging, with translation by the
Universidad de Especialidades Turísticas (UCT) of Quito, Ecuador.
Recycling for the Hospitality Industry is a guide for instituting recycling programs in hotel and motel properties. Information is provided on organizing recycling teams, waste audits, recycling centers, flow plans, and waste reduction.
Recycling for the Hospitality Industry is a guide for instituting recycling programs in hotel and motel properties, with translation provided by the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Mugla University, Fethiye-Mugla, Turkey. Information is provided on organizing recycling teams, waste audits, recycling centers, flow plans, and waste reduction.
International Outreach programs promote community development through the facilitation of democracy. The philosophy is to structure programs that push beyond basic sustainability and explore the interrelationships of community, ecology and travel. (See Partnerships and Sponsors.)
L'Affiche Française
Maurice & Laya JAKUBOWICZ assisted in the development of "Nature Based Tourism Enterprises" by providing access to art work at their gallery.
Yusuf Tuvi Gallery Yusuf Tuvi, renown photographer of Turkey, has contributed the use of his photographs for the Turkish translations of these publications.
Slovensky Raj Ladislav Jirousek, renown photographer of Slovakia, has contributed the use of his photographs for the Slovak translations of these publications.
Dr. Tom Potts, Professor Emeritus, former Director of Developing Naturally, associate of the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government & Public Affairs, and a Cooperative Extension Service Specialist, has recently retired. Tom's major area of interest was the improvement of community environments and quality of life. Vita. As a Fulbright scholar he taught Travel Ecology and Community Tourism Planning in Slovakia. Tom has assisted many villages outside the USA. In addition to his community development work in the states, Tom has held workshops in Ecuador, Venezuela, Poland, and Slovakia. His manuals have been translated into several languages and utilized by communities around the world. Dr. Potts has received a University Board of Trustees 2001 Award for Faculty Excellence because of the outstanding contributions he has made to his field of study.
Dr. Tom Potts, Professor Emeritus, former Director of Developing Naturally, associate of the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government & Public Affairs, and a Cooperative Extension Service Specialist, has recently retired. Tom's major area of interest was the improvement of community environments and quality of life. 
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