"Amid the global trend of sustainable tourism, Indonesia emphasizes that sustainable tourism is not merely a trend but a real concern for the sustainability of nature and the environment," the ministry's main expert on tourism and creative economy, Nia Niscaya, stated on Tuesday.
Elaborating on the campaign named "Keep The Wonder," Niscaya said the word "Keep" means to maintain, while the words “The Wonder” refer to Mother Earth and its ecosystem constituting the nature and environment in Indonesia.
Various destinations, such as the Baluran National Park, Ujung Kulon National Park, Sangeh Monkey Forest, and Punti Kayu Palembang, are real proof of this commitment, which has long been managed sustainably in Indonesia, she remarked.
According to the expert, this campaign is a gift by the ministry to mark Indonesia's 79th Independence Day on August 17 this year.
"We invite tourists to act responsibly by integrating sustainability values into every trip they make,” she emphasized.
Niscaya elaborated that the campaign aims to address challenges in the Indonesian tourism sector, which increasingly prioritizes quality, better experiences, awareness of the importance of sustainable environmental management, local economic development, and inclusive socio-cultural development.
According to data from the World Travel & Tourism Council, global tourism contributes 9.1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). This figure is up 23.3 percent from 2022. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the tourism sector contributed 5.3 percent of the GDP in 2023.
However, this sector also brought an impact on increased carbon emissions. Hence, the trend of sustainable tourism is expected to reduce this impact.
"With the 'Keep the Wonder' campaign, let us preserve the Earth and its ecosystem to keep it alive for another thousand years," Niscaya added.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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