Education doesn’t have to stop when traditional schooling is over. Have you always wanted to take a woodworking class or cook a country’s traditional dish? The SAVE Travel Alliance facilitates educational travel experiences for anyone wishing to learn new information or acquire a unique skill-set. This type of travel includes lectures, guided tours by local experts, traditional festivals, cooking and art classes, and trips to archaeological sites. In 2013, 13% of all US leisure travelers took a trip primarily for educational purposes and 56% planned to do so again in the next three years. Our vision at SAVE Travel Alliance is focused on connecting those with the desire to travel to the exciting opportunities at our seven global destinations as they become available.
Educational travelers find several factors important when choosing a trip: destinations on itinerary, access to unique, otherwise inaccessible experiences, interaction with subject experts, traveling with like minded travelers, philanthropic aspects. The purpose of these educational trips is for travelers to improve their understanding and knowledge for personal enjoyment instead of academic credit. This type of educational experience can include the learning of a language, the acquirement of skills such as traditional dances, art, and learning to prepare local culinary dishes. This type of traveler generates economic benefits, helps preserve cultural traditions, and shares positive stories upon arrival which will in turn improve the reputation of the travel destination.
Education is a lifelong journey, and learning can be accomplished in a number of environments. Educational travel experiences include language immersion classes, agro-cooking tours, and lessons in traditional arts and crafts. SAVE Travel helps you continue to grow by matching your interests with the specialized resources of global destinations. Educational travel provides a wealth of opportunities for educators, families, affinity groups, and individual travelers interested in learning more about a subject or geographical area and to learn about the world through local experts.
The SAVE Travel Alliance connects potential travelers to a myriad of educational experiences, such as the opportunity to participate in a sombrero-making workshop in Becal. Sombreros are the emblem of Becal, a quaint community in Campeche, Mexico. The majority of houses of sombrero-making families has a dug-out cave where the humidity smoothes the palm fibers and where family members hand weave sombreros, fans, boxes and bags, just as their mayan ancestors did. For many years, the artisanal practice of the people of Becal has been the weaving of sombreros de jipi, frequently compared to the famous Panama hats and made from different types of palm trees. The making of sombreros is the main activity for locals, providing them with years of prosperity within the hat industry. These hats represent a hard-working community putting in immense effort to create better lives for their families. Travelers have the chance to visit this community, learn about the process of sombrero-making, and take part in the production. The incomparable experience of constructing one’s own sombrero or other artesanal product in the traditional campechano style, where the local artisans show and teach the production process, is an invaluable product of this educational opportunity.
Educational travelers believe that the world is a classroom. Every new activity is packed with chances to learn and grow through real-world experiences and pushing oneself to explore new destinations. Culinary education, for example, is important because food is a foundational part of our lives. It sustains and nourishes us while allowing us to connect and partake in enjoyable culinary occasions. Campeche’s vibrant flavors are perfectly showcased in a 7-day culinary tour. This tour evokes Campeche’s authentic and beautiful culture, elevating this state’s identity through its savory cuisine. This exciting and authentic tour also allows Campeche travelers to fully immerse themselves in Campeche’s deeply rooted Mayan and colonial cultures. Campeche remains largely undiscovered among international travelers, and providing first-hand experiences and education will benefit visitors and locals for years to come.
Contact us if you are interested in learning more about educational travel!
Here at SAVE Travel, we refer to academic travelers as students and faculty in higher education — college, graduate and doctoral programs — that are driven by the desire to participate in travel experiences that have direct interaction with nature, culture and local people in ways that promote knowledge and understanding as well as contribute to the improvement of the destination. These academic travelers appreciate natural, social and cultural value of the places they visit, and they adhere to the principles of sustainable, responsible tourism. The purpose of academic travel is to participate in learning activities that will result in academic credit from formal programs or courses offered by higher education institutions, such as a semester abroad. Academic travelers are important because they generate economic benefits and they enjoy learning about their travel destination and its heritage. Typically when students participate in academic travel, they live with host families, become familiar with the local culture, and experience cultural, language, and academic immersion. According to the Student Marketing Youth Travel Consultancy, student travel continues to grow in importance within global tourism. In the in 1990’s, it represented 15% of the tourism market, experienced an increase to 20% in the last decade, and is expected to reach 25% in the near future.
