In an important initiative aimed at increasing access to education and promoting sustainable tourism practices, students from the Tourism Master Program (Prodi MKP) conducted a study tour to the Universitat de Girona Spain on 8th – 16th October 2024. This program is part of the collaboration of the Tourism Master Program and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf).
Spain is ranked second in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Tourism and Travel Development Index (TTDI), while Indonesia is ranked 22nd. A study visit to the Universitat de Girona, which is ranked between 801-1,000 in the World University Rankings, will provide advanced education insight of tourism.
Students also have the opportunity to visit several tourist attractions in several tourist destinations to learn firsthand how tourism practices are carried out in a sustainable and regenerative manner. The tourist attractions visited were historical tourism in Girona, gastronomic tourism and wine tourism in Calonge, and also urban tourism in Barcelona.
“With the opportunity to conduct a comparative study in a country where tourism is one of the main focuses of development (tourism contributes 11.7% of Spain’s GDP), students gain enrichment academically and also technically. “We hope this good opportunity can become a sustainable agenda for students working with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, and also a routine agenda for regular students,” said Adhi Pradana, one of the MKP Study Program students who took part in the comparative study event.
During their time at Universitat de Girona, students was involved in a variety of academic activities, including sharing sessions, seminars, and sit-in classes. This immersive experience is designed to increase their understanding of sustainable tourism practices.
In conclusion, the study visit to the Universitat de Girona is a significant step towards improving education for sustainability in the tourism sector. By encouraging global partnerships and providing access to quality education, this initiative aims to create a new generation of tourism professionals ready to face the challenges of sustainable development in the industry.
Tags: tourism, sustainability, regenerative, sit in, SDG 4: quality education, SDG 8: decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: reducing inequality, SDG 17: partnerships to achieve goals
Author: Siti Muyasaroh