Yogyakarta, September 2, 2025 – The Undergraduate Tourism Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a guest lecture as part of the ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility program with the theme “Sustainability and Sustainable Practices in Tourism Enterprises.”
The lecture featured Assoc. Prof. Göktaş Kulualp from Karabuk University, Türkiye. In his presentation, Prof. Kulualp elaborated on several key aspects of sustainable tourism.
He began by providing an overview of the introduction to sustainable tourism, covering its definition and basic principles. He then discussed global trends and policy frameworks set by UNWTO, including regulations for hotels, tour operators, and tourist destinations. According to him, after the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a growing interest in slow tourism, ecotourism, and nature-based travel.
Prof. Kulualp also highlighted sustainable tourism practices in Türkiye, particularly through eco-friendly certification programs. One example is the Green Star Certificate, awarded by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism to environmentally conscious hotels, with assessments on energy and water efficiency, waste management, and the use of local products. In addition, he mentioned international eco-labels such as Green Key and Blue Flag, which are awarded to hotels and beaches that protect the environment.
These efforts align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Through sustainable tourism practices, the tourism sector is expected not only to generate economic benefits but also to maintain environmental and socio-cultural balance.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, allowing students to gain deeper insights into the implementation of sustainable tourism concepts in various countries, including their relevance to the Indonesian context.
[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]
