The Geography Education Study Program of FKIP Universitas Mulawarman organized an International Webinar on Thursday, 4 December 2025, carrying the theme “From Local Wonders to Global Icons: Indonesia’s Tourism Potential.” The event featured Adita Taufik Widianto, Ph.D, an expert in Tourism Management from Sichuan University, China, as the keynote speaker. This webinar was part of the study program’s initiative to strengthen its international orientation and broaden students’ understanding of global tourism dynamics as well as Indonesia’s significant potential as a competitive tourism destination. The event also served as an academic forum that brought together scientific perspectives, tourism development practices, and opportunities for international collaboration.
The webinar aimed to deepen students’ and the academic community’s comprehension of how Indonesia’s local attractions can be elevated into globally recognized tourism icons through strategic promotion, innovation, and sustainable management. Additionally, the activity sought to introduce contemporary tourism concepts emerging at the global level, foster participants’ critical thinking regarding challenges in the tourism industry, and provide insights into the role of geography in examining spatial patterns, regional characteristics, and natural and cultural tourism potentials. The speaker highlighted several important aspects, including global tourism trends, destination branding, community involvement, and sustainable tourism development strategies.
This event offered substantial benefits, particularly in enriching students’ understanding of the relationship between geography and tourism, enhancing global literacy, and providing a realistic overview of research opportunities and tourism development prospects in Indonesia. Through interactive discussions, participants gained insights into strategies that can be applied to transform local strengths into globally appealing attractions, such as the use of digital technologies, destination storytelling, and community-based approaches. Moreover, the webinar expanded the study program’s international academic network and opened avenues for future collaboration in research, guest lectures, and other academic activities.
Looking ahead, the Geography Education Study Program hopes that international webinars such as this will continue to strengthen students’ global competencies, promote cross-national collaboration, and enhance internationally oriented learning processes. Similar activities are expected to become regular initiatives that not only broaden academic perspectives but also support the study program’s vision of building a strong international reputation through the integration of global perspectives into academic development and curriculum design. In this way, the program is increasingly prepared to contribute to the development of high-quality human resources who are capable, adaptive, and responsive to the evolving dynamics of global tourism.