Global Practices in Sustainable Travel

This unit synthesizes sustainable travel principles through thematic lessons (slow travel, cultural connection, ethical wildlife interactions, and buying local) and international case studies. Students evaluate real-world models and apply best practices to create low-impact, community-centered travel plans that prepare them for careers and advanced study in sustainable tourism.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze sustainable tourism strategies presented in the unit’s country case studies and identify at least five transferable best practices that balance community benefit and environmental protection
• Evaluate travel companies, accommodations, and tour operators using a sustainability-and-ethics rubric and justify selections by scoring at least three providers against established criteria
• Apply principles of slow travel, cultural competence, animal-friendly guidelines, and local economic support to design a complete sample itinerary that minimizes environmental impact and maximizes community benefit
• Demonstrate culturally respectful and animal-friendly traveler behaviors in simulations or role-plays and produce a written reflection that links chosen behaviors to industry standards and local context