TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The UNESCO international conference will be held in Paris, France in April. Among the conference's agendas is to announce the inclusion of North Sumatera's Lake Toba as a member of the UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG).

Arie Prasetyo, president director of the Lake Toba Tourism Authority Agency (BOPDT), the status will boost foreign tourist visits to the lake and help support the domestic tourism industry's development.

"The announcement date is not fixed yet, but by April Lake Toba will be named as a member of the UNESCO Global Geopark," Arie told Tempo on Wednesday, March 4.

Arie said it is not easy to become a member of the UGG. Lake Toba was included for its unique biodiversity, geodiversity, as well as culture.

However, it took the famous volcanic lake nine years of waiting since the government first applied for recognition in 2011. Lake Toba was approved to become a member of the UGG in September last year during the 6th Asia Pacific Geopark Network (APGN) Symposium in Mount Rinjani, Lombok.

The Toba Caldera Geopark status is expected to provide benefits to the surrounding communities—from economic independence to competitiveness and prosperity. Many international institutions and investors are estimated to arrive in the area, providing education and training to further develop Lake Toba's tourism business.

Mei Leandha | Galuh Kurnia Ramadhani (Intern Translator)