Kemenparekraf Launches BBGCE Guidelines For Sustainable Tourism

Friday, 25 Oct 2024

By ridwan@insightinnews.com

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, in collaboration with the National Development Planning Ministry of the Republic of Indonesia, has launched guidelines for the concepts of blue, green, and circular economy (BGCE) within the tourism sector.

These guidelines address four primary subsectors of tourism: hospitality, food and beverage services, transportation, and tourism areas.

During the "Launching and Kick Off Program BGCE in the Tourism Sector" event held on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Novotel Tangerang, Rizki Handyani, Deputy for Industry and Investment at the Ministry, stated that the implementation guidelines for the BGCE program in tourism are part of the government's long-term plan to foster high-quality and competitive tourism enterprises that prioritize sustainable practices.

"The sustainable tourism development program, incorporating the BGCE concept, has been included in the technical draft of the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for 2025-2029. This addresses issues such as environmental degradation and the loss of local culture due to uncontrolled tourism and cultural assimilation from visitors, as well as the insufficient skills of tourism human resources and the low economic benefits of tourism for local communities," said Rizki Handyani.

The BGCE framework integrates three major concepts: the blue economy, which emphasizes the importance of balancing economic activities with environmental conservation in maritime and coastal contexts; the green economy, which focuses on integrating environmental economics with social responsibility; and the circular economy, which aims to align economic activities with environmental sustainability through material processes and cycles to enhance ecosystem functions and human well-being.

In general terms, BGCE represents Indonesia's commitment driven by significant agendas that encompass climate change, energy and greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, waste management, biodiversity, and local economies, all of which are closely linked to the tourism industry, stated Rizki.

"The tourism sector plays a crucial role in combating climate change through the implementation of sustainable practices. By adopting the principles of BGCE, the tourism industry can not only mitigate its negative impact on the climate but also contribute to global solutions aimed at achieving sustainable development goals," Rizki remarked.

Currently, Rizki noted that a considerable number of tourism enterprises have begun to implement sustainability principles; however, it is essential that these efforts are integrated and synergized with government programs.

"By embracing the BGCE concept, tourism can indeed generate positive and long-term impacts on the environment and local communities. Nevertheless, the key challenge lies in aligning the BGCE framework with each component of the tourism business to ensure it serves as a comprehensive guideline that is beneficial and widely accepted within the industry," Rizki added.

The Deputy for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, articulated that one of the key agendas for economic transformation outlined in Law Number 59 of 2024 regarding the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025-2045 is to position Indonesian tourism as a premier global destination that is sustainable and offers high added value. This will be achieved by operating in accordance with the principles of blue economy, green economy, and circular economy.

"Since the RPJPN is a law, it is mandatory for all of us to adhere to it, not just the government, as the law binds all components of the nation," stated Amalia.

The implementation of national development strategies, particularly through the application of Blue Green Circular Economy (BGCE) in the tourism sector, is expected to serve as a catalyst for achieving the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045.

"The target for the tourism sector is to increase its contribution to the GDP to 8 percent by 2045. Moreover, we aim not only for 8 percent but also to ensure that tourism contributes significantly to foreign exchange earnings, with expectations of reaching 100 billion US dollars by 2045," she added.

The application of BGCE in the tourism sector aligns with future tourism trends, both nationally and internationally. The overarching trend is moving towards sustainability and community engagement, as well as a transition towards inclusive and sustainable growth.

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