Strengthening Indonesia Geopark Governance Ahead of UNESCO Revalidation 2026
The Ministry of Tourism is urging geopark managers and all stakeholders to optimally prepare various aspects ahead of the revalidation process of Indonesia’s Geopark by UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) scheduled for the near future.
Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated that the UGGp revalidation process and Aspiring UGGp validation in 2026 represent an important momentum for Indonesia to strengthen the position of geoparks as part of sustainable tourism development.
According to Widiyanti, geoparks in Indonesia function not only as tourist destinations but also as ecosystems integrating various aspects of sustainable development. She explained that geoparks play three main roles in national tourism development.
“Therefore, geopark development is very much in line with the Ministry of Tourism’s policy direction in building destinations that are quality, sustainable, and globally competitive,” she said in an official release.
Widiyanti urged local governments and all relevant stakeholders to maximally prepare the geopark revalidation and validation process in 2026. She emphasised that UNESCO Global Geopark status is not merely a symbol or international recognition.
The status reflects Indonesia’s commitment to managing geological heritage, culture, and biodiversity sustainably, whilst improving the welfare of communities in geopark areas. Therefore, the revalidation process must be understood as a comprehensive evaluation of governance quality, programme effectiveness, and cross-sectoral synergy built thus far.
“Geoparks are one of the important pillars in diversifying tourist attractions. Bappenas even targets Indonesia to have 17 UNESCO Global Geoparks by 2029, with the tourism sector becoming the driving force for their utilisation,” Widiyanti stated.
As part of preparations, the Ministry of Tourism held an online coordination meeting for UGGp revalidation and Aspiring UGGp validation preparation on Thursday (5 March 2026).
Widiyanti emphasised that all preparation processes must be executed in a planned, collaborative, and sustainable manner with full commitment from local governments and all relevant parties. With strong synergy, the 2026 geopark revalidation and validation processes are expected to run optimally.
“We are optimistic about maintaining green card status for already-registered geoparks and encouraging aspiring geoparks in Bojonegoro and Ranah Minang Silokek to obtain recognition as part of UNESCO Global Geoparks this year,” Widiyanti said.