Eco-Friendly Tourism Destinations: Sustainable Practices to Transform the Industry

Abstract

The rapid growth of the tourism industry over the past few decades has provided significant economic benefits but also had negative impacts on the environment and local communities. Awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism has increased, and sustainable practices are key to transforming the tourism industry into a positive force that supports environmental ecosystems and social well-being. Eco-tourism destinations are committed to reducing the negative impacts of tourism on the natural environment, culture, and local communities, with the aim of maintaining sustainable tourism in the long term. Sustainable practices in the tourism industry include responsible resource use, ecotourism development, sustainable transportation, sustainable tourism education, local community engagement, environmental conservation, and sustainable certification. This study aims to investigate sustainable practices in green tourism destinations using a mixed method that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. The results showed that sustainable practices have brought positive changes to the tourism industry in certain destinations, including a reduced environmental footprint, better waste management, and local community participation. Challenges such as the cost of implementing and regulatory issues must be addressed in an effort to achieve more sustainable tourism. Collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society is necessary to achieve sustainable tourism goals. Sustainable tourism can create new economic opportunities and provide more equitable economic benefits. As such, this conclusion summarizes the importance of a shift towards more sustainable tourism practices, which not only involve the government, private sector, and civil society but also the private sector practices, which not only involve protecting the environment and supporting local communities but also have a positive impact on sustainable economic growth. In the Indonesian context, such efforts are crucial to preserving tourism attractions and supporting sustainable economic development in the country.