Responsible Tourism Education of Younger Consumers: Role of Mini-Clubs in Mountain Resorts

Purpose: The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to discuss whether children can play a role in the sustainability of the tourism industry as a whole. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on a literature review of key terms: sustainable tourism; mountain tourism; children; and empowerment. Findings: Children could potentially play a role in the sustainability of tourism if they are empowered to do so. mini-clubs in mountain resorts could, for instance, contribute to their social empowerment using a catalytic strategy. Practical implications: Practitioners involved in the sustainability of the tourism industry should investigate ways to make the sustainability endeavour of the industry more inclusive. As for academics, they should devote time for research on children, as they are an important stakeholder group for the industry. Originality/value: This paper focusses on children in the tourism industry. There is a dearth of research in this area.