Sustainable Travel
Defining Sustainable Travel
Travel comes with costs and benefits – both to the traveler and to the local communities (people, environment, economy). Being a sustainable, responsible traveler comes with a responsibility to be both conscious and conscientious about the impact we are making in the world. In an ideal world, our travels and actions while traveling will make the world a BETTER place. Maryville College Scots Abroad are committee to contributing positively to the world around us.
Sustainable Tourism is defined by the UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization) as:
“Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”
Sustainable Travel has three pillars:
Sociocultural Sustainability: is minimizing the negative impacts of travel and focusing on the positive ones, like promoting cultural exchange, encouraging interaction, and preserving local cultures and traditions.
Economic Sustainability: We see economic sustainability as building linkages with local partners and reducing leakages of funds from the local community - in other words, keeping the money local.
Environmental Sustainability: is a focus on conserving the natural and built environment and minimizing the impact on and preserving the world for future generations.
When we talk about sustainable travel on an individual level, sustainable travel is often labeled Responsible Travel. In education abroad delivery, we want to pay attention to the way in which we, as short-term or long-term visitors, interact with our host destinations.
There are many ways to take intentional actions to make a difference in the world. Here are some of our top priorities.
Public-Facing Commitments
Faculty-led Program Priorities
Carry Forward - Sustainable Travel Action Plan
Commitment to Sustainability
We are committed to educating student/leader travelers on sustainable travel practices, collaborating with external and internal campus partners, and practicing actively sustainable travel principles. Some of the ways we do this include:
Educate
Sustainable Travel Principles in Pre-departure orientation (CGE Webinar)
a. Carbon emission information & Carbon calculator (CGE tracking & available to students)
b. UN Sustainable Development Goals introductory information
c. Resources available on sustainability and international education
d. Information on MC sustainability efforts and priorities
Published Commitments
Published Fit.Green.Happy Travel designation information. All faculty-led programs have this designation
Collaborate
MC Faculty are asked to collaborate with partners to ensure local hiring, paid living wages, and hiring across genders.
We request, where possible, to use locally-owned hotels and restaurants
We ideally want to expand our tourism footprint - go off the tourism beaten track to have a greater economic impact on locals
Use local transportation where possible - prioritize lower-carbon means of travel for physical mobility or human powered alternatives, recognizing that this must be balanced with cost, safety and other factors.
Seek mutual commitment to sustainability in all relationships
We ask partners to identify what actions are being taken to ensure sustainability
We are committed to being sensitive to the impact of our travel on the local community
Practice
Sustainable Practices embedded in Student Travel Conduct Policy & Travel Study Program Proposals (Prioritize Sustainability in Faculty Proposals & Course Topics)
Establish operational practices that align with program goals to have a positive impact on Climate Change & Sustainability.
Require student to bring water bottles and ban single-use plastics from your programs. (water bottles provided)
Balance cost-effectiveness with Carbon Offsetting options.
Seek partners who build in carbon offsetting
Choose destinations factoring in Co2 usage
Budget carbon offsetting
Offer Sustainability Action Days.
E.g. in Spring 2023, the CGE partnered with Friends of the Woods to help on Campus Woods clean up days. (2 dates) [SDG 13]
Travel Gear Swap – encourage REUSE by getting travel gear donations and allowing students to swap items for gear they need to travel. [SDG 12]
Buy local – use small locally owned hotels, eat at locally owned restaurants.
Get off the beaten path
Local Living Moments: STAY LOCAL IMMERSION experiences are designed to get students off the bus and experience the local city by interacting with local citizens and places in an active exchange. Each location is selected to bring a variety of new encounters to students, allowing them to experience the city from the perspective of a local. (SDG4: Quality Education - Local learning opportunities & Enhanced understanding of local history and traditions)
Build programs that knowledge share across borders
Develop mutually beneficial long-term relationships with host communities