Reflections on Travel Education
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Steve Hesse is a longtime traveler. He's backpacked and hitchhiked across multiple countries and traveled with students in his role as a university professor. He's also a senior advisor at RISE Travel Institute. Listen as he discusses his life-altering travel experiences and his approach to travel education.
Host: Amy Hager - Social Media Manager at The RISE Travel Institute
Video and Audio Editing: Romar Dingo - Digital Media and Information Technology Specialist at The RISE Travel Institute
Graphic Design: Shirley Wong - Freelance Art Director
Music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
More episodes from The RISE Traveler: Unpacking Conversations of Sustainable Travel
14 hours ago
Writing the World: Lily Ann's Journey as an Author and Traveler
Author and travel expert Lily Ann Fouts is dedicated to advocating for sustainable and culturally sensitive travel experiences that benefit both travelers and local communities. She was a participant in RISE's Flagship Program, where she earned her certificate in Sustainability and Anti-Oppression in Travel. Additionally, Lily Ann joined RISE's Experiential Journey to Guatemala in 2022.
During her conversation with host Amy Hager, Lily Ann reflects on the invaluable lessons gleaned from the Flagship Program. She highlights the program's comprehensive approach, and discusses how various facets of travel intertwine in complex ways. For instance, she elaborates on the complex balancing act involved in making travel decisions, citing certain examples of activities that harm the environment (eg. airline travel), also benefits the local economy.
Lily Ann also shares how she has reframed the way she thinks about being budget conscious when she travels. She now understands the value in compensating vendors fairly for the product they are producing or selling, and not trying to haggle down to the absolute minimum.
According to Lily, the Experiential Journey was an impactful experience, allowing her to immediately apply the course teachings to real-life situations. Her journey to Guatemala with the RISE Travel Institute provided a singular opportunity to engage with fellow students and foster meaningful discussions, and ultimately led to practical applications of course concepts.
In addition, Lily Ann also delves into her current project, a guidebook centered on responsible travel in Latin America for travelers who seek longer-term Latin American stays in order to nurture strong, long-term connections with locals. She provides suggestions on how to foster these connections in ways that make travelers feel welcome without inadvertently causing resentment or discomfiture within local communities.
Host: Amy Hager - Social Media Manager at The RISE Travel Institute
Video and Audio Editing: Kate Mulvihill - Video and Podcast Producer at The RISE Travel Institute
Graphic Design: Shirley Wong - Freelance Art Director
Music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod (License)
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Oct 16, 2023
Off the Beaten Path: The Dilemma of 'Secret' Destinations
Aurora Christy Oktavia, an Alumni of the RISE Travel Institute's Pilot Program, currently resides in Bali, Indonesia. She recently completed her Master's degree in International Tourism and Hospitality Management at Griffith University in Australia. In her conversation with host Amy Hager, Aurora shared insights into her journey in sustainable tourism, leveraging her educational background in forest conservation and tourism management, as well as her role as a luxury travel agent.
Aurora emphasized the challenges of community-based tourism, pointing out that while mass tourism can be problematic for some destinations, they often have the necessary infrastructure to handle it. Conversely, less frequented, "off the beaten path" locations – like Komodo Island in Indonesia, for example – may struggle due to the lack of infrastructure. She also delved into the concept of "keeping it secret" destinations, where locals prefer not to disclose hidden gems to tourists, underscoring the delicate balance between satisfying traveler curiosity and respecting the desires of local communities.
Aurora credited the RISE Flagship Program with enhancing her ability to ask probing questions, fostering open-mindedness, and shedding light on the complexities of sustainable tourism. She voiced concerns about "greenwashing" in the travel industry, and stressed the importance of long-term sustainability. Her ultimate legacy aspiration is to enhance people's lives through better travel experiences and to foster positive, transformative changes.
Host: Amy Hager - Social Media Manager at The RISE Travel Institute
Video and Audio Editing: Kate Mulvihill - Video and Podcast Producer at The RISE Travel Institute
Graphic Design: Shirley Wong - Freelance Art Director
Music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod (License)
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Sep 18, 2023
Leaving a Legacy of Peace: A Former Government Employee’s Vision for Sustainable Travel
Tracey Ford is the Founder of Local Insights, a social enterprise dedicated to connecting locals with tourists, offering them authentic personal encounters that go well beyond the typical guidebook experience. Previously, Tracey held a government role working with the armed services, where she specialized in coordinating logistics for events with a focus on cultural considerations among attendees.
In this conversation with host Amy Hager, Tracey Ford shares her journey and the unique path that led her to her current role. During this discussion, Amy and Tracey dive into the impact of The RISE Travel Institute's Flagship Certificate Program. This program has played a pivotal role in enhancing Tracey’s comprehension of responsible tourism, cultural sensitivity, and inclusivity.
Tracey’s goal is to create a positive impact on the world through tourism, making it a better place one friendship at a time. She aims to leave behind a legacy of promoting world peace by connecting people from diverse backgrounds.
Host: Amy Hager - Social Media Manager at The RISE Travel Institute
Video and Audio Editing: Kate Mulvihill - Video and Podcast Producer at The RISE Travel Institute
Graphic Design: Shirley Wong - Freelance Art Director
Music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod (License)
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