Depok-The Tourism Business Management Student Association of the Universitas Indonesia (HIMTA UI), through the Career Development Department, held “Tourism Upgrading Class 1 2026 X SITE UI” to improve the quality and preparedness of students for the industrial world. The online event, held on May 9, 2026, served as a platform to develop students’ insights into sustainability issues in the global tourism industry.
Carrying the spirit of developing soft skills and understanding the industry, this activity presented three inspiring speakers, namely Muchamad Ikhsan Destian from Pandawara Group; Agung Yoga Asmoro, Researcher Flinders University, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; and Prof. Noel Robert Scott, Dili Institute of Technology. The Tourism Upgrading Class 1 2026 activity was present as a response to the needs of the modern tourism industry which increasingly emphasizes the implementation of sustainability management. As the green economy and sustainable tourism develop, students are expected to be able to create innovative, ethical, inclusive, and environmentally friendly industry practices.
In his presentation, Prof. Noel delivered a presentation titled “The Evolution of Sustainability: Moving Beyond Greenwashing to Authentic Sustainable Practices,” which highlighted the development of sustainability concepts in the global tourism industry. He explained that sustainability issues are an urgent need that will determine the future of the global tourism industry. Prof. Noel said, “The tourism sector has a crucial role in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly regarding sustainable economic growth, cultural preservation, environmental protection, and poverty reduction.”
The material presented by Prof. Scott is relevant to several sustainable development goals, such as SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through the development of an inclusive tourism economy, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the management of sustainable tourism destinations, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through waste reduction and responsible industrial practices, and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through the reduction of carbon emissions in the transportation and tourism sectors. In addition, strengthening local community participation in tourism development also reflects the implementation of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration between government, communities, academics, and industry players.
Furthermore, Prof. Noel outlined the various major challenges facing the modern tourism industry, ranging from overtourism, increasing carbon emissions from air transportation, to weak destination governance. “Uncontrolled tourist growth can put significant pressure on vulnerable areas such as national parks, tourist villages, and local cultural centers,” he said.
In addition to discussing global challenges, Prof. Noel also shared various examples of sustainable tourism practices in Indonesia. One example is the development of the Ligota Beach Festival in Flores, which has successfully expanded the economic impact of tourism to areas beyond Labuan Bajo. He also presented local community training projects in community-based tourism development, whale shark tourism management in Sumbawa, and strengthening the economic well-being of women in Wae Lolos Village through local culinary products and cultural attractions. Furthermore, Prof. Noel also presented a tourism data digitization project through the SIPARI system in the Raja Ampat UNESCO Global Geopark. The system was developed to strengthen data-driven tourism governance, increase transparency, and help local governments more accurately measure the economic impact and sustainability of the tourism sector.
Through these case studies, students are encouraged to understand that sustainability is not only related to environmental conservation, but also includes empowering local communities, transparent governance, strengthening community economies, and the use of technology to support data-driven decision-making.
(Photo: Discussion session with speaker during the event)
Meanwhile, Agung discussed the challenges of implementing sustainable tourism in Indonesia through his research on tourist villages. He highlighted the phenomenon of “scoreism,” where tourism success is measured more by symbolic indicators than by its tangible impact on local communities. He argued that the concept of sustainability should stem from community needs and address real-world problems.
Meanwhile, Ikhsan also emphasized the importance of collective action by young people in protecting the environment. Drawing on the Pandawara Group’s experience in addressing waste and river pollution issues, Ikhsan explained that social media can be an effective tool for raising awareness and driving real social change.
This spirit was further realized through SITE UI 2026, which presented interactive seminars, content creation workshops, and a content creation competition as a series of integrated activities. This activity was designed to encourage the younger generation to not only understand sustainable tourism issues through awareness, but also to be able to convey sustainability messages creatively through digital media. In the workshop, SITE UI presented travel content creator Naura Azaria as a resource person and competition judge. Naura shared strategies for creating digital content that is not only visually appealing but also able to provide an educational impact to the audience about the importance of being a responsible traveler. The understanding gained by participants was then applied through a content creation competition themed sustainable tourism and responsible traveler. This competition was attended by 17 individual participants and 25 groups, with a total of 92 participants.
In her remarks, the Head of the Tourism Business Management Study Program, Anisatul Auliya, S.ST.Par., M.Par., stated that an understanding of sustainability is a crucial competency for tourism students in today’s global era. She believes the future tourism industry requires human resources who are aware of the social and environmental impacts of every tourism activity. “Tourism today needs attention regarding how we maintain a balance between economic needs, environmental preservation, and community well-being. Through Tourism Upgrading Class 1 2026, we hope that students will be able to have a broader perspective on the importance of sustainability in building a responsible and impactful future for the tourism industry,” concluded Auliya.
