Thus, the geopark should be developed as a tourism destination to increase the income of the communityJambi (ANTARA) - The Jambi provincial government is preparing to conduct a study on the Merangin Geopark to support the tourism destination's bid to be declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Geopark (UGG).
"We need to prepare thorough studies regarding the history, culture, art, social, economy and local wisdom in managing the Merangin Geopark," Jambi Governor Al Haris said here on Tuesday.
Hence, the provincial government is encouraging the Merangin district government, through the Tourism Office and a team of experts, to develop an action plan for getting the national geopark acknowledged as a global geopark, he added.
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This is considered necessary in order to improve the sectors that will be assessed by UNESCO, he said.
Merangin Geopark has historical value as the oldest fossils and Earth fragments in the world can be found there, Haris noted. They are similar and are of the same age as rocks found at the historical sites in China, which are estimated to be over 300 million years old, he added.
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"The fossils and fragments are rare, unique, and interesting. Thus, the geopark should be developed as a tourism destination to increase the income of the community," the governor said.
Furthermore, the government will also develop cultural and culinary tourism as well as the wisdom of the local community to give added value to the Merangin Geopark as a tourism destination, he informed.
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The Merangin Geopark has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014, he pointed out.
However, it has not met the international organization’s assessment standards as there is no clear boundary for the geopark, which is considered too large, he explained.
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In addition, Haris said that the infrastructure and supporting facilities in the area are still inadequate. Moreover, the local community needs to be trained on accommodating tourists, he said.
Meanwhile, acting head of the Jambi Provincial Culture and Tourism Office, Sri Purnama Syam, said that the Merangin Geopark is an alternative solution for improving the region’s economy.
"Merangin Geopark is worthy of being a UGG as it has the oldest geological heritage site in Asia. It is also an Indonesian prehistoric culture (Chinese-Serampas) area, home to various species with endangered status, and part of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra," she added.
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Translator: Muhammad Hanapi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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