SLEMAN - Over the last decade, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia have rapid and significant growth both from traditional and emerging geotourism. Both international and local tourists are attracted to a number of geological heritage sites. Some of these places are famous and popular to the tourists around the world and some of them are geoheritages sites.

In this regard, the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), Thailand, the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programs in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP), and The National Geopark of Thailand, in collaboration with the Malaysian Geological Religion Group (KWGM), the Ministry of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Geological Society of Thailand (GST) and UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (Indonesia) held "Geoheritage 2018 Regional Conference" in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand with the theme of "Geoheritages for People" April - 4, 2018, Hotel Pullman Khon Kaen King Orchid, khon Kaen, Thailand.

Present at this conference are 9 lecturers and 7 students representative UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY). Kajur Teknik Geologi, Dr. Jatmika Setiawan said the conservation of a number of valuable geoheritages is an urgent and important aspect for all government agencies and partnerships.

"These institutions are responsible for advising all aspects of professional geoscience to the public, to be conserved to develop it as the highest sustainable and sustainable exploitation, especially in academic, tourism and socio-economic purposes," he said when met at UPN Campus (8/4 / 2018).

Jatmiko said the talks eventually led to membership of Global Geoparks Network (GGN) from UNESCO.

There were  9 lecturers and 7 students as representatives of UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY). The head of Geology Technique Program, Dr. Jatmika Setiawan said the conservation of a number of valuable geoheritages is an urgent and important aspect for all government agencies and partnerships.

"These institutions are responsible for advising all aspects of professional geoscience to the public, the heritage must be conserved to develop it as the highest sustainable and sustainable exploitation, especially in academic, tourism and socio-economic purposes," he said when met at UPN Campus (8/4 / 2018).

Jatmiko said the talks eventually led to membership of Global Geoparks Network (GGN) from UNESCO.

This conference is officially the first forum of tripartite conferences for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand. The main objective of this conference is to diversify the role of geologists and it is deemed necessary to enhance the active role of geologists in the utilization of geoheritage in the form of geoturism and public education in geoparks as drivers of the economy and the welfare of society.

The conference is expected to contribute to a practical approach among the various groups that is a reference for stakeholders, especially governments in developing policies to protect and conserve geoheritage, in preparing traces and products for geotourism. It also includes the platforms for discussion among government agencies and academics in preparing proposals for new geoparks.

The outcome of this conference was the establishment of ASEAN Forum of Geoheritage, and Indonesian representative was Prof.Dr C Danisworo and Dr. Ir. Jatmika Setiawan from UPNVY. (wwj-humas)