Sustainable Tourism Education: An Institutional Approach

Abstract

Many universities around the globe aim to integrate sustainability into their tourism and hospitality curricula following the need for sustainable tourism development. The goal of this chapter is to discuss how sustainability can be implemented into higher tourism education and what changes are necessary within the university’s strategy, organizational structure as well as within the curricula and teaching strategies. Learning for sustainable tourism is not only gaining knowledge about theories related to sustainable tourism but it also calls for changing mind sets and active engagement of the students in matters relating to more sustainable tourism futures. It is concluded that learning also takes place implicitly through the “hidden” curriculum. Staff and educators act as role models for education for sustainable development and students become inspired and motivated by their actions related to sustainability.