Professor of the UGM Geography Faculty, Prof. Baiquni, conveyed on Wednesday (22/4) that the world economy is degenerating, but the world's ecosystems are improving. This reason has brought the economic and ecological integration is needed to reorganize the development of human civilization on earth.
Baiquni stated that behind the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was also a positive side, which is the earth's ecosystem, which is getting better.
"The decline of air pollution, rivers, mountains, and beaches are cleaner and more beautiful because of lessened human activity. Humans themselves can interact more intimately with their families while at home during quarantine," she explained.
These impacts, according to Baiquni, can be a moment for several fields, one of which is tourism. She revealed the tourism industry is one of the sectors experiencing a drastic decline due to this pandemic. Various countries restrict access to international flights so that the level of departure and arrival of tourists has dropped dramatically in recent months.
Baiquni said that various national and regional-level restrictions on policies that were put in place to prevent the spread of the virus were also affecting the pace of the tourism industry.
Under these conditions, the tourism industry needs to clean up with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as its basis.
"Tourism based on handling poverty, developing island regions, preserving nature, preserving the environment, preserving culture, empowering communities, and dozens of other themes can be a way to achieve SDGs through and with tourism to build the nation," she said.
She also mentioned the concept of sustainable tourism as conveyed by the former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gede Ardikha. He offered sustainable tourism with a comprehensive approach to Trihita Karana (Palemahan, Pawongan, Parahyangan).
"This approach means to harmonize life by pegging the concept of human relations with nature (hablumminalalamien), humanizing fellow human beings (hablumminannas), and serving the power (hablum minAllah)," she explained.
Author: Hakam
Photo: Legal
Translator: Natasa A