Chapter 8: Transformational Education for Sustainable Tourism in Middle-Schools

This paper asserts that sustainable tourism education is an issue of extreme importance, especially for young adolescents, ages 10 to 12. Despite little intersection between middle-school education and tourism education, these two fields can become natural allies. Today's preteens not only influence their parent's tourism choices but will shape tomorrow's tourism, both as tourists and as hosts. This study is addressing the following research questions: if transformational school trips with tourism sustainability education proposes improve or enhance students' confidence and initiative, and how middle school individuals can become familiar with responsible and sustainable tourism and act upon it. Thus, the conceptual framework offered in this article is intended to contribute to a more systematic, programmatic, theory-based approach to the study of education for sustainable tourism in middle schools, and that by empowering students through travel. Results suggest that empowering middle-school individuals is halfway to achieve tourism sustainability goals.