Indonesia Emphasizes its New Sustainable Recovery Plan in Mount Semeru, Integrating Environmental Preservation, Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development – Travel And Tour World

Report on Indonesia’s Sustainable Recovery Plan for Mount Semeru

Executive Summary

Following the eruption of Mount Semeru, Indonesia has initiated a new recovery plan that integrates environmental preservation, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism development. This report outlines the strategic framework of the recovery effort, with a significant emphasis on its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The plan, as articulated by Presidential Special Envoy for Tourism Zita Anjani, aims to establish Mount Semeru as a model for resilient and sustainable eco-tourism, contributing to local, regional, and national economic growth while safeguarding natural and cultural assets.

Strategic Framework and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The recovery strategy is built upon a foundation of sustainability, aiming to create a resilient tourism ecosystem that balances economic needs with environmental and social responsibilities. The plan directly addresses several key SDGs:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The plan prioritizes the creation of sustainable livelihoods for local communities by supporting small and medium-sized businesses, including guides, porters, and accommodation providers. This fosters inclusive economic growth and contributes to Indonesia’s tourism GDP.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: A core objective is to make the region safer and more resilient. This involves strengthening the area’s carrying capacity, improving infrastructure such as access and evacuation routes, and preserving the cultural heritage and local wisdom of communities on Semeru’s slopes.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The framework mandates the integration of environmental conservation into every stage of recovery. Key actions include reforesting hiking trails, protecting biodiversity, and promoting eco-tourism to ensure that tourism activities protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: By positioning Mount Semeru as a global sustainable tourism destination, Indonesia seeks to strengthen international relations, attract foreign investment, and foster collaboration on eco-tourism and disaster recovery, aligning with global sustainability practices.

Key Initiatives for Implementation

The recovery plan is being executed through a series of targeted initiatives designed to achieve its long-term vision.

1. Community Empowerment and Inclusive Development

   A vital component is the direct involvement of local tourism communities in the rebuilding process. This approach aims to:

   • Enhance local capacity for sustainable tourism management.
   • Ensure economic benefits are distributed to small and medium-sized businesses.
   • Integrate local wisdom, such as traditional ecological practices, into tourism development strategies, thereby protecting cultural integrity in line with SDG 11.

2. Development of an Eco-Tourism Destination

   The plan focuses on rebuilding Mount Semeru as a premier eco-tourism destination. This initiative supports SDG 15 by:

   • Integrating environmental conservation into all recovery and development stages.
   • Focusing on reforestation and biodiversity protection in disaster-prone areas.
   • Attracting the growing market segment of eco-tourists, ensuring that tourism revenues contribute directly to environmental protection efforts.

3. Enhancing Regional and National Economic Resilience

   The sustainable recovery of Mount Semeru is positioned as a catalyst for broader economic growth, contributing to SDG 8. The strategy includes:

   • Driving the local tourism industry to restore regional economic stability.
   • Creating jobs in related sectors such as transportation and hospitality.
   • Attracting international tourists to bolster Indonesia’s global tourism standing and national economy.

Long-Term Vision: A Blueprint for Resilient Tourism

The ultimate goal of the Mount Semeru recovery plan is to establish a blueprint for post-disaster tourism recovery that can be replicated elsewhere. The long-term vision is for a destination that is economically prosperous, environmentally protected, and culturally vibrant. By integrating community-based principles and eco-tourism, the plan ensures that Mount Semeru will remain a globally recognized, safe, and resilient destination, demonstrating how tourism can be a powerful force for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the face of natural calamities.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Indonesia’s sustainable recovery plan for Mount Semeru addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by integrating economic, social, and environmental considerations into its tourism development strategy. The following SDGs are prominently featured:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article heavily emphasizes the role of tourism in economic recovery and growth. It discusses creating “job opportunities” for local communities, supporting “local businesses” (guides, porters, small-scale accommodation), and bolstering “Indonesia’s tourism GDP.” This directly aligns with promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is addressed through the focus on protecting cultural and natural heritage. The plan aims to safeguard “cultural heritage” and “local cultural practices.” Furthermore, it highlights the need for resilience in “disaster-prone areas” by improving “evacuation paths” and “visitor safety measures,” making the community and its assets more resilient to natural disasters like volcanic eruptions.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The core theme of developing a “sustainable tourism model” connects to this SDG. The plan aims to ensure that tourism activities are conducted responsibly, minimizing negative environmental impacts and maximizing socio-economic benefits. The development of Mount Semeru as a “model eco-tourism destination” is a clear example of promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns within the tourism industry.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article explicitly details efforts related to environmental preservation in a terrestrial ecosystem. The recovery plan includes “reforesting hiking trails,” “protecting biodiversity,” and ensuring that tourism does not damage the mountain’s ecosystems. This directly supports the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The plan’s scope extends to fostering collaboration. The article mentions strengthening “international tourism relations,” creating opportunities for “international collaboration,” and facilitating “regional cooperation in eco-tourism and disaster recovery.” This highlights the importance of partnerships with international markets, investors, and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion of the recovery plan for Mount Semeru, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 8.9: Promote sustainable tourism

