Hilda Cahyani, Alvin Nouval, Ratih Indri Hapsari, Trias Rahardianto, Riza Rahimi Bachtiar, Kurniawan Muhammad Nur
The International Community Service Program (ICS) was initiated by Politeknik Negeri Malang (Polinema) and Politeknik Negeri Banyuwangi (Poliwangi), two vocational higher education institutions in Indonesia. It works with schools in Malaysia, China, and Indonesia to show how design thinking can be used to promote environmentally friendly tourism. Conducted in Banyuwangi, East Java, the initiative combined community service, cultural immersion, and capacity building to generate globally relevant but locally grounded solutions. The program targeted three areas: Bangsring’s coastal village, Mount Ijen, and Gombengsari’s agro-tourism sector. Ecotourism in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, has emerged as a potential vital tool for promoting sustainable development by balancing economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation. Through a human-centered design thinking framework, students and faculty from seven international institutions collaborated with local stakeholders to address key challenges like biodiversity loss, unsustainable farming, and weak eco-branding. Structured in three phases: planning, ideation, and implementation, the program enabled participants to co-create solutions such as eco-education materials and sustainable coffee packaging. Post-program surveys indicated 98% satisfaction cited as particularly impactful. Ultimately, the initiative empowered both local communities and international youth, demonstrating how participatory design can drive regenerative tourism solutions across borders. © 2025 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.
State Polytechnic of Malang, Indonesia; State Polytechnic of Banyuwangi, Indonesia