Exploring Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Nature Tourism Management

Waste management at natural tourism destinations is a pressing environmental issue in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta. The increase in tourist visits has led to the accumulation of solid waste, particularly single-use plastics, posing challenges to environmental sustainability. This study aims to analyze the implementation of the circular economy (CE) in the management of natural tourism destinations, specifically through waste reduction, reuse, and recycling strategies in Tourism Villages and natural tourism areas in Bantul. The research employed a qualitative approach, utilizing in-depth interviews with tourism village managers, tourism object managers, and representatives from the Tourism Office. The results show that the CE concept has been implemented through the tourism waste bank program, the management of organic waste into compost, and plastic reduction campaigns. However, challenges such as limited resources, low environmental literacy among tourists, and weak regulatory support remain significant obstacles. Strategies for sustainable performance require multi-stakeholder collaboration, strengthening management capacity, and the integration of environmentally based policies. This research contributes to the development of circular economy theory in the tourism sector and provides practical implications for sustainable destination management in developing regions.