Institutional role in shaping the students’ attitude toward sustainable tourism: integration at the personal, socio-economic level

Although tourism has emerged as a driving force of the world economy, its carbon footprint and contribution to world pollution are non-negligible. The anthropause period revealed that a delicate balance between tourism activities and nature is essential. Therefore, educating individuals about the environmental impact of their activities has become necessary, as collective action can drive meaningful progress toward sustainability goals. It is argued that implementing changes at the grassroots level and teaching sustainability subjects at the university level can guide youngsters and involve them in the process of change. The study has surveyed undergraduate students enrolled in hospitality and tourism-related programs in Thai universities to understand the implications of sustainability subjects in their curricula. The students were assessed based on integrating sustainable tourism subjects into the curriculum through experiential learning and by educational visits outside the university for real-time exposure. The study has yielded mixed results, revealing both micro and macro-level transformations. It contributes to the literature by emphasizing the need to develop young students into full-fledged environmental custodians for a greener future.