The typical student traveler is regarded as one that will undoubtedly boost the target country’s economy. These travelers spend more time (53 days) and money ($1,000-$6,000) in their host destination than the average traveler, and frequently spend their money at local businesses. A growing appetite for international experiences, more affordable transportation prices, and ease of travel, are some of what motivates more students to participate in academic travel. According to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Study, 1 in 10 U.S. undergraduates studies abroad before graduating. In the 2013/14 academic year, Latin America and the Caribbean was the fastest growing region for U.S. study abroad with an 8% increase to this part of the world. That is great news for us at the SAVE Travel Alliance, as we have amazing travel experiences in Nicaragua and Campeche, Mexico!
The SAVE Travel Alliance offers an abundance of memorable academic experiences. SAVE Campeche is thrilled to be partnering with The University of San Francisco de Campeche for the offering of academic opportunities! Students will have the opportunity to participate in academic immersion classes at this esteemed public university founded in 1965. Courses will include colonial architecture, archaeology, and Mayan heritage. This partnership will provide students the opportunity to absorb all the benefits of studying at a great university in Mexico and experiencing its academia firsthand. Through the Spanish and Maya Center as well at the Spanish Language Center, SAVE Campeche is excited to connect students with UAC courses in Spanish language, Mexican and Mayan history and cultural heritage, and Mexican art. Students can audit classes or officially study and receive certificates in a chosen field.
Another academic travel opportunity is at the Instituto Campechano in San Francisco de Campeche, which offers a degree in Tourism within its School of Tourism. The school’s mission is to form professional, responsible tourism leaders, capable of participating in improving sustainable tourism and development issues in Mexico while conserving cultural heritage and values. The School of Tourism opened in 1981 and allowed students to become educated in tourism as part of social sciences and administration. Students here will become experts in the field through practical experiences and professional opportunities in the field, as tourism incorporates economic and cultural aspects in order to provide hospitality services to travelers all over the world. Tourism falls within the service sector and contributes to necessary economic development, and those with degrees in tourism can work in places such as government institutions, private tour organizations and freelance agencies.
According to the Unesco Institute for Statistics, the number of students pursuing studies abroad continues to grow. In 2013, over 4.1 million students went abroad to study, up from 2 million in 2000. A study abroad opportunity is invaluable, and students will gain academic credit in pertinent courses, improve in a foreign language, become educated on a new culture, directly interact with local students and professors on a daily basis, and develop into locals themselves. It also succeeds in promoting culture and sustainable development to not only its university, but its local host communities as well.
Want to learn how you as a student or professor can partake in academic travel through SAVE? Contact us!
Scientific travel is a unique type of travel — it is an emerging tourism market and is essential to expanding support and knowledge in destinations that are in need of additional assistance outside their communities. It includes ecological study, marine observation, anthropological research, archaeological expeditions, and many more opportunities.
The goals of the SAVE Travel Alliance are to increase knowledge about the viability of travel experiences in each destination and to facilitate their access to the North American SAVE market, and in the course of doing so, boost the project portfolio and with this, increase both the flow of visitors and thus socio-economic benefits to local communities.
Scientific travel includes experiences that offer the opportunity to participate in research project, for example, the tracking of different bird species in their distinct migratory seasons in their natural habitat. Scientists are typically among the first travelers to spend time in remote parts of the world, performing research, tracking wildlife, or gaining knowledge in conservation practices and can contribute greatly to local communities. The purpose of their trips is to contribute to scientific development on a global level and to acquire local scientific knowledge in the specific destination. Their importance in the destination is to generate economic benefits and contribute to the research, protection, and conservation of a region’s heritage.
There is no shortage of scientific opportunities potential travelers can find through SAVE Travel, and those seeking experiences beneficial to their professional and academic development will be satisfied with their findings in our seven destinations! These richly diverse parts of the world are filled with biological research centers, nature reserves, and biodiversity tours. Campeche, for example, is well-known for its ancient and ethical beekeeping practices, and both tours and research are available in several communities. In addition to chemistry and pharmaceutical research opportunities and jaguar tracking throughout tropical forests, Campeche is home to lagoons housing their very own ecosystems. These lagoons are home to key biological ecosystems with an abundance flora and fauna. A potential scientific opportunity for traveling researchers is to assist the Via Delphi Institute, a conservation group which seeks to comprehend and preserve the dolphins along the Gulf Coast.
Want to learn more about scientific travel? Contact us!
Welcome to the SAVE Travel Blog! This is a space for anyone interested in sustainable travel to explore, acquire essential tips and become educated on SAVE’s global destinations and activities. We are thrilled to feature destination highlights, unforgettable travel tips and stories, and informative news coverage on our respective destinations.
