Integrating Design Thinking into Educational Program Development to Promote Sustainable Coffee Edu-Tourism in Rural Indonesia

Tourism has become an important medium for education, cultural preservation, and sustainable community development. Coffee, as a form of local heritage, offers significant potential to be transformed into educational tourism that integrates learning experiences with social and economic empowerment. This study examines how design thinking can be integrated into the development of educational programs to support sustainable coffee edutourism in Sumbertangkil Village, Malang Regency. A qualitative case study approach was applied, with data collected from the management of the local Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) through in-depth interviews and participatory observation during August 10–25, 2025. Data validity was ensured through source triangulation, and analysis followed the stages of design thinking: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. The findings indicate that the prototype stage produced an initial curriculum consisting of five programs: Coffee Explorer, Coffee & Family, Deep Beans, Coffee Homestay, and Coffee for All. Each program integrates experiential learning, visual media, and inclusive participation to strengthen coffee literacy, cultural identity, and local economic resilience. Although the prototype remains preliminary and constrained by institutional challenges, the curriculum provides a strategic foundation for developing sustainable educational tourism, enhancing community empowerment, and supporting rural development

Citizen journalism · Curriculum · Design Thinking · Educational program · Experiential learning · Focus group · Participatory action research · Qualitative research · Sustainable development · Tourism · Business Strategies and Innovation · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Vocational and Entrepreneurial Education