A new cohort of global leaders in sustainable tourism development from Indonesia are ready to face growing challenges in the industry as Australia Awards scholars.
The Australia Awards Scholarships — Short Term Awards are funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), with the Sustainable Tourism Development Short Term Award presented by Griffith University and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
The program focused heavily on the economic benefit of tourism to Indonesia and engaged in meaningful solutions for spreading development throughout the country.
Griffith University Senior Lecturer in Destination Marketing, Hospitality Marketing, and Tourism and Hospitality Marketing Dr Sarah Gardiner said the program placed emphasis on the requirement for improved coordination in the planning and management of the tourism sector to accelerate contributions to national and social development.
“Participants in the program get to learn first-hand from leading tourism operators in Queensland about sustainable tourism practices,” she said.
During the program participants partook in a diverse range on hands on learning, taking field visits to major tourism destinations such as the Daintree Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, and Village Roadshow’s Outback Spectacular.
The conclusion of the course comes as Griffith University academics took part in the Australia Eastern Indonesia Tourism Forum, which ran from 4-5 March in Makassar.
Similar to the Sustainable Tourism Development Short Term Award, the conference is focusing on tourism destination management and community-based solutions to rapidly transform the socio-economic landscape through tourism.
Discussions will also take into consideration the importance of the sustainable management of world-class natural and cultural heritage assets.
The Australia Awards in Indonesia’s Sustainable Tourism Development Short Term Award has been delivered by Griffith and USC in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and now 2019 — in addition, a similar program was delivered for 25 participants from Sri Lanka in March 2018.
Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships (postgraduate courses (Long Term Awards) and intensive tailored short courses (Short Term Awards) and Fellowships that offer the next generation of global leaders an opportunity to undertake study, research and professional development opportunities in support of key development and foreign affairs priorities.
Short Term Award opportunities build valuable people-to-people links both within Australia and within the Indo-Pacific region, enabling mid-career professionals and emerging leaders to tap into Australian expertise, gaining valuable skills and knowledge.
To find out more about Australia Awards, particularly Australia Awards in Indonesia, visit Australia Awards.