Road Scholar – one of the world’s leading providers of educational travel for older adults – has announced a comprehensive sustainability initiative.
The development forms part of the company’s ongoing effort to minimise the environmental impact of and enhance cultural awareness on their programmes. This project also reinforces Road Scholar’s commitment to responsible travel practices, following the organisation’s carbon offset pledge in 2022.
In a 2023 survey, Road Scholar asked participants to rank their greatest international and national issues. Some 43% chose climate change as their number one concern, compared with “the divide in political discourse in America” (29%) and “global unrest” (12%).
Furthermore, 73% of respondents said that they take into account a company or organisation’s stance on protecting the environment when purchasing a project or service.
Key components of Road Scholar’s sustainability initiative include: waste reduction, staff training and participant education, sustainability audits and goal setting, organisational alignment, and compliance with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) tour operator guidelines.
Road Scholar will prioritise partners and suppliers who align with these goals and are educated on sustainable practices. They will also continue their partnerships with Climeco and Sustainable Travel International to support carbon offset contributions.
The organisation places a strong emphasis on educating both Group Leaders and programme participants to ensure that interactions with local cultures are respectful. Road Scholar participants receive guidelines on visitor etiquette before visiting Indigenous sites, while Group Leaders provide valuable context to foster understanding and respect.
Meghan Flynn, Associate Vice President of Program Strategy at Road Scholar, said: “When tourism is done right, everybody wins. It not only provides economic benefits but also allows local communities to take pride in their heritage.”
“I am thrilled to lead our sustainability efforts, which will not only enhance our programs but also empower our participants to engage responsibly with the communities they visit,” said Bryn Geddes, Road Scholar’s newly-appointed Program Sustainability Manager.
“The response from our participants was clear: climate change is a major concern for them, and they’re paying attention to what we’re doing to combat it.”
