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Career Compass: Mapping Educational Routes to Sustainable Tourism

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30 Jun 2025

8 Min Read

Taylor's Team (Editor)
IN THIS ARTICLE

Lost at what to study? Discover your direction with our Career Compass! Explore opportunities in the Sustainable Tourism industry to map your educational path.

Sustainable tourism is reshaping the way we experience the world. It's no longer just about sightseeing — it’s about travelling with purpose. As global concerns around climate change, overtourism, and cultural preservation continue to rise, this industry is becoming increasingly essential.

 

At its core, sustainable tourism is about protecting the environment, valuing cultural heritage, and ensuring that tourism creates long-term benefits for the people and places we visit.

What is Sustainable Tourism?

But what exactly is sustainable tourism, and why should you, as a high schooler or high school graduate, consider a career in this industry?

 

The answer lies in the growing demand for responsible, inclusive, and regenerative approaches to travel. Professionals in sustainable tourism design and manage experiences that conserve nature, support local economies, and celebrate diverse cultures, making tourism more resilient and relevant for today’s world.

What are the careers in Sustainable Tourism?

From community-based tourism and eco-lodge development to sustainability auditing and digital storytelling, this industry offers a wide range of meaningful career pathways. Whether you’re drawn to environmental conservation, cultural advocacy, or hospitality innovation, there’s a place for your skills and interests in sustainable tourism. Let’s explore five exciting roles that are helping shape the future of travel and the educational routes that can lead you there.

1. Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Coordinator

Two young women having a friendly conversation in a local cultural setting
What does this career do?

 

A Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Coordinator works with rural and indigenous communities to develop travel experiences rooted in local traditions, stories, and environments. They help communities plan and lead activities like homestays, cultural workshops, or nature walks, ensuring tourism is community-led and low-impact. Their role also includes guiding communities on how to manage tourism income sustainably and protect their way of life from the pressures of mass tourism.

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia (ECOMY): Focuses on nature-based tourism and indigenous community partnerships.
  • Borneo Eco Tours: This social enterprise created the Kiulu Farmstay in Sabah, working directly with local villages to establish homestays, nature experiences, and community-run services.
  • Responsible Borneo (REBORN): A platform and consultancy that promotes responsible travel to Borneo’s rural communities, including cultural treks, homestays, and storytelling tours with indigenous hosts.
 
Who is this career for? 

 

This career is a good fit for those who are interested in rural tourism, hands-on project work, and community planning. If you’re someone who values cultural authenticity, likes coordinating with different people, and wants to make sure tourism brings real benefits to the people hosting it, this role offers a practical and purposeful path.

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Geography, Economics, and Bahasa Malaysia.
  • Pre-U: Consider a foundation in either Arts or a diploma in Communication. Cambridge A Level and AUSMAT are excellent options too.
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in International Tourism or Hospitality Management.
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certifications inenvironmental studies, impact measurement, social research, and public policy can enhance your expertise.

2. Sustainable Travel Influencer

Young woman filming with a camera in an outdoor travel destination, promoting sustainable tourism.
What does this career do?

 

A Sustainable Travel Influencer creates educational content that promotes eco-conscious travel, cultural appreciation, and responsible behaviours. They use platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok to highlight meaningful travel experiences, and often collaborate with tourism boards or ethical brands to encourage mindful tourism choices.

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • Klook: Travel platforms that feature low-impact activities such as nature hikes, cultural workshops, and eco-friendly stays for conscious travellers.
  • Gaya Travel: A regional travel and lifestyle magazine that features cultural destinations, eco-tourism stories, and heritage-based experiences across Southeast Asia.
  • Rooted: A storytelling initiative that centres on responsible travel, local voices, and cultural preservation across Asia through blogs, podcasts, and multimedia features.
Who is this career for? 

 

This career is a good fit for those who are passionate about storytelling, digital content, and responsible travel. If you’re someone who’s active on social media, enjoys connecting with different audiences, and wants to influence how people explore the world with care and purpose, this role blends creativity with impact.

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Visual Arts, Science, and Geography.
  • Pre-U: Consider a foundation in either Arts or diploma in Communication. Cambridge A Level and AUSMAT are excellent options too.
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication or Digital Media Production.
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certifications in digital heritage, XR storytelling, sustainable entrepreneurship or impact business can be beneficial.

3. Cultural Sustainability & Tourism Specialist

Group of young adults engaging in conversation outside a mosque, highlighting cultural heritage and community connection in a travel setting.
What does this career do?

