Ministry of Tourism and ISTC Host STDev Forum Series

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Indonesia Sustainable Tourism Council (ISTC), has organized the fifth Sustainable Tourism Development Forum (STDev Forum). This event serves as a platform for cross-stakeholder collaboration aimed at strengthening the implementation of quality and sustainable tourism in Indonesia.

In her virtual remarks at the online event held on Thursday, 27 August 2026, Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated that the forum serves as a crucial space for stakeholders to discuss Indonesia's tourism development—one that prioritizes not only economic growth but also environmental, social, and cultural sustainability.

"Indonesia possesses a wealth of natural and cultural assets, as well as a diversity of destinations, which constitute foundational strength of our national tourism. Therefore, tourism development cannot simply pursue growth; it must ensure benefits for local communities, preserve the environment, and enhance the quality of the tourist experience," said Minister Widiyanti.

According to the Minister, a sustainable tourism approach that is measurable, data-driven, and focused on enhancing destination capacity must serve as the guiding principle for national tourism development. Consequently, collaboration among the central government, local governments, the business sector, academia, local communities, and development partners has become increasingly vital.

“ISTC plays a strategic role in maintaining standards, strengthening capacity, and consolidating the implementation of sustainable tourism at the national level. This fifth edition of the STDev Forum serves as a platform to strengthen networks, share best practices, and generate concrete solutions for Indonesian tourism,” said the Tourism Minister.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday, 28 August 2026, the fifth STDev Forum adopted the theme “Quality Tourism as an Expression of Sovereignty: From Challenges to Collaborative Action,” bringing together academics and practitioners to discuss the transformation of tourism governance toward higher-quality and more sustainable development.

Diena Mutiara Lemy, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) and Chairperson of HILDIKTIPARI, stated that Indonesian tourism needs to transform from an extractive mass tourism model into a more adaptive tourism ecosystem. She noted that strain on carrying capacity is already becoming apparent in several key destinations.

“It is important to emphasize that mass tourism is not entirely negative. It is a form of tourism that makes travel affordable for a wide range of people. Therefore, mass tourism does not need to be eliminated but rather reconstructed, particularly regarding its extractive aspects,” Diena said.

She cited Bali as a prime example of a leading destination facing various challenges, ranging from overcrowding and land-use conversion to traffic congestion. While various mitigation efforts have been undertaken, she observed that these initiatives often operate in silos, highlighting the need for greater integration.

Diena proposes the ALCIS framework as an approach to managing the tourism ecosystem in an integrated manner.

The framework comprises five pillars:

1. Attractiveness, which prioritizes the quality of the experience over the mere quantity of attractions;

2. Localness, which focuses on strengthening local communities to ensure the tourism value chain continues to benefit the public;

3. Competitiveness, aimed at creating value-added competitiveness that attracts quality visitors;

4. Inclusiveness, ensuring tourism is accessible to and benefits all segments of society; and

5. Sustainability, serving as the foundation that binds all these pillars together.

This meta-system approach via the ALCIS framework is intended to serve as a basis for reflection and a guide for concrete action for the tourism sector. It is time to move beyond mere discourse and toward reforming Indonesia’s tourism governance to ensure it is sustainable and of high quality.