   “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.”
   The article is centered on this target. It describes a “New Sustainable Recovery Plan” for Mount Semeru that aims to create “job opportunities” and support “local businesses,” while also preserving “local cultural practices” and “cultural heritage.” The entire strategy is about developing a sustainable tourism model.

2. Target 11.4: Protect the world’s cultural and natural heritage

   “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.”
   The plan emphasizes a balance between development and preservation, with a stated goal to safeguard the “natural beauty of the area and the local cultural practices of communities.” The focus on “environmental conservation” and protecting “cultural integrity” directly contributes to this target.

3. Target 11.b: Implement policies for disaster risk reduction

   “…implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resilience to disasters, and develop and implement… holistic disaster risk management at all levels.”
   The article discusses the recovery in the context of a natural disaster (volcanic eruption). The plan involves strengthening the area’s resilience by “improving access routes, evacuation paths, and visitor safety measures” in “disaster-prone areas,” which aligns with building resilience and managing disaster risk.

4. Target 12.b: Develop monitoring tools for sustainable tourism

   “Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.”
   While the article does not explicitly mention monitoring tools, the ambition to turn the region into a “model eco-tourism destination” and a “blueprint for post-disaster tourism recovery” implies the need for a framework to measure and manage the impacts of tourism, which is the essence of this target.

5. Target 15.4: Conservation of mountain ecosystems

   “By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.”
   The article is specifically about Mount Semeru, a mountain ecosystem. The recovery efforts include “reforesting hiking trails” and “protecting biodiversity,” directly addressing the conservation of this specific type of ecosystem.

6. Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

   “Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…”
   The article mentions that the recovery efforts involve strengthening “international tourism relations,” seeking “international collaboration,” and attracting “international tourism investment and partnerships.” This reflects the multi-stakeholder approach needed to achieve sustainable development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that could be used to track progress towards the identified SDG targets:

• For Target 8.9 (Sustainable Tourism):

  • Tourism’s contribution to GDP: The article explicitly mentions the goal to “bolster Indonesia’s tourism GDP,” which aligns with Indicator 8.9.1 (Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP).
  • Job creation: Progress could be measured by the number of “job opportunities” created for “guides,” “porters,” and in “transportation” and “hospitality.”
  • Support for local businesses: The number of “small and medium-sized businesses” and “small-scale accommodation” providers benefiting from the tourism recovery would be a key indicator.

• For Target 11.4 (Heritage Protection):

  • Investment in preservation: While not quantified, the implementation of the recovery plan itself, with its focus on “environmental conservation” and “cultural preservation,” implies expenditure on protecting natural and cultural heritage (related to Indicator 11.4.1).

• For Target 11.b (Disaster Resilience):

  • Implementation of disaster risk management strategies: The development and implementation of the “post-disaster tourism recovery” plan, including improved “evacuation paths” and “visitor safety measures,” serve as a direct indicator of progress.

• For Target 12.b (Monitoring Sustainable Tourism):

  • Adoption of sustainable tourism strategies: The “New Sustainable Recovery Plan” itself is an indicator. Becoming a “model eco-tourism destination” implies the existence of a formal strategy with monitoring components (related to Indicator 12.b.1).

• For Target 15.4 (Mountain Ecosystems):

  • Area of reforested land: The progress of “reforesting hiking trails” can be measured in hectares or square kilometers.
  • Biodiversity protection measures: The number and effectiveness of policies implemented to protect local biodiversity would be a relevant indicator.

• For Target 17.16 (Partnerships):

  • Number of international partnerships: Progress can be measured by the number of “international collaboration” agreements, “partnerships,” and instances of “regional cooperation” established.
  • Foreign investment in tourism: The amount of “international tourism investment” attracted to the region would be a clear financial indicator.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Identified in the Article

Source: travelandtourworld.com