UNESCO has issued a yellow card to Lake Toba, putting its Global Geopark status at risk. This warning was given in 2023 as Lake Toba failed to meet several established management criteria. UNESCO has set a two-year deadline for the management improvements, but sadly, time is running out, and many observers believe the government has yet to make significant progress.
Professor Azril Azhari, a public policy tourism expert, emphasized that the Global Geopark status is hanging by a thread. He expressed concern about the difficulties in addressing numerous issues within the limited timeframe. “The ecosystem at Lake Toba does not align with UNESCO’s requirements. To improve Lake Toba, we must first understand the three subsystems of the ecosystem,” he explained during a phone interview with detikTravel on Thursday, July 10.
As the Chairman of the Indonesian Scholars Association for Tourism, he elaborated that the ecosystem can be categorized into three parts: biotic, abiotic, and socio-cultural. Biotic refers to all living organisms, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. Abiotik includes non-living elements like soil, water, and air. Socio-cultural aspects encompass the non-physical elements of the environment that involve values, norms, customs, and human behaviors that influence interactions with both the environment and each other.
Prof. Azril pointed out that Indonesia lacks specialists in tourism ecosystems, leading to a stagnation in the management of the Lake Toba Caldera. If Lake Toba loses its status, Indonesia could reapply in the future, but the process would undoubtedly be more challenging. “If we cannot meet these current requirements, how could we succeed in reapplying later?” he questioned. It would be wise for the management to resolve all of UNESCO’s conditions now; losing the status would mean tarnishing Lake Toba’s international reputation. “It reflects poorly on our stewardship,” he remarked.
Having extensive experience in tourism and politics, Prof. Azril acknowledged the limitations within the government. “We tend to act reactively based on projects rather than proactively with ongoing programs. There should be an effort to pursue these programs, with or without funding. It’s easy to blame inefficiency, yet we’ve been warned about this situation for a long time,” he concluded.
Previously, Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana pledged to restore Lake Toba’s green card status. She has outlined various strategies to achieve this. “We are collaborating with local governments to implement improvements, including better signage and explanations of the existing geosites,” she stated during a working visit to Lake Toba on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Widiyanti highlighted the changes made at the Geosite Huta Ginjang in North Tapanuli, citing enhancements that allow tourists to better understand the geosite and the science behind the formation of Lake Toba’s caldera. “For instance, we noticed improvements at Huta Ginjang, so visiting tourists can gain insight into the geosite,” she said.
She outlined strategies to regain the green card status, which involve community involvement. “We aim to develop Lake Toba as a super-priority destination. Together, we are building and promoting tourism, working hand in hand with local communities, small businesses, and cultural elements such as traditional dances and textiles,” she remarked. “We also want to facilitate tourists’ experiences by making it easier for them to find local crafts, enjoy culinary delights, and more.”
