Zero - Waste Tourism Hub : Rancangan Model Ekonomi Sirkular untuk Destinasi Pantai Jawa Timur

Abstract

Coastal tourism in East Java faces major challenges in waste management, which directly affects environmental quality, local economic sustainability, and destination competitiveness. This study aims to develop a Zero-Waste Tourism Hub model as an innovative circular economy–based strategy to transform coastal tourism areas into regenerative spaces that are clean, productive, and inclusive. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, using case studies at three main beaches Pantai Kenjeran, Pasir Putih, and Delegan. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and community documentation. The findings reveal that current waste management systems remain linear, lack community participation, and are not yet integrated into regional tourism policies. However, there are emerging circular practices from local communities, such as waste banks and waste-based UMKM, that can be expanded through a systemic model. The proposed Zero-Waste Tourism Hub model comprises five key elements: educational and sorting zones, creative waste-based UMKM, a digital incentive system, a waste innovation center, and a tripartite collaborative institution. This model creates new economic opportunities while strengthening the ecological carrying capacity of tourism areas. The study contributes to the literature on sustainable tourism transformation and offers a policy framework that can be replicated in other coastal destinations across Indonesia and Southeast Asia.