Foundations of Sustainable Travel

This unit introduces core concepts and everyday practices of sustainable travel, differentiating sustainable and responsible approaches, examining environmental, social, and economic impacts, and presenting practical choices for destinations, transport, lodging, packing, and food. It builds on prior introductory knowledge and prepares students to apply sustainability criteria in trip planning and management in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• analyze the distinctions between sustainable and responsible travel and explain how each influences travel decision-making
• evaluate environmental, social, and economic impacts of travel and estimate basic cost trade-offs associated with sustainable options
• apply criteria to select sustainable destinations, travel providers, transportation modes, and accommodations for given travel scenarios
• demonstrate practical sustainable travel strategies by creating a trip plan that incorporates low-impact transport, mindful packing, family-focused choices, slow travel principles, and sustainable food sourcing