Responsible tourism: the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of empowering children

ABSTRACT

Children empowerment should be a core component of any responsible tourism initiatives and their involvement and support is required to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing on a theory adaptation research approach, this study proposes a framework for children's empowerment for responsible and sustainable tourism, inside and outside of the family context. The study sought to answer two key questions: Why children should be engaged in responsible tourism? How should children be engaged in responsible tourism? In addressing these key questions, the study developed a Future Responsible Tourist Capital Development (FRTCD) framework that advises on a prospective process of developing and nurturing children to have the essential skills, education and experience required for the responsible and sustainable development of the tourism industry. The findings of this study propose a new perspective on children empowerment inside and outside of the family context, and highlight the significance of children as sustainability thinkers, actioners, and transformers. Overall, the study contributes to the growing research on empowerment in sustainability discourse in general and children's empowerment in particular.

KEYWORDS:

• Children empowerment
• responsible tourism
• tourism stakeholders
• sustainability
• SDGs

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hugues Seraphin

Hugues Séraphin, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Event and Tourism Management Studies. He is also an associate research at La Rochelle Business School (France). Hugues Seraphin holds a PhD from the Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (France) and joined The University of Winchester Business School in 2012. He was the Programme Leader of the Event Management programme between 2015 and 2018. Dr Hugues Seraphin has expertise and interests in tourism development and management in post-colonial, post-conflict and post-disaster destinations. He has recently published in Leisure Studies, World Leisure Journal, International Journal of Culture, Tourism, and Hospitality Research; Current Issues in Tourism; Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events; Journal of Business Research; Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes; Tourism Analysis; and Journal of Destination Marketing & Management.

Anca C. Yallop

Anca Yallop, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Business Strategy at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand. She holds a PhD in Marketing (Romania) and has completed her second PhD in Marketing Research Ethics (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand). Dr Anca Yallop specialises in insight management, business strategy and business research methods. Her research has appeared in the International Journal of Market Research, Leisure Studies, Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, World Leisure Journal, International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Journal of Tourism Futures, and Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes.

Siamak Seyfi

Siamak Seyfi, PhD, is a Lecturer in the Geography Research Unit, at the University of Oulu, Finland. Using primarily qualitative and mixed methods his research interests focus on tourism politics and geopolitics, political ecology, environmental perceptions, ethics, resilience and sustainability. Siamak's recent publications have focused on sanctions, boycotts and tourism.

C. Michael Hall

C. Michael Hall, PhD, is a Professor in Tourism and Marketing in the Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and Docent, Department of Geography, University of Oulu, Finland. He also holds positions at Linnaeus University, Sweden and the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the co-editor in chief of Current Issues in Tourism.