These guides are the envoys of Indonesia or at least envoys of the regions where they work. Tourists, their employers, and also the nation rely on themJakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs has, for the pioneering instance, facilitated a competence test for geopark guides in a bid to expedite the implementation of certification for maritime human resources.
The competence test for geopark guides was a follow-up of the Asia Pacific Symposium of Geoparks Network (APGN), T. B. Haeru Rahayu, assistant to the coordinating ministry's deputy-in-charge of maritime education and training, noted in a statement here on Wednesday.
Indonesia has five international geoparks, for which it must improve its human resources, in this case the geopark guides, Rahayu emphasized while officially opening the first competence test for 78 geopark guides in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on September 17, 2019.
The test organized in Mataram, NTB, on Sept 17-18, covered knowledge, skills, and conduct of geopark guides.
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Geopark guides must have a broad understanding of geology and environmental cleanliness as well as be capable of providing public services and vital information to tourists.
"These guides are the envoys of Indonesia or at least envoys of the regions where they work. Tourists, their employers, and also the nation rely on them," he affirmed.
In the meantime, the Sixth Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Symposium was held in Geopark Rinjani, Lombok, NTB, from Aug 30 to Sept 6, 2019.
"We propose two national geoparks -- Belitung and Toba -- to be discussed for inclusion into the UNESCO global geoparks list during the APGN meeting in Lombok," Anton Setyo Nugroho, head of the Maritime Innovation Network Department of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Office, concurrently secretary of the Indonesian National Geoparks Committee, had noted last August.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will take a decision on whether to accept Indonesia's proposals at the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network (UGGN) meeting to be held in Paris, France, in April 2020.
Out of Indonesia's 15 national geoparks, four -- Batur in Bali, Ciletuh-Pelabuhanratu in West Java, Gunung Sewu in Yogyakarta, and Rinjani in NTB -- have been included into the List of UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp).
No less than 110 regions across Indonesia have the potential to be developed into geoparks, he pointed out. The figure is small in comparison with China that has 220 national geoparks, of which 39 have been included into the List of UGGp.
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Translator: Ade Irma J, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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