Re-thinking travel, rediscovering home – exploring Climate Friendly Holidays
We worked with almost 50 students across Levels 5, 6 and 7. In groups, they developed fantastic presentations about the benefits, opportunities and challenges of climate-friendly and flight-free holidays. The project was a big team effort! It was a pleasure to work with the students and lecturers at Fife College, the judging panel, and Welcome to Fife.
In this blog post, we give some background to the project and a snapshot of the insights the students shared.
At the start of February, Anca Marcantonio, Curriculum Manager, Fife College and I visited all classes to introduce the project. We gave details of the project brief and signposted helpful resources. We also announced that there would be a competition, with prizes for 1st and 2nd place!
As part of the project, Level 7 students also had a class visit and Q&A with El Spanggaard, Tourism Officer in Fife Council’s Welcome to Fife team. The students were able to ask lots of questions about Welcome to Fife’s work and El’s own tourism career journey.
The student groups researched and created their presentations with support from Fife College Travel & Tourism lecturers. The lecturers encouraged them and helped keep them on track. Then, Fife College lecturers had the challenge of shortlisting seven groups to present to our panel of judges.
At the end of February, Anca and I were joined on the judging panel by Emma Cornforth (Travel & Tourism Lecturer, Fife College), Chris Kent (Board Member, Greener Kirkcaldy) and Lisa Wilson (Sustainable Tourism Assessor, Green Tourism). It was a fantastic morning hearing from the students.
Chris summed up the enthusiasm of the panel: “The quality of the presentations was a massive credit to the students and staff. The sheer range of low environmental impact holiday options they identified in Scotland was truly inspiring. I now just need to work out which one to do first!”
What students told us
Students outlined the emission statistics from different modes of mass transit, demonstrating that aviation emissions are considerably higher than travelling by train, coach, or ferry per km.
The carbon footprint of the tourism sector goes beyond individual travel choices and includes construction, goods and services, accommodation and food. However, transport is the largest source of emissions.
Students also considered why we should feel motivated to choose climate-friendly holidays? They highlighted the impacts of climate change from increased extreme weather events, to impacts on plants and animals including loss of habitat and risk of species extinction.
We heard about the challenges of choosing climate-friendly holidays. For example, often travelling in more carbon efficient ways takes longer. However, students also recognised there can be value in his. They reminded us that a slow journey can bring a richer experience, taking stops along the way or enjoying the changing landscape as you travel.
By choosing to travel by train, ferry or bus there are other perks too. You can take more luggage with you and avoid the stress of the airport security and lost luggage! And for the animal lovers out there, if you choose to holiday within Scotland or the UK it is easier to bring your pets along.
We heard about innovations like the Great Western Railway’s Class 230 prototype battery-only train, which took its first passengers this year. We also learned about hybrid ferries for the Channel crossing, and longer-term developments like DFDS’ ambitions to develop battery electric vessels.
We also heard that if you are travelling by plane, you can choose to travel by plane less frequently, stay in destinations longer rather than taking multiple short trips, and consider flight routes. These actions can help to reduce aviation’s impact on the climate.
We were spoiled for choice with ideas of climate-friendly travel destinations!
Major cities such as Edinburgh, London and Paris are ideal holiday spots. The Travel & Tourism students identified that coaches were a more affordable way to travel to these nearby cities and make the most of festivals, museums, tourist attractions and shops.
A holiday in the Scottish Highlands has loads to offer adventurers with hiking, camping and kayaking. But it’s also a great destination for those who prefer a quieter holiday to enjoy beautiful scenery or even visit film or tv locations.
Congratulations to the prize-winning student groups: Maisie & Lauren and Jayden, Lacey Grace and Sinead & Alicia. And huge well done to everyone who took part!
Anca reflected on the project saying, “I’m so proud of every single one of our students who took part in this project. I think they were quite nervous at first but their fellow students and panel of experts put them at ease, and they rose to the challenge, presenting lots of creative ideas in a professional and entertaining manner.
“I’d like to thank our friends at Greener Kirkcaldy for giving our students such a great opportunity to broaden their horizons and showcase their talent.”
If you’d like to find out more about climate-friendly travel please check out Flight Free UK.
Katie Reekie, Development Worker (Community Engagement)