This study explores the role of quality culture in strengthening vocational tourism education in Indonesia, particularly in the context of post-pandemic recovery and global competitiveness. As tourism rebounds, the demand for resilient, adaptable, and sustainability-oriented human resources has intensified. Using a qualitative explanatory approach, this research examines six Indonesian tourism polytechnics to understand how institutions conceptualize and implement quality culture across curriculum design, teaching practices, leadership, and industry engagement through in-depth interviews with relevant officials. The study adopts a three-dimensional analytical lens encompassing national challenges, global competitiveness, and capability transformation, particularly regarding digital maturity and green innovation. Findings indicate that while institutions vary in maturity and resource capacity, there is a shared institutional commitment to continuous improvement. Seven core indicators of quality were identified: student performance, curriculum innovation, teaching experience, faculty professionalism, research and community contribution, institutional leadership, and industry linkage. The study concludes that embedding quality culture is essential for producing globally competitive graduates and achieving educational resilience. It offers a strategic framework for tourism polytechnic institutions aiming to align with both national development priorities and international standards in a rapidly evolving tourism landscape.
Sutono et al. (Tue,) studied this question.