COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT THROUGH WASTE COOKING OIL UTILIZATION AND DIGITAL TOURISM PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN PULAU PRAMUKA, THOUSAND ISLANDS, INDONESIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21512/seeij.v10i2.15971Keywords:
Aromatherapy Candle, Circular Economy, Community Empowerment, Digital Transformation, Soap Production, Waste Cooking Oil, Sustainable TourismAbstract
Waste cooking oil (WCO) has become one of the major environmental concerns in tourism-based communities due to its improper disposal and repeated use in households. At the same time, many small island communities face challenges in developing sustainable economic opportunities and promoting local tourism products. This study reports a community empowerment program conducted at Rumah Literasi Hijau (RLH), Pulau Pramuka, Thousand Islands, Indonesia. The program aimed to transform waste cooking oil into value-added products, including aromatherapy candles and soap, while developing a digital tourism platform to support local economic activities. A participatory action research approach was employed through training, mentoring, product development, and digital platform implementation. The results demonstrate increased community capacity in environmental management, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy. Participants successfully produced marketable products from waste cooking oil and utilized a web-based tourism platform for promoting accommodations, tourist attractions, local products, and community activities. The integration of circular economy principles and digital transformation contributed to environmental sustainability, economic empowerment, and tourism development. The findings suggest that combining waste recycling initiatives with digital innovation can serve as an effective model for sustainable community development in island tourism destinations.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Maryani maryani, Siswanti, Titi Indahyani, Dario Lyman, Nathanael Sanliago Suhardjo, Rivanno Haidar Haidar Rozaan
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