 

A Cultural Sustainability & Tourism Specialist collaborates with governments, tourism boards, and heritage organisations to ensure that tourism development supports cultural preservation such as safeguarding endangered languages, protecting historical sites, or ensuring cultural practices aren’t diluted by commercial tourism. They often influence long-term plans that guide how destinations manage their cultural assets responsibly.

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI): Manages the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. Promotes cultural mapping, heritage interpretation, and tourism strategies that preserve Penang’s multicultural identity.
  • Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC): Engages specialists in heritage tourism, cultural policy, and destination planning that respects local traditions and indigenous cultures.
  • Sarawak Tourism Board: Integrates indigenous culture, traditional festivals, and storytelling into destination strategies. Often collaborates with Iban, Bidayuh, and other groups to promote culturally respectful tourism.
 
Who is this career for? 

 

This career is a great fit for those who are passionate about cultural identity, language preservation, and ethical tourism. If you care about how development affects communities and want to help protect local heritage while creating positive tourism experiences, this path could be for you. 

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Business, Economics, History and Geography.
  • Pre-U: Consider a foundation in either Arts or Science. Cambridge A Level and AUSMAT are excellent options too.
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in International Tourism Management or Mass Communication.
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certifications in digital cultural heritage, decolonial and indigenous tourism studies, or regenerative tourism can enhance your expertise.

4. Impact Auditor

Two women reviewing ESG data on a laptop in a professional meeting environment
What does this career do?

 

An Impact Auditor evaluates eco-tourism businesses to ensure they follow recognised sustainability standards such as Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), EarthCheck, or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. This involves conducting site assessments, reviewing business practices, and verifying that operations meet ESG criteria. Their work helps promote transparency and builds trust in tourism providers committed to responsible and sustainable practices

 

Where can you work in this career?
  • SGS Malaysia: A global company that provides testing, inspection, and certification services including sustainability checks for businesses in tourism and hospitality.
  • Bureau Veritas Malaysia: Helps companies across different sectors meet international standards for quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.
  • Control Union Malaysia: Focuses on auditing and certifying sustainable practices in industries like tourism, agriculture, and supply chains.
 
Who is this career for? 

 

This career is a good fit for anyone who is passionate about accountability, sustainability, and making sure things are done right. If you’re detail-oriented, enjoy research, data, and fieldwork, whether it’s checking how eco-friendly a hotel really is, evaluating carbon footprints, or reviewing how tourism businesses treat their workers, this role offers purpose with precision.

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Business, Economics, and Biology.
  • Pre-U: Consider a diploma in Accounting or ACCA. Cambridge A Level and AUSMAT are excellent options too.
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business or Law.
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certifications in AI, blockchain, sustainable finance, or green taxonomy can be beneficial. 

Not sure if this path is right for you? Talk with a counsellor to explore how your interests can fit into the world of sustainable tourism — and find out which programmes can help you get there. They’re here to help you map it out.

 

TALK TO US

5. Eco-lodge Entrepreneur

Women exploring eco-lodge architecture in a rural setting.
What does this career do?

 

An Eco-lodge Entrepreneur plans, builds, and manages environmentally conscious accommodations, often located in nature-rich areas like forests, coasts, or highlands. These lodges are designed to minimise environmental impact by using sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and ethical sourcing practices. 

 

Where can you work in this career?
 
Who is this career for? 

 

This career suits those who are drawn to eco-tourism, purposeful travel, and creating nature-inspired stays that don’t just serve guests but support the planet and local communities too. If you're passionate about protecting the environment and want to build a business that makes a difference, this role combines sustainability, creativity, and impact.

 

What to study for this career?
  • High School: Focus on subjects like Biology, Business and Economics.
  • Pre-U: Consider a foundation in Business or a diploma in its field. Cambridge A Level and AUSMAT  are excellent options too.
  • Undergraduate: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business, International Tourism or Hospitality Management
  • Beyond: Advanced degrees or certification in climate risk management in hospitality, sustainable finance and impact investing, or environmental governance can be beneficial.

Conclusion

Embarking on a career in sustainable tourism opens up exciting opportunities — from designing eco-friendly stays and managing community-based experiences to creating content that promotes conscious travel. Whether you're interested in cultural preservation, the environment, digital media, or business, there’s a place for you in this evolving field.

 

By focusing on the right subjects in high school and pursuing relevant degrees and skills, you can turn your interest in travel and sustainability into a career that benefits both people and the planet. The future of tourism is being reimagined, and your choices today can help shape a more responsible way to explore the world.

Inspired by the career options in this article? Book a session with our education counsellor and take the first step towards your future.
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