SAVE Themes
SAVE stands for Scientific, Academic, Volunteer, and Educational travel. These four themes work together to connect travelers to destinations and enhance sustainable travel experiences all over the world. Scientific travel is necessary in order to expand knowledge in communities in need of additional assistance. Knowledge acquired while partaking in academic travel positively influences students by allowing them to become immersed in local cultures and remember their experiences for years to come. Volunteer travel is a rewarding way for travelers to directly influence local communities in need. Education doesn’t end when a student finishes school. SAVE travel implements travel experiences for any person wishing to education themselves on a refreshing new topic or an exciting skillset.
Destinations
SAVE matches travelers with destinations in need of positive and responsible tourism with the goal of improving the economic situation of local communities, and its vision is focused on creating a network of networks. SAVE Centers are clearing houses for SAVE activities, and seek to globally connect potential or developing global destinations to sustainable travel markets. We presently have seven amazing destinations spanning several continents and inviting travelers to experience just what them so unforgettable. These locations each bring their own customs and richness to SAVE Travel, but they all have the same goal of promoting sustainable tourism and bringing in passionate travelers to their nations.
Who’s Involved
There are three groups involved in SAVE that are crucial to its success as a sustainable travel entity. Our SAVE Sending Organizations include study abroad programs, culinary groups, birding and archaeological associations that sending travelers to SAVE destinations to participate in the travel experience that aligns with their travel needs. SAVE Centers are the global clearinghouses for travel ideas in their respective country. These are the go-to places to glean travel information on each global destination, and our travelers go through our SAVE centers in order to have memorable and positive travel experiences. Our SAVE Receiving Organizations in each nation are essential in facilitating travel activities that positively influence their local communities. SAVE would simply not be complete without its helpful onsite organizations. These groups have the responsibility of connecting our SAVE travelers with meaningful sustainable travel moments. Each SAVE Receiving Organization specializes in a scientific, academic, volunteer, or educational theme and works with specific communities to provide knowledge and resources to local businesses and develop ideal tourism experiences. The receiving organizations thrive by teaching marketable skills and preserving community culture and tradition and working with natural resources to produce unforgettable SAVE Travel moments.
Contact us with any questions or input you have about about SAVE Travel!
Why choose SAVE Campeche? Campeche is a gorgeous SAVE destination that offers a vast array of culture through wildlife, scientific research, arts, food, and Mayan influence. Located on Mexico’s idyllic Yucatán Peninsula, Campeche is a state nestled on the Gulf of Mexico and beautifully preserved in its Mayan and colonial history that is lesser-known by international tourists. Campeche is experiencing an exciting surge of visitors and authentically represents the four themes of SAVE: Scientific, Academic, Volunteer, and Educational travel.
History
Campeche is a Mexican oasis off the beaten tourist path, luring travelers with its old world charm and lovely sights. Campeche is perfect for SAVE travelers who are driven by the desire to participate in experiences that allow them to directly interact with Campeche’s lush nature, fascinating culture, and welcoming people. SAVE Campeche was created with the purpose of attracting the four tourism components of SAVE — Scientific, Academic, Volunteer, and Academic — to this off the beaten path destination. The goal is to help boost economic and tourism development in the State of Campeche with the objective of transforming it into a global tourist destination. Campeche is an optimal region to implement a SAVE Center due to its rich variety of cultural and natural resources.
Goals
SAVE Campeche’s goal is focused around creating network of networks designed to connect communities in Campeche to sustainable travel markets with the hope of benefitting the local communities. As travel and tourism continue to grow, it is important that those with the desire to travel can responsibly access exciting opportunities in Campeche as they become available.SAVE Campeche’s vision is to match the vast number of travel providers, educational institutions, and research organizations interested in scientific, academic, volunteer and educational travel with travel markets that have community development needs.
Opportunities
There is no shortage of scientific opportunities in Campeche. This state is filled with biological research centers, nature reserves, and biodiversity tours. It’s also famous for its meliponiculture, which is an ancient practice of managing native stingless beehives. SAVE Campeche is proud to partner with The University of San Francisco de Campeche for the offering of academic opportunities! Students will have the opportunity to participate in university classes such as colonial architecture, archaeology, and Mayan heritage. This partnership will provide students the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of studying at an esteemed university in a charming Mexican city. Campeche is also an ideal location to engage in volunteer opportunities. Volunteers can contribute by preparing for an annual birding festival, baking Pan de Pomuch at a village bakery, or teaching English at local schools where native instruction is lacking. If interesting educational experiences are what you desire, Campeche provides an abundance of them! Communities within Campeche specialize in artisan crafts, savory cuisine, stunning birding opportunities, and no shortage of cultural and religious festivals.
