This challenge presents an opportunity because we first need to conceive ways to manage and integrate geoparks for the best interest of localsJakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan highlighted the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to develop national geoparks as tourism destinations.
Pandjaitan drew attention to geoparks as the new potential to attract more domestic and international tourists while presenting his remarks at the II National Geopark Conference taking place at the 2021 Geopark Indonesia Summit event on Monday (Nov 22).
"We need to support the 'geopark' concept as defined by Presidential Regulation No. 9 of 2019, and we must also enhance multi-stakeholder management by observing the three pillars of geopark development: conservation, education, and residents' livelihood," the coordinating minister noted in the written statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The Proud to Travel to Indonesia Tourism Destinations Program is a breakthrough to boost the residents' pride in domestic tourism destinations, and the program could be synergized by the development of geotrails in Indonesian geoparks, Pandjaitan noted.
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Apart from hosting tourism attractions, geoparks could also participate in the Proud of Indonesian-made Products Program by developing geoproducts at geoparks, he added.
"This challenge presents an opportunity because we first need to conceive ways to manage and integrate geoparks for the best interest of locals," the coordinating minister stated.
Pandjaitan encouraged relevant stakeholders, including ministries, state and private institutions, academics, communities, and the general public, to collaborate for the development of national geoparks. The stakeholders must also participate to maintain and protect the environment to ensure the continuity of natural and cultural diversity inside the geoparks, he added.
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Indonesia is the country with the most number of UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) in Southeast Asia and is the eighth of the only 44 countries with registered UGGp worldwide, Pandjaitan noted.
Indonesia, with 13 geoparks and another six that have been designated as UGGp, currently strives to develop 12 tourist destinations as global geoparks as outlined in the 2020-2024 national middle-term development plan, he stated.
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Translator: Ade Irma Junida, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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