Governor: UNESCO green card must deliver economic impact for community
Medan (ANTARA) - North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has emphasised that the green card status of the Toba Caldera Geopark from the United Nations organisation UNESCO must deliver real economic impact for the community.
“The key is how to make this green card label, which we have achieved today through collective hard work, truly generate good added value,” Bobby said after receiving the management board of the Toba Caldera Unesco Global Geopark at the Tengku Rizal Nurdin Hall, the Governor’s official residence in Medan, on Tuesday.
The governor also provided two notes regarding the successful retention of the UNESCO green card status for the Toba Caldera Geopark, namely that visits to the Lake Toba area must increase. Furthermore, the communities surrounding the lake, which spans seven regencies in North Sumatra, must feel the direct benefits.
The Toba Caldera Geopark received its green card membership status from the UNESCO Global Geopark during the 11th Executive Committee session of the Global Geopark Network Conference in Kutralkura, La Araucania, Chile, on Saturday, 6 September 2025.
“Firstly, for tourism, visits must increase. Secondly, the community must directly feel the economic benefits,” said Bobby.
The governor also expressed appreciation for the hard work of all parties involved in enabling the Toba Caldera Geopark to maintain its revalidation status from UNESCO. He stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between tourism development and environmental preservation in the Lake Toba area, which is a super-priority destination.
“Our home is one of the answers for the future of tourism that maintains nature’s balance,” Bobby said.
General Manager of the Toba Caldera Unesco Global Geopark, Azizul Kholis, reported that the revalidation results have been officially recognised by UNESCO and the certificate of approval has been issued. “For the certificate, although there were obstacles to travelling to France due to the global geopolitical situation and flight restrictions, the legality of the document has now been officially received,” he said.
Azizul also outlined preparations for the 7th Geotourism Festival and International Conference (Geofest) and the implementation of new Geo-Trail travel routes starting 1 July 2026. He also conveyed several international cooperation achievements, including community empowerment funding programmes and the planting of nearly 2,000 trees in the caldera area. His team is also planning the development of integrated international tourism routes connecting Lake Toba directly with Phuket in Thailand. “Additionally, the inauguration of the first geopark research centre in Asia is being explored, supported by a global network of experts and the National Research and Innovation Agency,” Azizul said.