Empowering Children: A Path toward Sustainable Tourism in Emerging Countries

Responsible tourism is a current theme in the line of work on sustainable development alternatives, both ecological and economical and social and societal. The concept has received very little attention from researchers in emerging countries and even less when exploring the weight and role of children in understanding, adopting and initiating attitudinal change toward sustainable tourism. First, this chapter examines the knowledge of the dimensions of responsible tourism and their integration into a process of child empowerment. The qualitative study results with 19 children aged between 6 and 15 years show a lack of understanding of the components and scope of the concept among younger children, while recognition of ecological considerations among older children is relatively high. Nevertheless, children of all ages show a willingness to become active agents of change in their immediate environment if supported by the community. The results also show that children's reflexivity can be strengthened through education for sustainable development (ESD) while allowing them to occupy the space and place necessary for their empowerment regarding ecology and tourism.