Business as usual? Barriers to education for sustainability in the tourism curriculum

There is little research on how “sustainability” is embedded within tourism programs. This article draws on findings from a study of education for sustainability within the 1st-year business/tourism curriculum at an Australian regional university. Using an interpretive methodology, interviews took place with 16 academics regarding the barriers in trying to incorporate sustainability. Three key themes were revealed: (1) a crowded curriculum; (2) staff and student resistance to sustainability; and (3) the realities of a complex, multicampus institution. These impediments will be important to consider if we want to engender a more transformational approach to sustainability leadership in tourism education.