Depok-Indonesia is a country rich in culture, nature, and history that continues to inspire the younger generation to participate in tourism preservation efforts. Capturing this spirit, students of the Tourism Business Management study program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), present TourismFest UI 2025, an annual festival that serves as a platform for exploring and promoting domestic tourism. Carrying the theme “Gempita Swarnadwipa,” this event celebrates the vibrant beauty of Sumatra Island through its culture, cuisine, history, and natural wealth. Held on November 13, 2025 at Balai Purnomo UI, the festival was attended by students from various faculties and universities, the general public, high school students, and cultural communities.
The Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, in his remarks expressed his appreciation for the students’ creativity in successfully packaging the UI TourismFest 2025 as a holistic learning tool. “TourismFest is a learning tool for UI Vocational students to manage an event professionally, showcase creative works, and interact directly with the community in promoting regional culture,” he said. He added that this festival provides ample space for students to showcase innovations through art and cultural creation booths, while also gaining more insight through talk show sessions and speaker presentations.
(Photo: Dance performance at UI TourismFest 2025)
TourismFest UI 2025 presents a series of activities designed to strengthen the four main pillars of sustainable tourism: environmental, social, economic, and cultural. The environmental aspect is realized through the concept of eco-tourism and the use of recycled materials in decorations and installations. On the social side, the festival involves local Sumatran communities in cultural promotion and education. From an economic perspective, this event supports circular economy-based MSMEs, providing space for local products to grow. Meanwhile, the cultural pillar is strengthened through the preservation of traditional arts presented in various performances.
Visitors were treated to a variety of educational and entertaining content, including traditional dance performances, musical dramas, an exhibition gallery, a Sumatran textile-themed fashion show, and a series of interactive booths showcasing tourism and crafts. One of the most popular areas was the Sumatran culinary booth, where students were given the opportunity to create authentic Indonesian dishes with a modern twist.
(Photo: Discussion session at the 2025 UI TourismFest event)
The festival also featured a talk show entitled “Sustainable Tourism as The Trendsetter”, featuring Hairani Tarigan, SE, as Deputy Secretary General III of the DPP ASITA and Chair of the DPC ASITA Bekasi Regency, as well as Vinsensius Jemadu, Deputy for Event Organizer Development.
In her presentation, Hairani emphasized the importance of sustainability in tourism, as it keeps pace with global tourism developments. “The younger generation will determine the direction of future tourism. When sustainability is understood as a lifestyle, the Indonesian tourism industry will thrive without abandoning local values,” she said.
Meanwhile, Vincentius emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in keeping destinations vibrant and productive. “The success of sustainable tourism is largely determined by our ability to work together—the government, communities, academia, and industry. Students have a significant role as innovators in this development chain,” he said.
(Photo: Atmosphere of the 2025 UI TourismFest activity)
TourismFest UI 2025 successfully became a space for cultural celebration and an educational platform that emphasized the University of Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable tourism development. With the theme “Gempita Swarnadwipa,” the festival highlighted the beauty of Sumatra within a broader framework: preserving culture, strengthening communities, prioritizing innovation, and raising public awareness of responsible tourism. Through the collaboration of all parties involved, TourismFest UI 2025 is expected to inspire other tourism events and strengthen UI’s role in producing a generation of professionals ready to contribute to the future of Indonesian tourism.
In line with the global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), TourismFest UI 2025 contributes to the achievement of several SDGs. Starting from SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in the form of promoting the preservation of local culture and identity, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through efforts to use environmentally friendly materials and eco-tourism education, to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for Goals) by involving circular economy-based MSMEs and empowering local Sumatran communities. Thus, TourismFest UI 2025 is a cultural celebration as well as a concrete manifestation of the contribution of UI Vocational students in supporting sustainable and inclusive national development.
